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  • Hagiography: Igbos deliberately distorting Yoruba history

    Hagiography: Igbos deliberately distorting Yoruba history

    What happened to all their previous claims? Before now, Igbos claimed that their ancestral origin was Nri where their mythical ancestral father, Eri, descended from with a chain many a millennia ago.

    At some other time, they claimed they originated from somewhere around the Rivers Niger and  Benue confluence. They are known to have, at other times, claimed both Benin  and  Egypt as their originat. Even until now they claim to be Jews, have their roots in Israel and, therefore, among the ten lost tribes of Israel” – Olukoya Dele Ogunfowora

    So who truly are the Igbos and where do they come from?

    They may soon claim to have originated from River Limpopo.

    Igbos have a long line of witheringly brilliant History scholars, among them the likes of Professors Kenneth Dike and Adiele Afigbo both of the Ibadan School of History, representing the old generation while, amongst the new are Professors Elizabeth Isichei,  Okoro Ijoma and Nnolue Emenanjo.

    These eminent historians are well regarded in, and outside Nigeria, having made significant contributions to the study of History, particularly to the study of Igbo and African history and their work continues to be highly influential in the academic community.

    But brilliant as they are, and despite the seminal work they have done on the History of their people, not one of them claimed that Igbos founded Ile -Ife. Unfortunately, this cannot be said of some Igbo charlatans now revelling in historical vandalism.

    More surpring is the fact that these ones did not limit themselves  to verbal diarrhoea as in when some Igbos say ‘Lagos is no man’s land’. Instead, they have attempted to cast this lie in stone by publishing it in  school text books.

    Let’s now see how a trending WhatsApp post exposed their blasphemy:

    “Yoruba history is under siege, not by ignorance, but by a calculated ethnic agenda. A false claim is being pushed, namely, that the Igbo people founded Ile-Ife and were later chased

    out by Oduduwa. It’s not on Facebook but in school textbooks.

    It is in ‘Standard History Studies for JSS 1–3’, by Tony Duru & Ijeoma Duru, allegedly approved by NERDC where

    students are being taught that Ife was originally occupied by Igbos until they were “invaded” by Oduduwa, thus foolishly accepting, for once, that these ‘Jews’ – or are they no longer Jews – were at a time not only conquered, but banished by the Yorubas.

    Do they know what they are saying?

    And was this before, or after they became Jews?

    In ‘The Igbo: People, History and Worldview’ by Dons Eze & Chinedu Ochinanwata, they go even further, claiming that the Yoruba monarchy is built on Igbo spiritual systems, that Oduduwa overthrew a peaceful Igbo order, and that modern Ife is a hybrid of stolen identity.

    Which of these their spiritual systems can they name?

    Let it be said clearly:Ile-Ife is the cradle of Yoruba civilization. It was not founded by any Igbo. It was neither inherited nor conquered. And no amount of fiction can change that”.

    There is no archaeological, linguistic, cultural, or oral record, Yoruba or foreign, that supports this  heresy. What we have here is a disturbing weaponisation of their usual fraudulent pecadiloes.

    And NERDC – the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the Head of

    whose Book Development Centre is, unsurprisingly IGBO, must be held  accountable as an accomplice. would have since been afoot.

    But we owe it a duty to make these conspiratorial ignoramuses unlearn what they are not only regurgitating, but are deliberately trying to force down the throat of younger generations of Nigerians.

    I now proceed to educate them by pressing into service, the most authoritative historian of the Yoruba people, namely, Prof Banji Akintoye, via his 498 – page book: ‘A History of The Yoruba People’.  

    Full disclosure: Prof Akintoye is my life teacher; he was my teacher at Christ’s School, Ado – Ekiti in the early ’60’s and taught me History at the Great University of Ife, Ile -Ife, same decade.

    In ‘A history of the Yoruba People’, Professor Akintoye deployed four decades of  historiography research with current interpretation and analyses to present the most complete and authoritative Yoruba history since Samuel Johnson’s work in the early twentieth century.

    Therein, he traced the origins of the Yoruba from its earliest, legendary and mythical beginnings, to the development of early Yoruba society, the revolution and early primacy of Ife from the tenth to the fifteenth century, the founding of Yoruba kingdoms and the power of frontiers as well as to the rise and fall of Oyo Empire.

    I write here of Professor Akintoye’s stupendous, Magnum Opus, a highly definitive story of the Yorubas.

    Read Also: Fire guts hotel with over 480 Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca

    Yet, not once was reference made to Igbos as inhabitants of Ife at any point in time except when reference was made, tangentially, to some external aggressors called  Igbo – Igbo who never one day inhabited or lived in Ife.

    These external aggressors have  since been positively identified as the Ugbo people for which reason Ugbos, a sect of the same Yoruba race – and not some wayfarers, forever laying claim to what does not belong to them – have not stopped asserting that they were the original inhabitants of Ife.

    That was the story they heard from a highly placed Yoruba Monarch, misrepresented and weaponised, to claim that they were expelled from Ife by the legendary Oduduwa.

    No historian (before these perennial trouble makers). – archaeologist, anthropologist, or linguist, Nigerian or foreign, has ever claimed, talk less of presenting credible evidence, that Igbos founded or ruled Ile-Ife.

    A History of the Yoruba People traced a long history of internecine turmoil and wars in, and around, Ife but  they were between well known, and named, Yoruba individuals, among them:Oduduwa, Obatala, Oreluere and Obameri to mention a few.

    Professor Akintoye also wrote as follows on the Igbo – Igbo, the external aggressors:”Concerning the attacks from Igbo- Igbo, a tale exists in Yoruba folklore about one of a LATER King’s wife named Moremi.

    According to this tale, which various generations of Yoruba people have amplified and even set to song, this beautiful woman, having determined that the Igbo raids had to stop, deliberately let herself be captured and taken to Igbo – Igbo. While there, she became a wife to their leader and was therefore able to learn all the secrets of the planning and execution of their raids on Ile- Ife.

    She subsequently escaped and returned home and the information she brought enabled her husband( said to be the Oni Obalufon) to defeat the Igbo- Igbo and end their raids. Most of the people at Igbo – Igbo ultimately returned to live in Ile – Ife”.

    He continued:”The most touching part of this tale is that this woman, in preparation for her adventure, had asked protection from the spirit of a local stream, and pledged that if she succeeded in her adventure, she would sacrifice her only son to the spirit.

    And when she returned alive and the Igbo raids were decisively brought to an end, she did take the painful step of sacrificing her only son”.

    Now that a Petition to Defend Yoruba History From Ethnic Distortion in Nigerian  Textbooks by concerned citizens of Yoruba origin has been forwarded to the President, demanding that the underlisted steps be taken, it is hoped that government would act without any delay:

    1. Immediate retraction and public disapproval of any textbook or material spreading this misinformation.

    2. A formal investigation into how these textbooks were approved by NERDC.

    3. Inclusion of Yoruba scholars and cultural experts in the curriculum review process.

    4. Public apology, and correction notice, to be sent to all schools using these materials.

    5. Implementation of safeguards to prevent ethnic propaganda disguised as education.

    All these  steps are important, according to the group, because:

    allowing false ethnic narratives in our education system would endanger national unity, undermine cultural integrity, and misinform future generations.

    Also, if this distortion is not corrected, millions of Nigerian students, especially Yoruba children, will grow up believing a lie about their ancestral identity”.

    Concluding, as Moremi did to Yoruba’s eternal glory,  the time has come for Yorubas to find the final solution to the Igbo problem, not only in Lagos, but Pan – Nigerian, if they refuse to rein in their antagonism to Yoruba interests everywhere.

    Please Google:”Understanding Yoruba Mindset in context of Igbos as traitors”—A Tribute to Bishop (Prof) Funmilayo Adesanya-Davis,  by a honest Igbo scholar, Dr Nwankwo Tony Nwaezeigwe, PhD.

    Incidentally, the final solution needs not be deleterious. It may just require Yorubas helping to infuse sense into their perennial, bloody and economically ruinous “war of independence” being spearheaded by some Unknown Gun Men(UGM).

    Let us join them to work towards a meaningful devolution of powers in Nigeria in the hope that they will then go back home to develop their own territory rather than continue to ogle what belongs to others.

  • Igbos did’t consider implications of not voting Buhari -Moghalu

    Chief George Moghalu is the National Auditor of the governing All Progresives Congress (APC). A seasoned politician and an administrator, he is one of the party leaders from the south east who fought day and night to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari gets an appreciable number of votes from the region. In this interview with Tony Akowe, he speaks on the outcome of the just concluded Presidential election and the need to streamline the large number of political parties in the country.

    THE APC again won the Presidential election without a significant contribution from the South East. What went wrong

    The truth about it is that we did not achieve our desired expectations. I would have wished that we did alot better than we did in this election even though anybody on the side line would say it is an improvement on the poor outing in 2015. Certainly, we should have done better than we did because the government has been quite responsive to the south east. The President has shown great love and has done so many great and strategic things for us in the south east that should warrant our doing better than we did. But politics is all about what it is and you can never predict. I feel personally disappointed and I am sure that some other leaders also feel disappointed. I really can not access whether it is because our people have not actually understood the political implication because we are trying to seize a platform that we can use to actualise our ambition vis a viz 2023. So, i thought that this election was an opportunity for us to take over the platform and move in aggressively and take over the platform. But probably it was because one of us was given the Vice Presidential ticket of the other party or whatever. I really cant explain what went wrong. But I think it was not a good political move for us. But I believe very strongly that with time, it will continue to improve. We, as leaders of the party from the south east have an added responsibility to work harder to get our people to understand.

    What do you think that the re-election of President Buhari mean for Nigerians?

    For me, it is a reaffirmation and an expression of confidence. It is like telling somebody, you have done well and it places greater challenge. If you listen to the speech of the President when he received his certificate of return, it will show you a man that understand the added responsibility this re-election has given to him, it show you a man who has really dedicated himself to doing better than he has done. He has done quite well especially when you look at all the promises we made when we were coming in in 2015 as a party coming into government. Even at that, he has done extremely well and he believe also that with this re-election, Nigerians have said thank you for what you have done, but we expect you to do more. It is about Nigeria and not about him. So, it is a very welcome development. Its a wonderful thing that has happened and I know since this has happened, our party and government will still do more to justify the confidence of the Nigerian people.

    There are those who believe that they worked for they worked for the party in 2015 and were not rewarded. Many of them have made more sacrifice, expecting thing to be better. What is your message to them?

    Let us all be patient. Mr. President has said that things will be better and we also have a national chairman we believe that there should be a way of appreciating those who work for you as a way of encouraging them. He believe that doing so will also encourage others to know that loyalty pays, hard work pays and commitment also pays. I am sure that these set of people will not be forgotten this time around.

    There is the believe that the position of the President on the leadership of the National Assembly was a tactical error that hunted the government so much. How will the party handle this issue this time around?

    I am sure that the party has a role to play. All these people coming for the first time and those who got re-elected contested on the party platform. So, there is a canopy under which everybody is sitting and that canopy is the party. I am sure that with the dynamic leadership we have now, headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the party will do what it is supposed to do. Once that is done, I am sure we will not have any problem. I am sure that all those elected believe in party supremacy and the fact tat the party has a role to play because it is the party that was elected. All the candidates are representatives of the party and i am sure they will subject themselves to the decisions of the party.

    The opposition PDP said this election was a sham and their Presidential candidate said he was challenging the outcome at the tribunal. What is your view.

    For me, every election must have only one winner and in this case, Buhari is the winner. Don’t forget that before Buhari was elected President, he lost election on three occasion and in all these three instances, he felt that a few things went wrong and he sought protection in the court. This is his right and he exercised it. If the PDP candidate has evidence of things he felt were not properly done, he has a right to either say this is the will of God, let us move on as a nation because Nigeria comes first before my ambition or I will go to court to prove my case. The two options are open to him. It is for him now to make his own choice. I am yet to see that election that would have been concluded and the loser comes out to say this is a wonderful election, except for our experience in 2015 when former President Jonathan conceded even before the final results were announced. For me, the election was not a sham, but a highly contested election and everybody knows that. Don’t forget that the President travelled to the 36 states of this country including the FCT. I don’t know whether the leadership of the other party did what we did by way of campaign. I understand how he felt. I have lost election before, so, I understand the feelings of the candidate of the PDP. My suggestion would have been, yes it has happened and the best thing to do is to congratulate the winner. If they don’t want to do that, they have a right to go to court to seek redress. As for the election, it was one of the freest and fairest in this country.

    Considering the massive crowd that we saw at the campaign rallies of both parties, would you say the voter turnout was impressive?

    The voter turn out was quite impressive because at the end of the day, we are looking at a voter turn out of about 28 million which i quite a huge number even though it did not meet up with our registered population. But you wont lose sight of the fact that we still need to continue voter education. Election is not a one off thing. Right now, notice has been given for the 2023 election because once you declare the result of a Presidential election, you have given notice of the next one. It require all of us, both the political players and the electoral umpires going back to the books to find out what we must do to encourage more voter turn out and what we must do to let our people know the importance of our PVC. As we get more people educated and politically aware, the volume will keep increasing. So, we need to sustain voter education. Like in our party, we are looking at doing things beyond the election, turning the party into an institution and not only just for election. We should have other roles to play and not only as a platform for contesting elections. We should go beyond that. Within this period that notice has been given, we need to keep up voter education and increase membership. If you look at the percentage of membership of the political parties, it is usually less than 20 percent of the population. Why cant we ensure that over 60 percent of registered voters in the country are members of our parties. So, we have alot of work to do. While we are doing that, INEC also have alot of work to do to perfect these card readers, perfect the voters register and other things that will help them so that we don’t start running from pillar to post one week to election trying to do things we would have done when we have time available to us. So, I think we need to sustain voter education and keep encouraging people to be part of the electoral process.

    How would you rate the performance of INEC and the security agents in this election.

    For me, there is quite an improvement from what happened in 2015 irrespective of the fact that INEC failed us when the postponed the election. But it was better for the election to be postponed than having something that is not worth the while. So, I think there is quite some level of improvement from what was done in 2015 which we all adjudged as reasonably ok compared to previous elections. So, what has happened now is that INEC did their best and we need to encourage them, we need to support them and build that electoral institution so that it wont be a one off thing. So, what we need to do is to support and encourage them and then address the areas of lapses critically. For example, the challenges of the card reader has continued to reoccur. We need to address that issue once and for all and get over with it. On the issue of the security, I think they did quite well despite the challenges. As we talk about voter education, you should understand that those who run he security agencies are also Nigerians and are entitled to good representation and good leadership. When people talk about security agencies, they speak as if they are come from the moon or as if they don’t buy from the same market. They also need to be part of what is happening and so, voter education and citizen responsibility, they should also be part of it because once you keep educating them, they become part of the system and then understand that there is a way you do policing during the election without military presence. Some people argued that we don’t need the Army to be involved and I said they should be involved to avoid threat to national security. They are not participating in the voting, but provide additional security. From what has been reported, when the Army arrest people, they hand them over to the police because it is the primary responsibility of the police. So, the Army is providing additional security because that is their primary responsibility. I think they did quite well and we need to support them.

    We have so may political parties on the ballot and there is this argument that there is the need to streamline the parties and make them stronger. Do you think we should reduce the number of parties?

    I think the number is becoming very unwealthy. In this last election, we had 73 political parties that contested the Presidency and some of them came out with very ridiculous scores in  country where we have over 80 million registered voters. That goes to show that some people have turned it into a joke. I think we must create the base. For me, if you don’t have representation in the National Assembly, you don’t have a reason to exist as a political party. So, i am of the school of thought that the number is unwealthy and we must create opportunities on how the number can be reasonably reduced. If you notice the trend now, it is going towards a two party system. It is all about APC, PDP while the others re there in number. Some people may be excited being called National Chairman. That may be the basis for their satisfaction and so, you allow that to massage their ego. Other wise I don’t think it is necessary have political parties that year after year, don’t win even a councillor and are still being called political parties. There are some names I saw n screen that I cant even remember if I have seen them before or what they stand for. I think the number is quite high and something need to be done in that regard.

  • 2019: Igbos in Cross River to support Ayade

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election, Igbos resident in Cross River State under the aegis of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,  have endorsed Governor Ben Ayade for a second term.

    The socio-cultural organisation also conferred a prestigious award on the governor.

    Presenting the award at the Abraham Ordia Stadium, University of Calabar, venue of the 28th anniversary of Nna Ndigbo of Cross River, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state, Ugorji Nwabueze, said the honour was in recognition of Ayade’s achievements in the area of industrialisation.

    He said: “This award from the five Eastern states is in recognition of your achievement and contributions to the growth of Cross River especially in areas of industrialization.”

    He added: “It is also in appreciation of your good performance while exhibiting good strength to the Igbos.”

    Receiving the award, Ayade thanked them for the honour, saying he respects the dexterity, value, capacity, integrity, honour, intelligence and the philosophy of hard work, which the people have continuously portrayed.

    The governor, decked in full Igbo regalia, a red cap and walking stick,  said: “If we have given land to have Nasarrawa and Bogobiri areas, it is also important for us to have an Igbo city. The Igbos are indeed the real blood that drives our economy. So, not to make a special provision for them is to neglect the realities of the times. The governor noted the  the association’s request for land.

    He directed the Commissioner for Lands to make land available to the socio-cultural organisation.

    Ayade said: “I will want Ohaneze Ndigbo, Cross River branch, to liaise with my Commissioner for Lands, he will take you to three locations, make a choice of one, we will allocate it as Igbo city,” he added.

    Extolling the spirit of enterprise among the Igbo, the governor who described them as “the great Israelites of Africa,” said that “the security and social calmness that we enjoy today in Cross River is because the Igbo people have continuously supported us with mercantile activities, creating jobs and so many opportunities that have allowed us to have peace.”

    On the opportunities available at the Industrial park in Calabar, the state capital, Ayade said “the industrial park that we have set up has over 42 industrial plots with water, electricity and road provided.

    He added: “Whether you come by the instrumentality of a collective whole or as an individual, once you are Igbo with the capacity to set up a factory, we shall give you a piece of land to commence the construction of your factory at no cost to you at all.”

    “In Ayade Industrial Park, I assure that the Igbos will have five major plots, free of charge to commence construction of factories provided each of the factories can employ at least 20 people of which at least 10 will be Cross Riverians,” adding that “once you make that provision for me, please come over, take your piece of land, start construction, we will issue you a certificate of occupancy but you must start construction within three months.”

    On the complait about over taxation of petty traders raised by the leadership of the Igbo, Ayade described it as illegal and unacceptable, saying that he did not approve it.

    He urged the people to resist the extortionists, stressing that his administration has a tax control law that regulates tax and exempt people who do low income businesses.

    Ayade said: “No government that is responsible can tax its people to prosperity, prosperity comes from intellectualism, it comes from hard work, it comes from agility of the muscles and therefore the mechanical taxation of your people is negativity to the economy.”

     

  • 2019: Igbo support for Buhari still intact – Nwosu

    Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Uche Nwosu, Friday dismissed the reported endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by a section of Igbo leaders as a ploy to create the erroneous impression that the Igbos are backing the PDP.

    He said that the support for Buhari by the Igbo is still intact.

    Nwosu stated that the endorsement by the selected leaders at the Enugu Summit does not reflect the position of Ndigbo and will not affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Southeast.

    Read Also:PDP: Buhari, APC jittery over our candidate’s acceptance

    According to him, the Southeast has nothing tangible to show for its support for the PDP during its sixteen years in power to warrant the endorsement of its Presidential candidate or any other.

    The former Chief of Staff, who is also a stronger contender for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assured that despite the post primary crisis rocking the party (APC) in the zone, President Buhari will still record landslide victory.

    In his words, “we are not losing sleep over the recent endorsement of Atiku by some Igbo leaders; the action will not change the reality on ground. The Southeast will deliver Buhari in 2019 because it is our best option. We cannot be distracted with the PDP’s Greek gift of Vice President, our focus as a people should be Igbo Presidency in 2023.

    “One important question we should be asking ourselves as Ndigbo is what did we benefit from the PDP for the 16 years it was in power to warrant the endorsement of its candidate, as against what we have recorded within the three years that President Buhari is in power”.

    He continued that, “most of the political decisions of some of our leaders are self-serving and not in the overall interest of the Igbo but this time we are committed to pursuing the best political option for the Igbo, which is supporting President Buhari’s second term.”

    Nwosu also added that, “the fact that majority of our party members are not happy with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole over the manner he handled the party primaries across the zone does not affect our support for President Buhari. In fact it is beyond personal considerations, it is about the interest of Ndigbo and we will deliver President Buhari in 2019. The support for President Buhari is borne out his unequalled integrity and uprightness, which is what the country needs most now”.

  • Igbos: Between Monkey Pox and Monkey Sense

    Panic, tension, disquiet and anxiety held Nigerians in the South-East of the country for days. And amusingly the cause and source of the baseless anguish, which drenched our people in hysteria was as discreditable as the news itself. Some social media e-rats and e-thugs posted reports that our people were being massively killed by deadly vaccines, administered by the free medical outreach programme of the Nigerian Army, as it is causing the killer monkey pox disease.

    The rumour mongers expanded the scope of this malevolent and hate news to include similar deadly vaccines administered on people of the South-south by soldiers. Monkey sense, to say the least!

    Nigerians are not strangers to the free medical services of the Nigerian Army to host communities since the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai mounted the saddle in 2015. The Army has been conducting the free medical outreach programme in the last two years, not just in Medicare, but other humanitarian gestures in water/electricity, roads and so forth, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the Nigerian people mostly within its operational scope.

    Interestingly, virtually every region of Nigeria has benefitted from these programmes, especially, its free medical outreach from North to south, since the Nigerian Army got actively involved in quelling terrorism and other local armed conflicts in Nigeria. The beneficiaries, among them traditional rulers, usually turn out en masse and also, attest to its efficacy and immense assistance. The South-east region has also benefitted from this exercise before “yesterday,” when people with “Monkey” wisdom hijacked and gave it a new satanic meaning.

    Therefore, the roving mischief makers used the instance of the repeat conduct of the free medical services by Operation Python Dance II (Egwu Eke II) to again drum hatred for our soldiers and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) by speculating the injection of South-easterners with Monkey Pox virus. No lie can be so disingenuous, but some naive Nigerians almost believed it. Even an intelligent nursery pupil would never believe that soldiers on a secret mission to eliminate a race will be so crude, daft and foolish enough to openly use poisoned vaccines.

    Nevertheless, a good and kind-hearted gesture was deliberately baptized with evil. These projects are funded from the Nigerian Army’s meagre resources. The passion for humanity and cordiality with the civil populace by the re-professionalized, disciplined and patriotic Nigerian Army under Gen. Buratai is the motivation of these humanitarian services.

    Regrettably, many had no conscience and comportment to assess the veracity of the fake news, but instantly believed its unjustified linkage with the activities of Operation Python Dance II. The 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, traditional rulers, local, state and federal governments refuted the claims as untrue. But the criminal elements in our midst, whose reprehensible outings in violence have been terminated by soldiers, energized the publicity of this silly news. In the first place, miscreants and armed gangs opposed the presence of “Operation Python Dance II” and boldly requested withdrawal of soldiers so that violent crimes could fester.

    The cooked news on the source of the Monkey Pox disease was another carefully crafted propaganda aimed at extracting their pound of flesh from the Army and the government. So, they had no veritable evidence to buttress their claims, but hell bent on tarnishing the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army, they insisted on tagging along with the polluted and wicked reports.

    All manner of reasons were ascribed to justify the fake reports. To these cursed minds, it was the strategy of the Army to depopulate some regions in Nigeria’s south, especially southeast. No one had the sanity of explaining why the FGN under President Muhammadu Buhari or the Nigerian Army would want to depopulate any region and for what value?

    The Nigerian Army in a statement signed by Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, stated explicitly that “The Division wishes to make it clear that the free medical outreach is not a vaccine intended to infect monkey pox or any major contemporary or emerging diseases in Nigeria to the people of South East or any part of the country.”

    Exposing their underbelly of evil, the outlawed IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, claimed the “All Progressive Congress, (APC) government and the Nigerian Army are determined to kill as many Biafrans as possible in Anambra State, and South East in general.”

    That’s the extent of indulgence in evil and wickedness by Nigerians, especially by IPOB members. A Kenyan proverb says “The day the monkey is destined to die all the trees get slippery”. The South-east is a region assailed by armed and violent criminality by gangs nurtured by IPOB and the people cried out for government intervention. Operation Egwu Eke II was government’s response to it. But like can be deduced from the adage, since there is an innate hatred of the Federal Government by IPOB elements, whatever goodwill extended to the region is perceived in bad light.

    Expectedly, they fought back tenaciously and ferociously, to halt Operation Egwu Eke II; they violently attacked soldiers on patrol, deployed the services of hired civil society organizations to lampoon the Federal Government on claims of unwarranted militarization of the Southeast; blackmailed and issued out violent threats. But none of the tricks worked. The Monkey Pox disease vaccination claims of extermination of Southerners was just another desperate attempt by these criminal elements to cause disaffection and hatred against soldiers and the Federal Government to springboard instant withdrawal of Operation Egwe Eke II.

    An African adage says, “No matter how the wild howls, the mountain, cannot bow to it”. So, gimmicks are deployed to frustrate the operation of soldiers in ridding the region of armed and violent gangs. Except that they are not potent enough to distract or deter the resolve of government and soldiers in cleansing our communities and extricating them from the grip of criminals.

    The propagandists of the Army’s injection of Igbos with deadly vaccines, disconnectedly linking it to Monkey Pox disease only displayed their “Monkey Sense .” They are not using their brains to think. So, they act and behave like the typical wild and foolish monkey, who ends up consumed by the fire of its own tricks or plots. The latest development is a pathetic illustration of the magnitude the Nnamdi Kanu-led rebellious IPOB has injected the people with a destructive monkey sense.

    Only those baptized and immersed in monkey wisdom would reason and act this disgracefully before Nigerians. Kanu has led our jobless youths on the destructive voyage and at the same time, usurped their thinking faculties, by hypnotizing them with monkey sense. So, they have continued to manifest in foolishness, silliness and stupidity. They may end up becoming pathetic victims of their own contrivances like monkeys.

    In African folklore, entanglements of the monkey, sprouts from what the animal thinks is its best and wisest wisdom. The tortoise is cleverer and wiser. It weaves and fortifies its tricks to protect his life and give him desired results from any action. The tortoise comes out of every problem un-bruised and triumphantly. In spite of its small nature, it once tricked the mighty elephant into a bottomless pit, where it was killed and the blood used to cure a sick king. The tortoise collected his reward for disarming the elephant, an animal dreaded by other animals, even when a handsome reward was offered.

    Conversely, Kanu and his followers hate to see our kinsmen imbibe the cherished wisdom of the tortoise. They are scheming to inject everyone in Igboland with monkey brain, instead of the tortoise’s clever brain, necessary for gainfully navigating modern-day politics in Nigeria. The Yorubas and the Niger Deltas are now exploiting the monkey brain of the Igbos for regional gains in the configuration of Nigeria. But the Igbos appear to be learning nothing and they will certainly forget nothing. And so, Igbos unrestrictedly incite themselves against one another, and extend hatred and antagonism to any other nationality in Nigeria.

    When our own brothers in drug war invaded a church at Ozubulu, Anambra state and massacred people, some foolish people swore it was marauding Fulani herdsmen. IPOB elements contrive fake news of the injection of deadly vaccinations on Igbos by soldiers, and thereafter, claim it is execution of the Fulani/Hausa agenda of the total annihilation of Biafrans. Do they even imagine the damage such vile and farcical propaganda is doing to the cords of friendship with other tribes in this confederation?

    Someone should save us the Igbo race from IPOB, which has already laid it on the slaughter slab. This mentality of dubiously frustrating a noble idea and painting it black, even where it resists such colourations is retrogressive. History suggests that in the days of yore, when the Great Zik of Africa, the proud son/leader of Igbo nation and Nigeria impressed on the colonialists Britain, to give free milk to school children in the region, they rejected it. We flaunted unsubstantiated claims that it was expired milk and the Britons who anchored it intended poisoning our children.

    Zik again offered us “Okporoko” fish at campaigns and some also claimed it was poison and extracting a revenge against Zik, Igbos refused to vote for him at the polls. Who has injected us with this more deadly monkey sense? Must we embark on actions likely to boomerang dangerously against our people ?
    Madu wrote from 26 Demola Seriki street, Bariga, Lagos.

  • Oct 1st: We’re not leaving north -Igbo leader

    Oct 1st: We’re not leaving north -Igbo leader

    …those asking Igbos to return home are mischief makers – Northern Youth Coalition

     

    Leadership of the Igbo community in Northern Nigeria has said that, Igbos will not heed to the call by an association of lawyers in Anambra state, asking them to return home, saying that, the call is nothing but mischief.

    This was also as, one of the Leaders of the Coalition of Northern Youths, which hitherto issued quit notice to the Igbos living in the north, Yerima Shettima has assured them that, no harm will come their way by October 1st and beyond.

    Vice President of Igbo Delegate Assembly in 19 Northern states, Chief Chris Nnoli said, the call by the so called lawyers was not nationalistic and condemnable.

    Nnoli, a Lawyer expressed disappointment and dismay that professionals like lawyers could make such call.

    He however assured that, no Igbo man living in the north will heed to such call, because every Nigerian under the constitution of the country has right to live anywhere they feel like within the country.

    Nnoli who is also the President General of Igbo Community Welfare Association (ICWA) in Kaduna State said, October 1st remains Nigeria’s national day and they will all celebrate together as Nigerians.

    “We are not in support of such call and if lawyers actually made such call, because I also read the story in a national daily, then it is very unfortunate and are not going heed to it”, he said.

    In a related development, Shettima who also reacted to the call by the lawyers asking the Igbos in the north to return home before October 1st to avoid been caught unaware as it happened in 1966.

    According to the Northern youths coalition leader, the lawyers asking the Northern based Igbos to return home at the period are mischief makers and enemies of Nigeria.

    According to Shettima, “we are people of honour and respect. We honour our words. So, Igbos in the north can go about their normal business and they should not listen to mischief makers.

    “We have sensitised our members to ensure safety of every Nigerian, especially the Igbos and we can assure you that, nothing will happen to the Igbos by October 1st and even beyond”, Shettima assured.

  • Northern youths to Yerima, Others: Stop disparaging our leaders

    Northern youths to Yerima, Others: Stop disparaging our leaders

    A group of northern youths under the auspices of Arewa Youth Grand Alliance Tuesday alleged that the leader of the Northern group issuing quite notice to Igbos to leave the north of disparaging the traditional institution and political leaders in the north, accusing them of trying to set the country “ablaze”.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by the National President of the group, Alhaji Inuwa Idris said after running out of ideas and support from the north, Yerima Shettima who issued the quite notice to Igbos has resorted to sponsoring people to disparage those spoke against his threat.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn a report credited to one Abdullahi Marusa claiming to be the Secretary General of Katsina State Progressive Youth Alliance who spat on the revered Katsina Emirate by disparaging His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulmumin Usman and two prominent northern leaders; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Dr Usman Bugaje calling them “political opportunists.”

    “The outburst of this young man is to say the least incredibly callous, ridiculous and uncharitable, unbecoming of Northern tradition where the youth hold leaders and constituted authority in high esteem.

    “It is even more disturbing to note that the young man who signed the press statement was only a puppet in the hands of fame-seekers like Nastura Ashir Sharif and Yarima Shattema – who have since lost grip on their ill-fated “quit notice” to Igbos in the north and are now running helter-skelter blackmailing well-meaning northerners into silence despite the looming danger their infamous action portends to the continuous corporate existence of Nigeria.

    “We wish to reiterate to Mr. Nastura Ashir Sharif and his cohorts that they lack requisite moral ground to speak for and on behalf of the north because Sharif, an immigrant, who has Nigeria as his second home cannot be allowed to set our dear country ablaze simply because he has another country to run back to.

    “While we caution Yarima Shattema (The Lagos Boy) to stop his brigandage attack on our leaders forthwith because in a short while, we will open up his dossier to the world.

    “We remind the duo of Sharif and Yarima to note that by whatever standard, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who has been Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Dr Usman Bugaje a respected academic and political leader deserve respect and courtesy in keeping with the cherished tradition and culture of the North. There is no community on earth that is built on disrespect to leaders and elders.

    “As youth, we must be careful that we do not cultivate a culture of destruction and disrespect for our community value. The antics of resorting to blackmailing some northern notables into submission are not going to work.

    “Many from other regions have tried it on many Northern leaders since pre-school, during and post-independence and all failed. If Sharif and his foot soldiers are willing cannon fodder in the hands of such enemies of Arewa to be used to destabilise the region, we make bold to say they will fail as we will resist them.

    As young people, if tomorrow you assume position of leadership, how would you want to be treated?

     

  • Quit Notice: Sheath your sword, Yoruba leaders tell groups  

    Quit Notice: Sheath your sword, Yoruba leaders tell groups  

    Yoruba Traditional Council in the North has called on warring factions on the quit notice ‎by Arewa Youths Coalition on the Igbos to sheath their swords and approach the issue with all sense of maturity and for nation’s interest.

    The group in a statement signed by its chairman, Ambassador Muhammad Arigbabuwo, called on all Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion to intensify prayers for the country’s security and the leaders at all times.

    He commended the role played by different organisations in the North to douse the tension that erupted during the face-off the Arewa Youths and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    “We are happy that the two groups have agreed to come to terms over the issue due to the quick intervention of major stakeholders in Nigeria.

    “Rising from a one day meeting in Kaduna last week, the traditional council noted with joy the quick action of ‎all Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers in the North, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Media, Youth Organizations and others.” he added.

    ‎Arigbabuwo, further stated that, “we are particularly happy with the role played by all Nigerians over the issue and we are convinced that the unity of the nation was paramount to everybody and should not be played with.

    “We thanked all security organisations for their proactive action during the face-off, we urge them to continue to serve the country without any bias, because the country will gain a lot if we stand together as one irrespective of tribe of religion.”

    ‎He also appealed to the elder not to relent in their efforts to keep the country together as one indivisible nation.

     

  • Northern youths write Osinbajo

    Northern youths write Osinbajo

    …say, Igbos unrepentant about Biafra

     

    The Coalition of Northern Youths who recently issued quit notice to the Igbos living in Northern has again written an open letter to the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, saying that the Igbos are not repentant about Biafra.

    The Northern Youths in the open letter jointly signed by ShettimaYerima, Joshua Viashman, Aminu Adam, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman and Nastura Ashir Sharif said, Igbos have declared full allegiance to a “Republic of Biafra” and continue to preach hatred and war virtually every day.

    They said, “KANU and IPOB have declared full allegiance to a “Republic of Biafra” and continue to preach hatred and war virtually every day, and not for once did any Igbo leader call them to order. Instead, many of the leaders including Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president, the most senior elected Igbo, pay Kanu courtesy calls to prove that he is speaking for the entire Igbo. It is glaring to all that Kanu has serially breached all the terms of his stringent jail conditions in total disregard to the sanctity of our justice system”.

    The letter read in full “APPRECIATION On behalf of this coalition and all the peace-loving people of Northern Nigeria, we begin this letter by commending your efforts towards finding a lasting solution to the lingering Igbo-induced crisis that is undoubtedly overheating the polity.

    “We sincerely believe Your Excellency’s good intentions as shown by your prompt and genuine actions towards ensuring peace and stability in holding talks with leaders of the North and the South-East.   Though we do not doubt Your Excellency’s bona fide concerns for the peaceful resolution of the crises, we nevertheless have reservations as to the efficacy of this approach in ensuring lasting solutions.

    “Our doubts are informed by the following historical antecedents that have characterized the behavior and conduct of the Igbo in Nigeria and previous efforts at containing them.

    “PAST EXPERIENCES: The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria manifested their hatred for Nigeria’s unity barely five years after we gained our independence from the British when on January 15, 1966, their army officers carried out the first-ever  mutiny that marked the beginning of a series of crisis which has profoundly altered the course of Nigeria’s history.

    “By that ill motivated, cowardly and deliberate action, the Igbo killed many northern officers from the rank of lieutenant colonel upwards and also decapitated the Prime Minister and the political leadership of the Northern and Western regions but left the zenith of Igbo leadership at the Federal level and the Eastern region intact.

    “In line with the Igbo plan, General Aguiyi-Ironsi took advantage of the vacuum and, instead of returning power to the remnants of the First Republic government; he appropriated the coup and attempted to consolidate it for his people.

    “Army officers of the Northern Region were eventually compelled to execute a counter coup on July 29, 1966 following a coordinated series of brazen provocations from the Igbo who taunted northerners on northern streets by mocking the way leaders of the region were slain by the Igbo. This unfortunately resulted in mob action which resulted in the death of many Igbos.

    “And when Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, from the North took over as Head of State following the counter coup, the Igbo through Lt. Col. Ojukwu, characteristically refused to recognize Gowon.

    “Ojukwu declared the secession of the Igbo people from Nigeria and the formation of the republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967 resulting in a civil war that led to the tragic deaths of more than 2 million Nigerians.

    “It is important to note here that the Igbo eventually capitulated and conceded defeat in an unconditional surrender, not an armistice,  on January 15, 1970 which renders any talk about Biafra at any other time,  a repudiation of the terms of that surrender signed by Phillip Effiong and other Biafran leaders.

    “BIAFRA REINCARNATED: In a shot out of the blues, the Igbo have over the last 2 years regrouped and fiercely and openly started discussing Biafra again under Ralph Uwazuruike of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State Of Biafra MASSOB.

    “This was given greater impetus by a more furious Igbo rogue group called the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB under Nnamdi Kanu who even operates an illegal radio station spreading hate and war messages across the nation, calling other ethnic groups all sorts of names and threatening them with violent extermination.

    “The activities of the Igbo under Kanu’s IPOB has grown exponentially ranging from ordering people of other regions out of the South East – particularly the Yorubas and Hausa /Fulani from the South West and the North respectively, to open declaration of the amassing of arms and forceful total shutdown of the entire South-East.

    “KANU and IPOB have declared full allegiance to a “Republic of Biafra” and continue to preach hatred and war virtually every day, and not for once did any Igbo leader call them to order. Instead, many of the leaders including Mr Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president, the most senior elected Igbo, pay Kanu courtesy calls to prove that he is speaking for the entire Igbo. It is glaring to all that Kanu has serially breached all the terms of his stringent jail conditions in total disregard to the sanctity of our justice system.

    “Even the latest statement by the South-East Governors Forum signed by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State in a response to the Northern reaction, did not condemn Kanu and Uwazuruike but characterised their action as “peaceful”.

    “While all this is going on,  neither the Igbo political and cultural leaders nor other regional leaders of the North or West nor the international community or any religious body ever found it necessary to call these renegade groups to order or in the very least admonish their leaders to do so.

    “Furthermore, none of the Igbo leaders holding various positions in this government ever disowned IPOB or condemned its operations until lately with Governor Rochas Okorocha’s mild condemnation after the Kaduna Declaration by our Coalition .

    “GROUNDS FOR SUSPICION: Given the unrepentant antecedents exhibited by the Igbo as highlighted above,  we strongly believe that the gruesome picture that the Biafran agitation represents is beyond a few people showcasing to Your Excellency that the Igbo will eventually heed the call for peace and desist from their dangerous campaign against Nigeria.

    “The seed of hate planted in the name of Biafra is evidently so deep that the ongoing interaction between you and the leaders from the South East cannot in our well informed opinion douse or address the underlying deep seated underlying problems.

    “We base our concerns on the following grounds. Despite the fact that the Igbo have been the most accommodated and tolerated of all the ethnic groups of Nigeria, the renewed incessant, spiteful and vile threats and insults on Northern leaders and their people, culture and religions that are the targets of this venomous agitation for Biafra,  can hardly be addressed through a series of two hours dialogues.

    “As if to prove this, barely hours after Your Excellency’s meeting with the South-East leaders, the Biafran Igbo openly disowned the leaders and dissociated themselves from the meeting.

    “More disturbingly, Kanu has openly claimed that the Biafran agitators have amassed arms in readiness for a war of secession which is quite conceivable given the fact that since 2009, catches of dangerous weapons routinely smuggled into the country and occasionally intercepted  by the Nigerian authorities , were all traced to Igbo sources.

    “The situation continues to be baffling and alarming and therefore unacceptable – especially with the Igbo political and opinion leaders openly legitimizing the violent comments, insults, threats, hate speeches and call to anarchy that the Biafrans led by Nnamdi Kanu are making against the North and the Nigerian state in general.

    “South-East leaders have instead, enthusiatically given Kanu the platform, patronage and symbolic legitimacy through an ignominious display of homage, reception and open embrace.

    “OUR CONCERNS: Concerned by the fact that the Biafrans have confessed to arming themselves for a violent breakup,  we feel that it is risky for the rest of the country particularly the North to go on pretending that it is safe for us to co-habit with the Igbos given how deeply they are entrenched in our societies .

    “And since evidently the Igbo have not been sufficiently humbled by their self-imposed bloody civil violence of 1966, we are strongly concerned that nothing short of granting their Biafran dream will suffice.

    “And since the Igbo have virtually infiltrated every nook and cranny of Northern Nigeria where they have been received with open arms   as fellow compatriots, we strongly believe that the region is no longer safe and secure in the light of the unfolding threats and the fact that for a long time,  the Igbo have gone to extra ordinary lengths to ensure that in their domain in the South East, Northerners and Westerners are as much as possible disenfranchised from owning any businesses whereas in Kano alone, they own not less than 100, 000 shops across all the business districts.

    “That since the younger generation of Nigerians makes up for more than 60 percent of the nation’s population, it is our hope that they inherit this country in better shape so that they can build a much better future for themselves and their off springs in an atmosphere that is devoid of anarchy, hate, suspicion and negativity that characterize the polarized, and clearly irreconcilable differences forced on us by the Biafran Igbos.

    “To make a bad situation even worse, their leaders have continued to show support for  this treacherous cause and thus giving credence to our concern that what they say against us is what they truly mean and intend – “Kill everyone in the Zoo” (North). Your Excellency, we cannot afford to discard this as mere mischief as the utterances that caused the terrible Rwandan genocide still resonates in our minds.

    “Lastly Sir, it is quite impossible to expect that other nationalities would simply stand by and watch while a certain ethnic group perpetrates all the above heinous misconducts that involve threats, call to violence and extermination, insults and songs of war without responding.

    “OUR STAND: While we unequivocally restate that we are not waging war or calling anyone to violence, we nevertheless are also not willing to continue tolerating the malicious campaign and threats of war that the Igbos have continued to wage against us.

    “Neither can we afford to continue giving the keys to our cities to a people whose utterances, plans and arrangements are clearly geared towards war and anarchy.

    “We therefore demand that the only enduring solution to this scourge that is being visited on the nation is complete separation of the states presently agitating for Biafra from the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a peaceful political process by: 1. Taking steps to facilitate the actualization of the Biafran nation in line with the principle of self-determination as an integral part of contemporary customary international law.

    “The principle of self-determination has, since world war II become a part of the United Nations Charter which states in Article 1(2), that one of the purposes of the UN is “to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

    “We submit that this protocol envisages that people of any nation have the right to self-determination, and although the Charter did not categorically impose direct legal obligations on member States; it implies that member States allow agitating or minority groups to self-govern as much as possible.

    “This principle of self-determination has since been espoused in two additional treaties: The United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 1 of both international documents promote and protect the right of a people to self-determination. State parties to these international documents are obliged to uphold the primacy and realization of this right as it cements the international legal philosophy that gives a people the right to self-determination.

    “As the Igbo agitations persist and assume threatening dimensions, we submit that there is need to ensure that they are given the opportunity to exercise the right to self-determination as entrenched under the aforementioned international statutes to which Nigeria is a signatory.

    “PRAYERS: Aware that the right of self-determination in international law is the legal right for a “people” that allows them to attain a certain degree of autonomy from a sovereign state through a legitimate political process, we strongly demand for a referendum to take place in a politically sane atmosphere where all parties will have a democratic voice over their future and the future of the nation.

    “The Igbo from all over the country and in the Diaspora should be advised to converge in their region in the South-East for a plesbisite to be organized and conducted by the United Nations and other regional bodies for them to categorically to decide between remaining part of Nigeria or having their separate country.

    “That government should at the end of the plesbite implement whatever is agreed and resolved in order to finally put this matter to rest. Lastly, we pray His Excellency to study the references forwarded with this letter dispassionately and decide who is more in the wrong between those who openly pledge allegiance to a country other than Nigeria backing it up with persistent threats of war and those of us whose allegiance remains with the Nigerian state but simply urge that the secessionists be allowed to actualize their dream peacefully throw universally entrenched democratic options.

    “CONCLUSION Your Excellency, we want to reiterate our high respect for your office and acknowledge the efforts you are making to lower tensions. We assure you, as well-brought up northerners, we listen to the advice and cautions of our elders, and in particular, their concerns that we do not create the impression that any Igbo or any Nigerian will be harmed in the North.

    “We assure you that we will defend the rights of every Nigerian to live in peace and have their rights protected. While we do not see this clamour for Biafra as an issue over which a single drop of blood should be shed,  we at the same time,  insist that the Igbo be allowed to have their Biafra and for them to vacate our land peacefully so that our dear country Nigeria could finally enjoy lasting peace and stability.

    “Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the letter read.

     

  • Agitations for Biafra, other secession plots unlawful, says Osinbajo

    Agitations for Biafra, other secession plots unlawful, says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday reiterated that agitations for creation of Biafra and Arewa youths’ ultimatum for Igbos to leave the North are unlawful and against the Nigerian Constitution.

    He stated this  during his opening speech at a consultation meeting with traditional rulers from the South East led by Eze Udo 1 of Mgboko Ngwa Amaise in Abia State and Chairman of South East traditional rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the manner, method and objectives of the agitations are wrong.

    The agitations, he said, deserve to be dealt with in accordance with the country’s constitutional provisions.

    Osinbajo said that where there were grievances to be addressed, the only way to make anything right is by doing it right, instead of threatening to break the law or the country.

    “As you are aware there has been agitation from some of our youths in the south east urging secession, the creation of Biafra. In apparent response young people in the north states, under the aegis  of Arewa youths have purportedly issued an ultimatum where they have said set a date for the eviction of persons from south east region who live in the northern states.

    “Those agitations, the manner of those agitations, the method and objective are wrong, unlawful and the violation of the laws of Nigeria and the constitution of Nigeria. I want to repeat that both the agitations for secession and the ultimatum to leave the northern states are wrong and a violation of our constitution.

    “Our constitution says in Section Two that Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “That is the law of our country. Let us not be in any doubt about the fact that the federal government is committed to ensuring that our country remains united.

    “And that anyone who violates the law in the manner such as we are seeing all over the place will be met with the full force of the law.

    “And the reason why it is so is because Nigeria’s unity enough blood has been spilled and many hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost. Many have paid for the unity of this country with their lives and it will be wrong of us as men and women of goodwill in this generation to toy with those sacrifices that have been made.

    “This is why men of goodwill in our generation must not tolerate any tendency that drags us in the direction of yet another civil conflict.

    “But we must be sensitive to the reasons why there are agitations by the various young men across the various zones of this country. Many have to do with perceived marginalization, some have argued safety in the different zones have been compromised. But I want to say the only way to make things right is to do things right. And it will be wrong of us to approach even our grievances by threatening to disobey the laws or by threatening the integrity of our nation,” he said

    He assured that the Federal Government is committed to listening to all the reasons, the various suggestions and the various agitations in order to ensure that justice is done to all persons.

     

    The meeting was a continuation of Osinbajo’s consultations with leaders of thoughts and traditional rulers from the North and South Eastern regions of the country, following the escalation of ethnic tensions occasioned by the agitation for Biafra and the vacation order issued by Northern youths for Igbo to quit the North.

    Present at the meeting were Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Da-Allah

    Others include Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Staff Abayomi Olonoshakin, Inspector General of Police,  Ibrahim Idris, National Security Adviser, Babangana Mongonu, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and other top government officials.