BIAFRA NEWS : Ngige withdraws from presidential race

 

The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chris Nwabueze Ngige has withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race.

This is coming less than three weeks after his declaration at Alor, his town in Anambra State.

In a statement he issued, which was obtained by 

 in Abuja on Friday, Ngige said his declaration, which was transmitted live was as a result of pressures from friends, supporters and allies, given that he has the qualifications to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

He disclosed that his supporters had purchased the nomination form for him, which he was, however, yet to fill and submit.

His statement said: “On Tuesday, 19th April 2022, I publicly declared my interest to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, following the constitutional provision that precludes our amiable incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari from seeking re-election to the office, as he would have completed his two terms in office by 29thMay 2023.

“The declaration was made in my hometown, Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“My declaration was sequel to pressure on me from my constituents, political associates, friends and other well-meaning Nigerians, who felt I possessed the necessary qualifications and experience for the job.”

Ngige said his supporters contributed money to purchase the expression of interest and nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He further revealed that he had an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari over the development after he earlier met him on his political ambition.

“Having also consulted widely with my family, constituents, supporters and well-wishers, it is my pleasure to announce the withdrawal of my interest and earlier decision to contest the office of the President in the 2023 general elections.”

BIAFRA NEWS : Deborah. Buhari should act, Nigeria not ruled by Sharia law – Femi Branch

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has been told to treat the case of Deborah Samuel, who was burnt to death by a mob for blasphemy in Sokoto State, as a criminal case.

Nollywood actor, Femi Branch said this while describing the ‘barbaric act’ as a criminal case since Nigeria is not ruled by Sharia law.

Demanding Justice for Deborah, the actor said no religion is above Nigeria’s constitution; hence such killing shouldn’t be condoned.

According to him, Deborah’s killers, who claim to be defending Islam are not obeying the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and need to read more for clarity.

His post read: “Do we have a Government at all! Is anyone or any religion above the Nigerian Constitution?! The killing of this lady Deborah in Sokoto is criminal and should be treated as such!

“This country is not ruled by Sharia Law and so this kind of backwards barbarism should not be condoned or encouraged!

“For people who lack understanding about true Islam, please read the sayings (hadith) and descriptions of the ways (sunna) of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for more clarity!

“These killers who claim to be defending Islam and the Holy Prophet yet do not follow his teachings. Sad. Nigeria Police we await Justice for Deborah!”

BIAFRA NEWS : Avoiding Basketmouth is for my sanity – AY speaks on ‘beef’ with colleague

 

Famous Nigerian comedian and filmmaker, Ayo Makun, aka AY, has opened up on his age-long rift with a colleague, Bright Okpocha known as Basketmouth.

AY, in an Ask Me Anything session on his Instagram page, said he has no issues with Basketmouth but avoids him because he has an ‘uncontrollable superiority complex and childishness.’

AY said this after a fan asked, “Do you really have any issues with Basketmouth?”

Responding, he said: “I don’t have issues with Basketmouth but people having unnecessary issues with you are the price you sometimes pay for being progressive.

“He has been battling with an uncontrollable Superiority complex for the longest. So, avoiding his incessant childishness only became necessary for my own sanity.”

AY who went further said he only speaks to those who speak to him.

As of the time of this report, Basketmouth was yet to respond to AY’s revelation.

BIAFRA NEWS : Jonathan mulls declaration for presidency

Former President Goodluck Jonathan may soon declare his interest to reclaim the exalted seat of the presidency in the 2023 poll.

Jonathan dropped the hint while addressing hundreds of youths from across the country who trooped to his Maitama foundation office to call for his return to power on Friday.

“Yes you are calling me to come and declare for the next election,” Jonathan said. “I cannot tell you I am declaring. The political process is ongoing. Just watch out.

“But the key role you must play is to pray that Nigeria gets somebody that carry the young people along. Somebody that can also work very hard to see that some of the problems you raised are dealt with by the government.

“This march show that the youths are interested in politics. Encourage you to get involved in the political process. And as long as many youths get involved in the political process you will be able to get the government that you want.

“And I believe collectively we would work together. I thank all of you.”

The development is coming against the backdrop of speculation that a section of the political elites in the North are disposed to having Jonathan succeed President Buhari to serve out his remaining four years in office to pay way for the return of power to the North for another eight years.

It is unknown whether Jonathan will declare for the exalted seat on the platform of the ruling All progressive congress (APC) or the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He, however, expressed gratitude to the youths groups and women for calling over on him to take another shot at the presidency in the 2023 poll.

Referring to the Not Too Young to Run Bill signed into law when he was at the helm, he enjoined the youths to actively participate in the 2023 poll.

The group led by Comrade Mayor Samuel, who spoke on behalf of the youths, argued that the return of Jonathan remains the panacea to the multifaceted challenges in the country.

The youths carried various placards with inscriptions like “Run, Goodluck Run”, “Goodluck Jonathan, you are wasting your time, declare now” “Goodluck we want you back”, “Jonathan Nigeria wants you to run.”

BIAFRA NEWS : Don’t repeat what Rivers did to Igbos after Biafra war – HURIWA warns Goodluck Jonathan

 Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has warned former President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve the plans of entering the race for the 2023 presidency.

There are growing rumours that the former President has yet to declare his interest because he was yet to receive the assurance from the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he would run as the party’s consensus candidate.

Other rumours say that Goodluck Jonathan is seeking the blessing or approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to join the APC and grab the party’s sole ticket uncontested.

Addressing his supporters in Abuja a few weeks ago, Jonathan did not deny nursing the intention to run for the 2023 presidency as he told them to watch out.

Jonathan stated categorically that the political process regarding his decision to contest for president in 2023 was ongoing.

Many Nigerians believe that Jonathan was being used as a tool by Northern APC chieftains, to reduce the number of years the South will stay in power, having served four years as an elected Southern president already.

Jonathan became the first victim of the merger of some political parties and political bigwigs under the umbrella of the APC in 2014, as he, in 2015, became the first democratically elected President of Nigeria to be defeated in an election and removed from office by a new administration.

With the current administration having allegedly failed in all areas of governance and left the country almost in a state of beyond repair, it is understood that some Northern APC chieftains see Jonathan as the best candidate to sell to Nigerians, who they would welcome with a warm embrace.

But HURIWA is warning the Old Rivers-State-born politician to avoid such a move, adding that contesting the election would be seen as reversing what happened to the Igbo in River State after the Nigerian-Biafra war.

“Our parents who had houses in the State lost all houses during the war. But my father had so many houses in the North, but they were all taken care of by a Northerner,” HURIWA’s Emmanuel Onwubiko said in a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

“After the 30-month-old war, my father came back and collected the old rent and he got all his houses back. But River State took all the housing assets belonging to Igbo people in Rivers.

“So, Goodluck Jonathan should not replay that hatred that they showed to the Igbo after the war because if he accepts to be candidate of APC and become the president, it means he has short-changed the Igbo who gave him their all.

“If he does that, the South-South and the South-East will never have peace or trust each other for life. Because what happened to us after the war in the 60s, when we lost so many housing assets, they have not been forgotten.

“So, if he tried a second betrayer by accepting APC’s enticement to become President for only four years, he is doing it because he wants to short-change the Igbos,” he said.

BIAFRA NEWS : UK Government Recognises Nnamdi Kanu’s Indigenous People Of Biafra As Terrorist Organisation, Violent Group

 In 2017, the Nigerian government declared IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

The United Kingdom has recognised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and a group that uses violence to achieve its aims. 

 

The United Kingdom Visas and Immigration office disclosed this in its May 2022 policy update.

UKVI clearly referred to IPOB whose leader, Nnamdi Kanu is currently in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) as a terrorist organisation to be excluded from its asylum programme for violent crimes in Nigeria’s South East. 

“IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria,” UKVI said in its policy notes. 

“If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable. 

“Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum.” 

In 2017, the Nigerian government declared IPOB as a terrorist organisation. 

In recent times, the proscribed group has been accused of perpetrating violent attacks in the South East in order to achieve its secession agenda but IPOB has repeatedly denied being behind the attacks. 

Ivan Sheehan, an American academic who is the executive director of the school of public and international affairs at the University of Baltimore recently asked the United States government to designate the group as a terrorist organisation. 

According to Sheehan, the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) by IPOB signalled the end of the group’s “pretenses of being a peaceful movement”. 

The American academic also accused IPOB’s leader, Kanu of supporting terrorism and issuing threats via Radio Biafra. 

“Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader, is clearly unconcerned. That he feels no need to even disguise his support of terrorism is worrisome,” Sheehan wrote. 

“Through its online platform, ‘Radio Biafra’, and other social media, IPOB have increasingly used inflammatory rhetoric to encourage secessionist aspirations and resistance to the authorities, including violence (see Overview of groups, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of ‘Biafra’ (MASSOB) and Separatist groups outside of Nigeria). 

“Sources reported that the security forces have arrested hundreds of IPOB supporters at different events, particularly between 2015 and 2017 and including during raids on homes of IPOB leaders. Since 2015, IPOB has also claimed that the security forces have used excessive force, including killing and injuring hundreds of its supporters (see Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB). 

“Several sources also reported clashes between IPOB and the authorities during 2018 and 2019. Further clashes and violence occurred between security forces and IPOB in August 2020 in the city of Enugu, and in October 2020 during confrontations in Rivers State. In November 2020, there were reports that security forces carried out operations against IPOB in the Oyigbo area of Rivers State. However, these reports were denied by state governor Nyesom Wike. These incidents resulted in the arrests and deaths of IPOB supporters as well as security force personnel (see Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB). 

“In December 2020, IPOB is reported to have set up the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a para-military force (see Overview of groups, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of ‘Biafra’ (MASSOB) and Separatist groups outside of Nigeria). 

“In February 2021, the Nigerian military launched land and air operations against ESN operatives (see Aims, Activities, Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB). 

“Clashes between IPOB and the authorities continued into 2021. The group were involved in attacks reported to have taken place in April 2021 in Imo State where a police headquarters was destroyed and over 1,800 prisoners were reported to have escaped from a prison, although IPOB denied involvement in the attacks. In May 2021, clashes between state security forces and IPOB resulted in the deaths of both members of IPOB/ESN and the security forces. Sources also reported in June 2021 that the Nigerian Army had stated that IPOB/ESN had killed 128 military and police, 15 Civil Defence officers and 31 community policing members as well as over 100 people for not supporting IPOB. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, denied this claim. Clashes between state security forces and IPOB/ESN continued throughout the second half of 2021 into 2022. Media sources reported the deaths of 11 security forces in June 2021, with a further 22 deaths between October and December 2021 inclusive (see Aims, Activities, Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’: Clashes between state and secessionist groups and Treatment of IPOB). 

“Following an attack on police stations by IPOB members in Rivers State in October 2020, the governor offered a reward for information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the IPOB state leader, Stanley Mgbere. Kanu publicly issued a N100m (c. £170-175,000) bounty on the governor in response. CPIT could find no further information in the sources consulted that Mr Mgbere had been located and arrested. In November 2020, 2 unnamed suspected senior IPOB leaders were reportedly arrested in Rivers State (see Clashes between state and IPOB and Bibliography). 

“As well as arrests of IPOB supporters/armed activists, a number of IPOB senior members have been arrested including the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who was originally jailed in 2015 for 2 years and then subsequently released on bail. Following a clash with soldiers at his home in Abia state in 2017, Kanu fled Nigeria whilst on bail facing charges of terrorism and incitement. In June 2021 the Nigerian government announced he had been arrested in a third country and returned. Kanu remains in custody in Nigeria and is subject to ongoing legal proceedings (see Arrest and detention).”

BIAFRA NEWS : IPOB UK ban a hoax, Nnamdi Kanu family hits FG

 

The family of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Federal Government of sponsoring lies against pro-Biafra movements.

Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, stated this while reacting to a statement credited to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shuhu, over the purported designation of IPOB as a terror group by the United Kingdom, UK, government which turned out to be untrue.

A statement by the British High Commission in Abuja had refuted reports that IPOB was proscribed by the UK.

But before the rebuttal by the British High Commission, Shehu in a statement  entitled, ‘Thank you UK on IPOB. Now the next steps’, hailed the action of the UK government, and demanded the confiscation of IPOB assets as well as visa sanctions for its financiers.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, Emmanuel said the Presidency should advise media handlers of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop feeding on lies.

He said it was amusing that the handlers were already celebrating fake news without any attempt to verify the source.

According to him, it goes to show the mindset of government towards Biafra.

He noted that the president might not even be aware of the over zealousness of his media aides who churn out press statements without authorization.