BIAFRA NEWS: Uzodinma, Okorocha, Wike must pay for their sins, will never be forgiven – IPOB

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has listed some personalities from the Southeast and Southsouth it will never forgive. Uzodinma, Okorocha, Wike must pay for their sins, will never be forgiven – IPOB

IPOB vowed never to forgive Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Imo West Senator, Rochas Okorocha and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The National Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful said those named will soon pay for their “sins.” THE RESTORATION OF BIAFRA NATION

Powerful, in a statement, explained that the politicians were trying to sabotage the efforts of IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

He said, “Other politicians that may have sabotaged IPOB and ESN may be forgiven, but OkoroAwusa, Hope Uzodinma, and the wannabe Hitler of Rivers Nyesom Wike, will never be forgiven. They must pay for their sins sooner or later!”

IPOB also accused Uzodinma and Okorocha of oppressing people of the Southeast.

“They connived with Fulani oppressors to kill our people.

“They imprisoned and tortured our youths, mothers, fathers and other agitators to please their slave masters,” IPOB added.

 

BIAFRA NEWS: Nigeria's coming civil war

 Past notes: On this day in 1967 Biafra was declared a separate state from Nigeria. Here is how the  reported the news.

 Nigeria's coming civil war

 

Having broken apart, Nigeria is now preparing for civil war. Major-General Gowon, who was promoted from Colonel yesterday, is apparently ready to follow up his blockade of the breakaway east - now called Biafra - with a full-scale invasion. In this he presumably expects the support of Nigeria's partners in the Commonwealth and her fellow members of the UN and the OAU - at least the tacit support of respecting the blockade and not recognising Biafra. THE RESTORATION OF BIAFRA NATION

It will be a futile war. It is unlikely to unseat the embattled government of Colonel Ojukwu, and even if it does, it will not achieve the declared aim of restoring a workable federation. For most of the Ibo, who predominate in the east, last year's massacres in the north - and their implied end to the free movement of Nigerians within their country - meant the effective end of the federation. To follow this up by an 

 Nigeria's coming civil war

invasion would merely be to drive a nail in the coffin. Biafia's non-Ibo minority is admittedly divided: some supporting Ojukwu's regime and others opposing it. Also, the presence of more than a million refugees - and the possibility of another million now arriving - has stored up a host of social and perhaps political problems for the self-proclaimed republic. But while the threat from Lagos lasts, support for Ojukwu will remain overwhelming. Invasion can only reinforce it further.

 

In reality it would not be a federal war as much as a northern one. The Yoruba of the western region are divided. Chief Awolowo, hitherto their most popular leader, has said - and apparently confirmed it after Biafra's secession - that the west would not wish to remain in a truncated federation. This section of the Yoruba, at any rate, would hardly support an invasion of Biafra. Similar reservations have been openly expressed in the midwest region.

In so far as it would be a northerners' war, one of its main objects would be revenge against the easterners for having dared to challenge federal, which is primarily northern, authority. One party in the north, at any rate, appears to want to teach the Ibo a lesson without any corresponding desire to keep them as federal partners. But the easterners are not the first to contemplate secession. The north openly threatened it in 1960 unless it was guaranteed half the seats in the federal parliament. It threatened it again last year unless General Ironsi repealed his "unitary decree". It proposed it once more in July and indeed, secession appeared to be Colonel Gowon's original intention when he assumed office. Now it is the easterners who have departed.

 

A deeper northern motive would be to secure the landlocked region's outlet to the sea. One of the two routes, through the east, is already blocked and the other, through the west, would be threatened if the west were to break away also. But could it be kept open in a federation maintained by force? The violent disorders in the west in 1965, in protest against the northern-backed regime of Chief Akintola, suggest that it could not. If Nigeria does break up, nothing could ensure the evacuation of northern produce more effectively than a Common Services organisation. This is perhaps the best solution to the Nigerian crisis. It is the kind of arrangement the north itself proposed in July last year - and the east has been proposing since then. Now, no region would benefit more from it than the north. By insisting on war the northerners would risk destroying their own vital interests.

Inevitably, outsiders have been drawn, into the conflict. The big shipping and trading companies, who have larger interests in the north and the west than in the east, are observing the blockade. The oil companies, whose exports all originate in the east, are in a different position and may be anxious for Biafra to be recognised. Britain could hardly do this until Colonel Ojukwu's breakaway regime has proved itself firmly in control. But we should immediately make it clear to General Gowon that our only interest is in a stable solution and that war will bring this no nearer.

 

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BIAFRA NEWS: Buhari moves against killer herdsmen, says open grazing ban illegal

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday expressed a strong resolve to address the conflicts of herders and farmers for a permanent solution.

The Nigerian leader also ordered that the associated problem of the gun-wielding “killer herdsmen” be tackled.

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, in a statement recalled Buhari approved measures to bring an end to the skirmishes as recommended by Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture, in April.

The presidency insisted that Buhari’s action was before the ban on open grazing by the Southern Governors Forum.

The statement noted it is very clear that there was no solution offered from the governors’ resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes “that have been continuing in our country for generations”.

Garba said the citizens of the southern states and others have a right to expect their elected leaders and representatives to find answers to challenges of governance and right.

“It is equally true that their announcement is of questionable legality, given the Constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT) – regardless of the state of their birth or residence.”

Shehu said the governors’ declaration has been preempted, “for whatever it is intended to achieve”.

He noted that the President has rightly been worried about these problems more than any other citizen in consultation with farmers and herders alike.

Shehu said Buhari commissioned and approved an actionable plan of rehabilitating grazing reserves in the states, starting with those that are truly committed to the solution and compliant with stated requirements.

The aide added that the government is making far-reaching and practical changes allowing for different communities to co-exist side-by-side: supporting farmers to till their fields, herders to rear their livestock and Nigerians everywhere to be safe.

BIAFRA NEWS: Shoot order won’t end South-East insecurity – Onyemelukwe cautions police, military

 

Chidi Onyemelukwe, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Anambra State, says armed confrontations cannot bring about the progress the South-East needs.

Onyemelukwe cautioned security agencies on the shoot-on-sight directive, noting that it will only aggravate the situation.

In recent months, there have been several attacks against government operatives and facilities in Southern States.

The latest was the Sunday invasion of the Police B-Division and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Office in Awka.

In a statement on Monday, Onyemelukwe urged those at the upper echelons of power to work harder to regain the confidence of the people.

“I am aware of prevailing challenges, unmet needs and related issues that need to be discussed. But the solutions we seek cannot be realized by the force of arms and violence.

“I am conscious of the disconnect between the political elite and the masses, including disenfranchised and unemployed youths. Yet the questions confronting the South-East calls for dialogue.

“Should we continue to speak and act in manners that further deplete that badly-damaged trust, then the South-East could be in for a serious decline as the loss of confidence, resort-to-arms and self-help will only prove destructive.”

The former Board Chairman, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) argued that the shoot order falls short of global acceptable policing standards.

She said the Police and Nigerian military, in a bid to restore normalcy, must resort to high-handed and extra-judicial engagements.

“Nigeria has gone through this before. The essence of having the hindsight early days of Boko Haram offers is to better instruct today’s policymakers on options that work and those that don’t.

“There are several stressors and contributors to the problems at hand. Addressing them will require placing all the cards on the table. We can’t simply shoot our way out of situations like this.”

Onyemelukwe, however, expressed her condolences to the families of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and the military officers who died in Kaduna.

She also mourned police and military personnel, vigilantes, as well as other citizens who lost their lives during attacks on security formations in the South-East and South-South.

BIAFRA NEWS: Residents block Abuja-Kaduna highway to protest insecurity

 

Hundreds of residents of Gauraka Community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday blocked the Abuja-Kaduna Highway to protest regular kidnapping and insecurity in the community.

Most protesters, mainly youths, blocked the highway and roads while they burnt tyres. Vehicular movement on the highway on Monday morning was disrupted for hours.

The protesters demanded that the state and Federal Government should boost security in the area and the highway to stop the incessant attacks.

According to them, kidnappers stormed the area on Saturday and Sunday, kidnapping at least 15 persons from the community and killing three others.

Two residents, Mallam Ibrahim Dauda and Joseph Aboki, who spoke to  said, “there have been speculations about Boko Haram terrorists infiltrating the Gauraka community after Governor Abubakar Bello announced that terrorists have hoisted their flags in some communities in Niger State in April.”

They also said they have lost sleep due to the activities of kidnappers who have continued to terrorise the community. They explained that more than 30 people have been abducted from January till date.

 recalls that Niger State has come under serious bandit attacks in recent times which have left hundreds of people killed.

BIAFRA NEWS: Anambra attack update 7 INEC vans, collation centre, store burnt [PHOTOS]

 

“I want to plead with Anambra people to go about their legal activities.”

Eight riffles consisting of AK-47 and pump action were recovered from the attackers, including live ammunitions and items of clothing and berets.

had earlier reported that three Hilux vans used by the attackers were abandoned after police operatives matched them with greater firepower.

Owolabi addressing journalists said, “The hoodlums first went to “B” division police station and were repelled, then they came to INEC and our men repelled them too.

“I can tell you that we recorded about 95 percent success. There were no casualties on the part of the police. I want to appeal to journalists to report carefully because we read where people reported that scores of policemen were killed.

“Since last night, we have been moving from hospital to hospital, because we are sure some of the attackers escaped with serious wounds. We are appealing to hospital management to help us track them.

BIAFRA NEWS: Anthony Davis says Los Angeles Lakers' NBA playoffs loss is on me. promises to be better in Game 2

 

Anthony Davis sounded the alarm after the Los Angeles Lakers' 99-90 Game 1 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday: It's time for him to step up.

"There's no way we're winning a game, let alone a series, with me playing the way that I played," Davis said after finishing with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. "So, I mean, this is on me. I take full responsibility, for sure.

"We'll be better Game 2."

Davis missed 11 of his 16 field goal attempts, and the visiting Lakers were outscored by 18 points in the 39 minutes he played, giving him the worst plus-minus on the team.

He said that L.A.'s hot start -- the Lakers built their biggest lead of the game when they went up 15-10 just 4½ minutes into the first quarter -- lessened his personal urgency.

"Usually, I come out the gates very dominant, and I think tonight, or today, we had it going," Davis said. "So, I kind of just got lost in the offense. But I still have to be assertive and find ways to get the ball."It just kind of took me out of rhythm, but that's on me. I still got to find ways to make plays on that end of the floor, offensively. So, like I said, it's on me. I'm not too worried about my performance. I know I'll be better. I know we'll be better in Game 2."

LeBron James said the cause for a loss is "never just one guy," but he welcomed Davis' accountability.

"I love it when AD takes that pressure on himself," said James, who led L.A. with 18 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. "We're a better team when he's aggressive; we're a better team when he demands the ball. But we all got to do things a lot better, as well."

Davis proved his ability to bounce back in last year's run to the championship. In the three games Davis played in the 2020 postseason following a contest in which he shot under 50% from the field, he averaged 31.7 points on 57% shooting and L.A. went 2-1.

"Anytime he comes to the pressure and tells you guys we can't win with him playing the way he played, he always responds," James said. "So, looking forward to that. And when AD is AD again, we'll be the Lakers."

Davis was outplayed by fellow former No. 1 draft pick Deandre Ayton. In the battle of inverse initials -- AD vs. DA -- the Suns center finished with 21 points on 10-for-11 shooting and 16 rebounds and was plus-16 in 37 minutes in his playoff debut.

"I thought DA was pretty sound as far as not going for pump fakes and having his stick hand up," Suns coach Monty Williams said. "Anthony missed some shots, but I thought DA did a really good job of just trying to stay in front of him. He's an all-world player, so DA is going to have to be even better in Game 2. We know what we're going to face when we play these guys again."

It was a far cry from Davis' final regular-season performance against Phoenix just two weeks ago, when he had 42 points and 12 rebounds in a 123-110 win for the Lakers.

"Phoenix brought a lot more attention to him, obviously because of that game," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "They did a great job. Give them credit. They did a good job limiting his touches and then bringing double-teams when he did get it and making things difficult for him. But there are ways we can be better to take advantage of him."

To Vogel's point, L.A. shot just 2-for-6 (including a 1 for 5 mark on 3-pointers) off of Davis' passes on Sunday, according to data compiled by ESPN Stats & Information. For the game, the Lakers shot just 7-for-26 on 3s (26.9%) and 17-for-28 on free throws (60.7%).

It will be on more players than just Davis to improve in order to avoid an 0-2 hole come Tuesday.

"I think we got taken out of a lot of things we want to do offensively, Phoenix having a week to prepare for us," Vogel said, alluding to the play-in tournament that L.A. had to navigate to secure the No. 7 seed while the Suns were off. "Credit them for doing a great job with that. We just got to execute a little bit better on the offensive side of the ball."