Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has said the planned mass withdrawal of African states from the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not shield the continent’s leaders, who engage in genocidal acts from prosecution and humiliation.
Falana stated this in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday while reacting to last week’s decision of the African Union (AU) leaders and representatives of member states, who at the annual summit of the union voted to adopt a strategy to collectively withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He, however, hailed Nigeria asnd Senegal for refusing to vote for impunity in Africa.
Falana noted that the vote to quit the ICC was based on the allegation that the ICC has exclusively focused attention on African leaders in investigating and prosecuting cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He added that to justify the decision of African states to quit the ICC, the AU announced that the mandate of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights would be amended to include criminal jurisdiction.
The human rights lawyer said in accusing the ICC of “selective justice” , the African states did not denied that there was basis for opening investigation into war crimes committed in Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Central Africa Republic, Sudan, Mali, Libya and Cote d’Ivoire.
He noted that late last year, South Africa, Burundi and The Gambia had announced plans to withdraw from the ICC but President Adama Barrow of The Gambia has undertaken to fulfil his electoral promise of ensuring that his country did not quit the ICC.
He regretted that while taking the decision, the meeting of the AU leaders was silent on the need by member states to strengthen their criminal justice system and accountability mechanisms.
Falana said although the ICC has tried a number of political leaders in Africa, majority of the cases were referred to the court by African states themselves, African Union and the United Nations Security Council, which ensured that dictators were made to stand trial and account for the atrocities perpetrated by them while in office.
He, however, lamented that in the cases in which the ICC intervened, it was discovered that the states were either unable or unwilling to prosecute the suspects, who were involved in genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He said as long as African leaders continue to pay lip service to the fight against impunity in the continent, victims of human rights infringements will not hesitate to seek redress in available human rights mechanisms with a view to bringing perpetrators to book.
Tag: Genocide
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Genocide: African states’ withdrawal from ICC ’ll not shield leaders from trial, says Falana
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South Sudan not falling into genocide – Official
A senior South Sudanese official has denied a UN report that the war-torn country risked recording genocide due to targeted killings along ethnic lines.
Deputy Minister of Information, Paul Kordit, told newsmen on Monday that the report by UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, was alarming but overstated the situation.
“I do not think this country can slide into genocide.
“This country has experience of conflict and emerging from it stronger. I have seen the report but the statement was overstated.
“What people of South Sudan need are not messages that spread fear but those that give them hope,’’ Kordit added.
Dieng concluded his fact-finding mission in South Sudan on Friday.
He observed that the country risked falling into genocide if the government did not intervene to nip the situation in the bud.
“Inflammatory rhetoric, stereotyping and name-calling have been accompanied by targeted killings and rape of members of particular ethnic groups,’’ Dieng said.
He called for an end to targeted killings that have caused tension between the Equatorial region’s Bari-speaking tribes and Dinka, the largest ethnic group in South Sudan.
Civil war broke out in December, 2013, between government troops led by President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to sacked First Vice President, Riek Machar.
Tens of thousands have died and over two million have been displaced ever since.
A peace deal signed between the rival leaders under UN pressure in 2015 led to the formation of a unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting that erupted in early July.
Machar, who had returned to his old post as Kiir’s deputy in the unity government, was sacked again and fled the country after the July fighting.
He is now in residence in South Africa and has asked his supporters to launch a rebellion.
Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands forced out of their homes since July.
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Genocide: Never again in Rwanda
The first time I watched Sometimes in April, the historical drama of the television film on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda was some years ago when the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye reportedly urged members of the Church to watch the film.
He recommended the film against the background of fanning the embers of ethnic hatred in Nigeria by some groups to let them know what happened in another country where ethnic disagreement resulted in genocide.
I remember watching with trepidation, some scenes of the film that depicted the height of man’s inhumanity to man which left almost 800,000 Tutsis and their Hutu sympatisers dead.
Penultimate Friday night, I watched the film again in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda where I am attended a seminar. Earlier in the day, I had joined my colleagues on the trip to visit the Genocide Memorial Museum where the the story of the genocide is documented in various forms for remembrance and learning.
The shocking reality of what I and others saw and heard during the visit to the museum made me to watch Sometimes in April again to fully grasp and meditate on the import of what really happened in the battle for supremacy between the Hutus and Tutsis and what future awaits Rwanda.
As I watched the film again, I was gripped with the fear that has been expressed by many observers that despite the tremendous progress Rwanda has made twenty-two years after the genocide and the peace that now reigns, what obtains in the country is a delicate balance of forces.
For some moments, I had a sneaky feeling of soldiers and militias storming the Kigali Serena Hotel I was staying as depicted in the film. I had to pull the curtains and look out to be sure my fear was unfounded, at least for now.
Good enough, deliberate efforts are being made by the government and the people of Rwanda to ensure that the kind of senseless killings that happened in 1994 never happens again.
Yearly, the commemoration of the genocide is marked with the Kwibuka ceremony which is about remembering what happened, uniting and renewing in fight against the genocide ideology.
A top Rwandan media executive spoke about two constitutional provisions which has helped in stabilising the ethnic and political situation in the country. They include power sharing formula that ensures that the ruling political party does not have more than 50 percent of political offices and consensus on major government policies for the good of all.
While President Paul kigame can be faulted for his kind of ‘democracy’ sustained by heavy security presence all over the country, he and his countrymen and women deserves commendation for the massive development the country has witnessed since the genocide.
Going across the the country, it is hard to believe that it once experienced any war. The major roads are well paved and clean without any noticeable potholes. The city centre in Kigali is a beauty to behold with various structures.
Throughout my stay in Rwanda there was no power outage and no generator was in sight.
The Rwandans have done well for themselves and should resist any temptation of a repeat of the 1994 incident. In the spirit of unity and ensuring continuous development that is making the small country a model for others in the continent, the interest of all groups should be accommodated as much as possible by the ruling government.
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US pays tribute to genocide victims in Rwanda
The U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, on Friday said his government was joining Rwandans in paying tribute to 800,000 people murdered in the country’s genocide in 1994.
Kerry, however, said in statement that the U.S. government was committed to working with the people and government of Rwanda in preventing a recurrence of genocide in the country.
“We stand with the people of Rwanda in paying tribute to the more than 800,000 men, women, and children who were savagely murdered in the Rwandan genocide 22 years ago.
“We grieve for those innocent lives lost for the families and friends who will forever cherish them.
“We also grieve for the survivors who suffer as both victims and witnesses to one of the most unspeakable acts of evil of our lifetime,’’ it said.
The statement restated the U.S. government’s commitment to preventing the horror of mass atrocities and genocide from occurring again.
“We are set to work with the people of Rwanda and the international community to finish the task of bringing those responsible for the heinous acts to justice,’’ it said.
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Agatu massacre genocide against Idoma people, says Mark
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has described as barbaric, wicked and inhuman the massive attacks and destruction of lives and properties in Agatu local government area of Benue State by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
Mark expressed shock at the unbelievable level of destruction of lives and properties in the area, describing it as genocide perpetrated against the Idoma people.
This is contained in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, which was made available to reporters in Abuja.
He said: “I am shocked beyond words at the extent of destruction I have seen here in Agatu today. This is unbelievable. It is unimaginable. Nothing whatsoever justifies this brazen act of destruction meted out on the people of Agatu. My heart bleeds.”
The statement said that Mark, who was on an assessment tour of the ravaged communities along with some members of the National and State Assembly from his Benue South constituency, urged security agencies to do all that is needed to bring the perpetrators to book.
It said that Mark was of the view that the attacks could not have happened by accident, but was a planned and orchestrated genocide against the Agatu people.
It said that about 10 communities have been razed down to the rubbles, while no fewer than 500 lives have been lost to the recent hostilities.
Some of the villages visited by Mark and his team have been deserted and virtually turned into ghost towns.
The villages are completely devoid of any social or economic activity, with all the primary and post primary schools, health centres, worship centres, as well as the police station in the area have been burnt down.
Mark advised the people to take advantage of the proposed public hearing by the joint Senate Committee on the crisis to bring the matter to public domain and seek redress.
Mark also visited one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps located in Apa local government area where he counseled the victims to remain calm as authorities would do all that is necessary to ameliorate their plight.
In a related development, the traditional ruler of Ayede Oke-Agi Amuro, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Matthew Obasa, has decried alleged killings of farmers in Amuro communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The traditional ruler described the incidence as unfortunate and pathetic, saying this was not the first time herdsmen were killing and maiming innocent people in the town and neighbouring communities in their farms.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police in Kogi to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous acts were brought to justice.
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2015 Elections And Genocide Foretold
There is need for absolute caution as the crumbling nation wobbles bumpily to February 14th general elections. The peace pact signed by all the fourteen presidential contestants against non-violence elections on the auspices of the former Secretary-General of United Nations, and the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Koffi Anna and Chief Emeka Anyaoku respectively is meant to snatch the nation from the jaw of bloodbath and ultimate disintegration.
What came out from the PDP campaign almost the same time the non-violence election peace pack was being signed in Abuja suggests that President Goodluck Jonathan’s political party is overtly at war with itself and the nation. The signal came to the fore at the party campaign activities in Sokoto State. Political intimidation was exhibited during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign flag-off in that state. President Goodluck Jonathan threatened that the ruling party had all it takes to win the February elections.
Speaking through the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammad, President Jonathan boasted that since the PDP was in control of government and all security agencies, “nothing will be left to chance in securing victory.” According to him, “We have the power because we are the ruling party; we have the strength; we have the soldiers; we have the Police; we have the Civil Defense; indeed, we have all security apparatus and power at our disposal to deal with the opposition.”
While calling on PDP supporters not to compromise their direction, Jonathan also assured that the party would not succumb to any form of political intimidation by the opposition. The President added that “PDP is working tirelessly to ensure credible representations at all levels come February. “We are offering Nigerians our best. All we need is your mandate to consolidate on national peace, stability and development where our teeming youth will smile.”
This is not the first time such callous statements will be issuing from the mouths of misbegotten political actors from the hard hit violence plagued Northern part of the country. In November last year, the governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, was caught in a video telling his party follower to kill the APC candidate because “they are cockroaches”. There was no condemnation from either President Jonathan or the PDP.
However, the United States Government rose stoutly and condemned the statements made by the governor, and chided him for his bad vices. The U.S. Government’s position was made known by its embassy office in Abuja via a press statement posted on its website November 20. The video, depicting the governor making the threat, went viral after it was posted on the Internet on November 12. It showed the governor, dressed in white agbada and brown sandals, standing on a red carpet, and addressing a crowd in what seemed like a political rally. He spoke in Hausa language, ironically, he was recorded by his illiterate supporters, for the whole world to see and hear what was meant for secret.
In that video, Mr. Shema likened opposition politicians to “cockroaches” before asking the crowd what to do if they found the nocturnal insect in their apartments. The crowd chorused “Kill them!”
“Crush them!” The governor responded, agreeing with the crowd that opposition elements are truly disposable lots.
This was before the European High Commission also condemned Mr. Shema’s speech after the story was given maximum circulation. The Head, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Michael Arrion, told journalists that Mr. Shema’s call to his supporters to “kill” and “crush” political opponents was “extremely dangerous and unacceptable”. “If it is confirmed, that kind of statements are I’m sorry to say, extremely dangerous and unacceptable,” Mr. Arrion said.
In its statement, the United States said as Nigeria looks ahead to the February 2015 general elections, America strongly supports a free, transparent, credible, inclusive, and non-violent electoral process. “We are deeply troubled by Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State’s recent statements calling for the killing of the “cockroaches of politics”. It also said the rhetorical threat of violence undermines the democratic process and it is utterly unacceptable in a democratic society.
“The United States reiterates its call upon all Nigerians to refrain from advocating, fomenting, or condoning violence before, during, or after the elections,” the statement said. “Participants in the electoral process must demonstrate passion for their convictions and beliefs in a manner that shows respect for opposing differences.
“The Nigerian Constitution itself states it is the duty of every citizen to ‘respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of citizens to live in unity and harmony’”. The U.S. said the use of languages that threaten or incite violence short-circuits the democratic process. “All Nigerians must be free to voice their opinions and participate in the electoral process without fear of physical retribution. “Political parties, elected leaders, and candidates for office have a special obligation to uphold these democratic precepts,” it said.
Those who accused the PDP and the Presidency of wanting to turn Nigeria into Rwanda may be right, after all. Do you remember the battle cry for the killing of cockroaches during the Rwanda genocide?
Do you remember the bloodshed and human carnage that brought the seven million nation to near decimation? Do you know that 800,000 men, women, and children perished in the Rwandan genocide before the dust settles on the cockroaches inciting statement beginning from April 6, 1994 by political actors?
The Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections in June 21st and August 9th respectively are critical examples of straight indictments on the wrong uses President Jonathan has put the Nigeria security apparatus.
While the PDP leadership went to Ekiti to campaign for its governorship candidate, including Mr President, the Presidency instructed soldiers to shoot opposition governors who went to Ekiti to campaign for the APC candidate. Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole and Rauf Aregbesola were almost killed by the overbearing soldiers. The same goes for State of Osun’s election with 76,000 security forces deployed, and 25 security men were allocated to man each polling unit!
As an advocate of “blood and iron”, President Jonathan and the PDP didn’t see anything wrong with the brutal machete attack on Mr Kingsley Emenike, the APC ward 17 Youth Leader, in Obio/Apor Local Government Council Area of Rivers State. They didn’t see anything wrong with the bombing of the APC campaign office in Port Harcourt. But they were quick to shout themselves hoarse when the president’s campaign bus was attacked in Jos in a retaliatory gesture.
Governor Shema and his co-travellers must be smarting dangerously from what Prof. Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laurel referred to as “a nest of killers in the PDP”, some years ago. Perhaps, Governor Shema is merely re-confirming what the PDP has been from the outset. The only difference now is that, they may want to go into wholesale mass murder.
Killing the “cockroaches” in political terms, is another coded message for PDP followers to embark on calculated genocide and brutal murder as preached by shameless Shema and approved by the clueless leadership of his party. Nigerians should rightly call out and demand a recant and an apology from President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Bello Haliru Muhammad, Shehu Shema and their minders to halt the impending genocide.
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After Rwanda’s Genocide
On Monday, Rwanda commemorated the victims of a genocide unleashed 20 years ago by Hutu extremists in power then. More than 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi men, women and children, were systematically hunted down and brutally murdered over a period of just 100 days. The world stood by and let the blood bath happen.
Over the past two decades, Rwanda has done an impressive job of rebuilding its institutions and economy. To bring perpetrators of the genocide to justice, the United Nations has conducted more than 70 tribunal cases, Rwanda’s courts have tried up to 20,000 individuals, and the country’s Gacaca courts have handled some 1.2 million additional cases. Incredibly, Tutsis and Hutus, survivors and former killers, now live side by side. The government of President Paul Kagame has transformed Rwanda into an island of order and relative prosperity in a poor and politically volatile region.
Despite this, the genocide has left a legacy of unanswered questions and uncorrected failures. It is time to face them. The international community cannot hide behind euphemisms. The reluctance to use the word “genocide” because of the moral horror it carries and the intervention it demands does not change realities on the ground. It did not spare the United States accusations of shameful paralysis during the Rwandan genocide, and it will not protect the international community from the judgment of history for mass murder now or in the future. Recognizing the need to respond appropriately to such situations, President Obama created the Atrocities Prevention Board in 2012. But as events in the Central African Republic, Syria and Sudan make clear, the United Nations, regional organizations and allied countries also need to set up international contingency plans to deal with mass atrocities.
It is time for France to open its records to public examination. France had close relations to the Hutu-dominated government that planned and incited the genocide. A lack of clarity about France’s role has poisoned its relationship with the Kagame government and hampers France’s actions in Mali and the Central African Republic.
Mr. Kagame must also be held accountable for abuses in Rwanda and outside its borders, where he has gone after critics in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Europe. Civil and political rights in Rwanda are severely restricted. Dissidents and opposition political leaders are subject to harassment, detention and torture. Several have disappeared or been killed.
Addressing the poisonous legacies of Rwanda’s genocide is the only way to avert future tragedy, and it is the best way to honor Rwanda’s dead.
– The New York Times
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Kaduna community alleges planned genocide
The people of Attakar Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State have urged the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to save them from annihilation.
They alleged that constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen were threatening their existence.
Addressing reporters at Fadan Attakar, the headquarters of the chiefdom, the National President of Attakar Community Development Association (ACDA) Ishaya K. Samaila said over 100 people had been killed since March, when the Fulani first invaded the community.
The paramount ruler of Attakar people, Tobais Maiwada, also expressed sadness that the House of Assembly had not raised any motion to draw the attention of relevant authorities to the plight of his people.
Samaila said the invaders had destroyed about 500 houses and displaced over 10,000 people from the community.
The spokesman estimated the damage at N500 million.
He said the suspected perpetrators were occupying some of the villages that were attacked.
Samaila said: “On March 19 and 20, Stephen Aboye was killed at Mafan and Markus Aba was shot dead at Telak by suspected Fulani gunmen. On March 21, Attakar villages on the Plateau State axis, namely Kirim, Danti, Mayit, Zadian, Dajak, Tinga Mogwai and Durag were invaded, leading to the killing of 14 people and burning of 247 houses, including four churches and two schools. Personal items worth about N150 million were destroyed in that attack.
“On the March 30, which was the eve of Easter celebration, Mafan, Muyit and Zilan were again attacked in the afternoon, with 32 people killed. Two churches and two primary schools and most parts of the villages were razed.
“Also, on May 13, 13 people were killed in a night raid by the Fulani in Zangan District; 82 houses were destroyed, including a church and a primary school, forcing 3,000 people to seek refuge at Zangan Secondary School. On September 2, Adu Village, in the same Zangan District, was attacked. In that attack, a family of four was completely wiped out, leaving a death toll of nine.”
He said another attack occurred last Saturday in which 15 people were allegedly killed.
Samaila said: “The mode of the attacks showed that they were aimed at eliminating the villages because the children and women were not spared.
“The attacks seemed to be directed at taking over our lands, because attempts by the displaced persons were met with further attacks in which four people were killed at Mayit and Tela communities.
“The Fulani have now settled in Mayit and other villages, after displacing the Attakar people.”
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UN honours victims, survivors of Rwanda genocide
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday honoured the memory of the more than 800,000 persons who lost their lives during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
In his message to mark the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, Ban urged countries to “share responsibility’’ to prevent mass atrocities from reoccurring.
“Preventing genocide is a shared responsibility. States must uphold their obligations under international law to prevent abuses and protect their populations.
“Collectively, we must go beyond words and effectively safeguard people at risk.
“And individually, we must nurture the courage to care and the resolve to act, only by meeting these challenges can we match the resolve of the survivors and truly honour the memory of those who died in Rwanda 19 years ago,” he said.
Nearly one million Rwandans, mostly ethnic Tutsi, were massacred by Hutu militia and government forces over a period of 100 days.
This occurred in spite of the existence of the Genocide Convention of 1948 which makes it a crime to commit genocide.
In response to this collective failure and in an effort to learn from the past, the UN outlined an action plan for the prevention of genocide in 2004.
“Out of the ashes of the genocide, Rwanda has forged a new path, progressing towards a more peaceful and just society.
“I encourage the people and Government of Rwanda to continue promoting the inclusive spirit and dialogue necessary for healing, reconciliation and reconstruction,” Ban added.
He said since the Rwandan genocide, the UN had worked every day to prevent a recurrence of such horror, with the responsibility to protect having become a global principle.
“We are strengthening our capacities for mediation, fact-finding, preventive diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
“And we are focusing on the special procedures and other UN human rights mechanisms, which play a critical early warning role,’’ he stressed.
Ban also noted that progress had been made in fighting impunity for crimes against humanity.
According to him, organisations such as the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda are working to bring those responsible for the genocide to justice
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Anybody denying that there was genocide and starvation against the Igbo during the civil war is living in denial – Col. Achuzia, ex-Biafran commander and Ojukwu’s associate
Col. Joseph Achuzia was not only a participant in the Nigerian civil war (1967-1970) but one of the top Biafran war commanders and a very intimate associate of the late Biafran warlord, Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu. In this interview with Assistant Editor, LINUS OBOGO, the British-trained Aeronautic engineer and one-time Secretary-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, took issue with those who accused Prof. Chinua Achebe of distorting history in his book, There was a Country, where the celebrated story teller alleged genocide and the deployment of starvation as a weapon of war against the then Federal Government. Excerpts:
The ongoing Constitution review by the National Assembly has afforded the South East the opportunity to seek redress of perceived marginalisation including the demand for an additional state for the purpose of balancing and equity, but some Northern interests have vowed to frustrate the region from realising its wish. What do you make of this strong position coming from the North against the agitation?
Most people do not seem to understand the meaning of marginalisation. For a people to continue to sing or cry about marginalisation, there must be a reason. And for a certain people to continue to carry on or do the same thing that creates a sense of inferiority towards others that makes them feel marginalis….ed, means there exists marginalisation.
In this instance, year in, year out, the arrogance of the North makes us as a people feel that we do not belong to the rest of the country. And what they do not seem to appreciate is the fact that the states created for them was not through any constitutional means but through the barrel of the gun. The North, after the pogrom visited on the Igbo during the civil war, continued to carry their arrogance even into an era of peace. The military carved out states for the North which gives them advantage over other regions like the South East.
This is part of what Prof. Chinua Achebe wrote in his book, There was a Country, which is making some people angry. I cannot stop talking about the arrogance of the North because they are still perpetrating that same arrogance that makes them see the Igbo as a conquered people, over three decades after the pogrom against them.
Recall the various crises that have taken place in the North where the Igbo were made targets. Their shops and property were targeted and destroyed in the North simply because they had to earn a living. Most of the attacks were unleashed on the Igbo for the simple reason that they are Igbo. That is why I am compelled sometimes to ask my people why they continue to reside in a place they are not wanted.
Today, we are told the constitution is being reviewed. But may I ask, what constitution? Is it the same document crafted by the military to protect the Northern interest? As far I am concerned, the constitution the military handed over to the civilians at the end of their incursion into governance should have been suspended by the civilian regime and an entirely new but people’s constitution be fashioned by the people. My people have a saying that if you are in the midst of soldier ants and if one climbs up your feet, you do not remain there for more to climb your body. You just have to step out from there.
So, I don’t feel comfortable to start talking about the state of the nation in the midst of terror. Nigeria is facing a security situation which I think there are thousands of ways it should be addressed. That is why somebody was complaining about former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s statement that President Goodluck Jonathan was not handling the security situation confronting the country as he should. Of course, Obasanjo was a military man and I understand his position. Militarism came to be by virtue of a mission to ward off all forms of attacks that would put the citizens in jeopardy, internally or externally. And in this instance, it is a combination of the two but we are trying to treat it with kid gloves. I don’t subscribe to this approach. This is the most I can say for now.
In other words, you do not think that Jonathan has done enough to tackle the issues of insecurity in the country?
For me, he has not done enough. He has not done enough because he is the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces. He should be seen to be exercising the power given to him as Commander-in-Chief, which he is not exercising. It would be a terrible thing if he makes the same mistake which the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe made in the First Republic, when he watched helplessly while the South West was going into operation Wild Wild West. Elections carried out were inconclusive and people were saying that Zik could not do anything because he was only a ceremonial president. There is nothing like somebody being a ceremonial president when you are closest to all the paraphernalia of office which is being the commander in chief of the armed forces. The armed forces have the instrument of authority of anybody in power. You use it to make sure that your people don’t suffer terror internally or externally. That is why I said that he has not done enough. He has not made good use of the power at his disposal.
Do you subscribe to the Obasanjo’s Zaki Biam and Odi strategy in dealing with the Boko Haram menace?
As a security expert, when you have a group of outsiders coming into the country to terrorise your people, my job, first and foremost, is to use everything at my disposal to repel and stop them. If it is internally orchestrated, I will use all the security apparatus to unsettle all the groups so that it does not escalate and affect other regions of the country. You don’t have to resort to dialogue. Dialogue should not be an option. Who would you dialogue with? Dialogue with faceless people? No my friend! A complete different orientation is needed in tackling the state of insecurity in the country.
There is a raging controversy arising from Prof. Chinua Achebe’s new book, There was a Country, where he accused the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), of genocide and using starvation as a weapon of war during the Nigerian civil war. As an active participant in the war, how agreeable are you with Achebe’s allegation?
There are always two sides to a story. On one side, Achebe has presented the facts as he saw them during the war. On the other hand, Awolowo, during his life time, tried to present the other side of the story the way he saw it. So, whichever side you are and if you choose to believe either side of the story or not, it is immaterial because you can’t change our stance over our perception of what we think of the wrongs done to us. The same way, Gen. Gowon saw from his own point of view that the action he took was the right thing to do. He had a war, fought it and took his responsibility. On our own side, we had a war on our hand and tried to defend ourselves. No amount of argument or criticism can alter what happened at that time. So, I believe that the media has a job to document facts for posterity. I believe that if you look into the archives, all the things written about the civil war are either written to create more disaffection or that the media lacks the necessary documentation which it should have done during the period of that civil war.
I did not fight on the side of those who used starvation as the weapon of war. Consequently, I could not judge their frame of mind. I can only tell you how I felt being a recipient of the pressure of starvation. Also, I cannot tell you how the person who thought it up and decided to use it on us felt that it would expedite the objective at that time.
In other words, Achebe is right that starvation was deployed as a weapon against the Igbo during the war?
Look, I repeat again, Awolowo did not deny taking such a decision neither did Gowon. They were the ones who executed the war and they deployed starvation for whatever reason that guided their action. I was the recipient of starvation and its pressure as all borders, ground, air and sea, were closed against us so that we could not retreat. We were as encircled as to be exterminated. That was how I felt at the time. But whether the intention was to exterminate us, I cannot tell. Those of us who survived the war saw it like that because there were many others who did not survive. So, whoever is denying that starvation was used or the war itself was not genocide against the Igbo is living in denial. But now, we should be thinking of showing love and understanding towards one another.
Achebe did not go out of his way to stoke controversy. He is a journalist and a writer. The basis of people gifted to write is to chronicle events for posterity. And that was what he did.
Ahead of 2015, would the Igbo be ready to stake a claim to the Presidency?
When Jonathan was canvassing for the presidency and the North stood in opposition, my people and I stood behind him. I made a statement at the time that after Jonathan, it would be the turn of the Igbo. And because Jonathan at that time said that he could manage only one term, I also said that in 2015, if Jonathan did not go for a second term, it would be our turn and it would not be negotiable. I still stand by that statement that it is not negotiable. And by that I mean that you either concede to the Igbo their right to aspire to the office of the president or otherwise, it is to your tent oh Israel.
How sincerely prepared are the Igbo for the challenges of wresting power, given their lack of unity?
you seem to have spoken the minds of most Igbo, but how prepared are the Igbo for this? The seemingly lack of consensus by the Igbo, as people see it, is the fact that the Igbo have an organisation which is trying to arrive at what you just noted, consensus. But we fail to address one issue, our collective political interest. And Nigeria took advantage of it. The North, during the period they were ruling, took advantage of it. During the census, they said that everybody should be counted where he was, knowing that most of the northern areas are populated by the Igbo, as a result of the Igbo penchant to pursue wealth. When it is time for census, they are not allowed to go to their ancestral home to be counted.
We have been singing and asking that for the sake of equity in the country, there must be fair, honest and transparent census and the Igbo should be allowed to be counted in their states of origin. It is there in the Bible. When the Jews were ruled by the Romans and they realised that they were being sectionalised by the Romans, they persuaded Rome to pass a law to enable everybody to return to their ancestral homes to be counted during census. This is what we are asking. As long as they are not allowed to return home and be counted, the South East would always remain a minority region. The whole of the South East and South-South combined cannot contain all the Igbo in Nigeria if they are allowed to go home and be counted.
For 2015, we have set in motion an organisation that embraces all Igbo to take care of the political activities of Ndi Igbo and that also accommodates our cultural heritage and our social behaviour. We have been on this for the past eight years – pursuing Igbo zuru me (Igbos gathered together to accomplish).
How do you mean ‘to your tent oh Israel’ should the Igbo not get the presidency?
I am not the first person to use that clause “to your tenth oh Israel.” As I have said, if in 2015, Jonathan decides to run for the presidency, he can count on our support but if he does not, we would have the slot. And for anybody to say that it is not our turn, we have to be pushed out of Nigeria.
How are you prepared as a socio-cultural organisation to deal with traitors among the Igbo?
We don’t have such people in Igbo land. If we do, we will deal with them the traditional way. And don’t ask me what is the traditional way.
What is your position on whether or not the six-zonal structure should be included in the revamped Constitution to be offered Nigerians?
The constitution we inherited was crafted and skewed against the interest of the Igbo. And our position as Ndi-Igbo is that the current zonal arrangement should really not bother anybody because it has no legal backing in the constitution. operating under the current constitution has given rise to maps being redrawn, boundaries being adjusted and ethnicities being rearranged through illegal activities of the boundary commission. I will repeat again as civilians, we must first suspend this present constitution. There is no need to amend what has been bastardised. That is my stance and that is why I am not prepared to discuss constitution review.