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Tag: IPOB

  • Igbo groups endorse IPOB sit at home order

    Twelve Igbo groups met in Enugu Monday with an endorsement of the September 14th sit at home ordered by the IPOB.

    The meeting which held at the residence of the leader of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwor, was also attended by traditional rulers, traders associations, Youth groups and students organizations.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the convener Mrs. Maria Okwor lamented the humiliation meted out to Igbo Women who were locked up in Owerri for expressing their opinions in a democracy.

    Read Also:Ohanaeze, Youth Group reacts to IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    She complained bitterly over the continuous ill treatment of Ndigbo as a conquered people.

    She called on Ndigbo to sit at home on Friday September 14th, to express “our frustrations with Nigeria.”

    She insisted that Nigeria must be returned to the 1963 constitution for the country to survive.

    Secretary of ECA and founder of Igbo Youth Movement, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko described the constant invasion of Igboland with military hardware every September as provocative and insulting.

    His words: “every September military equipment is moved menacingly into Igbo land just to remind us that we are a conquered people. Next, they will say some students threw stones at them and mayhem will be unleashed on our people. There’s no war going on here, there are no killings going on here. Igbo land is peaceful, why the invasion.

    “The soldiers should be drafted to Sambisa forest, Borno LGA’s where killings are going on every day. They should go to Plateau, Benue etc and save hapless citizens who are slaughtered daily, while the government is either blaming Lybians or telling middle beltans to surrender their land to the Herdsmen to save their lives.

    “Bringing so called python dance 3 to our peaceful region now is only designed to deliberately provoke a confrontation that will lead to loss of lives as they did last year.”

    Ugochukwu-Uko announced that the emergency meeting therefore asked all Ndigbo who are aggrieved over this endless provocative and humiliating invasion called python dance 3, to stay indoors on Friday September 14th to send a message to the world that we angry over this constant humiliation.

    The meeting also resolved to send a message to the United Nations that Nigeria will die if the structure is not returned to the 1963 constitution.

    The meeting also agreed to organize a street march in October to drive home their demand for a new constitution, asserting that the rigid unitary constitution designed by the military is an evil document.

  • Police warn IPOB against sit-at-home order

    The Anambra State Police Command has warned the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to desist from threatening people or face its wrath.

    The command asked the residents to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation over the purported planned sit-at-home by the “faceless” group.

    IPOB, last week, declared September 14 as sit-at-home day throughout the country for Igbo.

    A statement by its media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said it would order people to stay away from work and businesses on September 14 to register its anger about those allegedly killed at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, during Operation Python Dance II on September 14, 2017, as well as those killed in Aba and Port Harcourt.

    But Commissioner of Police Garba Umar, who addressed reporters after a meeting of security operatives yesterday, described IPOB as an illegal body which had no right to issue such order or threat.

    Present at the meeting were the Army, Police, Civil Defence, Immigration, Department of State Services (DSS), among others.

    Umar said: “IPOB is an illegal organisation. We are therefore appealing to the public that on no account should they be intimidated or harassed into succumbing to IPOB’s threat.

    “They plan to embark on a sit-at-home on September 14, but security agencies are ready for any eventuality. We urge the public to go about their lawful businesses as they will be adequately protected.

    “Calling for a referendum on September 8 or thereabout, and the September 14 sit-at-home order will not be tolerated. We are ready and we have all it takes to keep the peace in this state.

    “We are in touch with all security agencies, including the military, and we will not allow anybody to truncate the democracy we are enjoying, and on no account should we allow anybody to foul this peaceful atmosphere.”

  • Ohanaeze, Youth Group reacts to IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    Igbo Socio-cultutal group, Ohaneze on Wednesday said it was not against IPOB’s call for a sit at home in the South East and other Ogbo speaking areas in the South South.

    It however called on the pro-biafran group to carry out the exercise in a peaceful manner.

    Spokesman of Ohaneze, Uche Achi-Okpaga states this in a reastikn he gave to Premium Times on IPOB’S sit-at-home exercise planned by the group for September 14.

    IPOB in a statement said it was carrying out the exercise to protest the invasion of the country home of its Leader, Nnamdi Kanu same date last year.

    Since the invasion by the Army, Mr Kanu’s whereabout have remained unknown with the Millitary and the group trading blames over his whereabouts.

    Mr Okpaga in his reaction said IPOB is not a terrorist organisation.

    “Any action of IPOB that is peaceful is welcome. Sit at home is a welcome idea. That is what we have been saying that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation, they are a peaceful organisation”, he said.

    “It is the Nigerian Army and Government that is deploying all these ploys to make them look violent but all their actions are always peaceful and cordial”.

    Mr Achi-Okpaga warned the Millitary not to capitalize on the sit-at-home to attack IPOB supporters in the region

    “There is nothing wrong with asking you to sit at home. If you want to sit at home you sit at home, if you dont want to sit at home you go about your normal business”.

    “Ohaneze will not be against that move what we don’t want is whereby they(the army) will capitalise on that to be killing our people”, he added.

    Also, the National leadership of All Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Organizations has stated that it would interface with Governors of the South East zone to forestall break down of law and order during the September 14 sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

    Read Also: Anxiety as IPOB resumes call for election boycott

    The group further advocated an exercise devoid of violence arguing that the action is capable of leading to loss of lives and properties within the region.

    It insisted that IPOB must change its strategy and ensure people’s lives are not lost in their struggle for self-determination.

    In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the Deputy National Chairman, All Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Organization, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro sued for peace as IPOB marks one Year Anniversary of the invasion in Nnamdi Kanu’s home in Abia State.

    “Ethnic Nationalities Youth Organization will interface with South East Governors on the need to save Igbo land from any act that will bring down law and order in the face of IPOB/MASSOB struggle for self determination and Biafra agitation. It is necessary yhat such meeting will bring back the stakeholders in Biafra agitation to ensure peace in quest for self determination.

    “Irrespective that any group is entitled to self-determination and freedom to observe any day as a means of expressing their anger or protest over perceived injustice and seek better ways to ensure redress through legal and constitutional channels, Ethnic Nationalities Youth Organizations caution for peaceful means devoid of violence and action capable breaking down law and order”, the group said.

    The group while acknowledging the injustices metted out to the zone on Sept 14 last year, the group urged security agencies to ensure that there was no confrontation with IPOB on the day of the sit-at-home exercise.

    “We Urge IPOB to consider the Economic loss of the people of South East and ensure that the sit at home on September 14th should not expose Igbo Youths to untimely death.

    “We know that injustice recorded on September 14th will always be indelible in the minds of South Easterners but IPOB should put up measures in place to ensure re occurrence of such injustice never happen again, IPOB must change strategy and ensure people’s lives are not lost in their struggle for self-determination”

    “We call on Security agents to overlook the sit at home order and ensure that South East didn’t witness any act of confrontation between them and Biafra agitators, and maintain peace during and after September 14th, 2018.”

  • Imo court frees detained IPOB women

    An Owerri High Court on Friday evening, ordered the unconditional release of the 114 female members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) who were earlier remanded in Owerri Prison.

    The women were remanded by a Magistrate Court after they were arrested and arraigned by the Police for protesting the whereabouts of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kalu.

    The bail application filed by the lead Counsel to the women, Ejiofor Uche, was not opposed as the Police had no representation in court .

    Read Also: Relatives protest denial to see detained IPOB women

    The Court thereafter granted the women bail unconditionally.

    There release sparked off wide jubilation in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

    The Police prosecutor, Theaddus Okey, stated that the Police had no representation because had been referred to the state ministry of justice for legal counsel and decision.

  • IPOB women protest in Owerri, demand Nnamdi Kanu’s release

    The police in Imo on Friday arrested some women protesting over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for allegedly conducting an unlawful assembly.

    Some of the women, mostly of middle age and from the Southeast states, were half nude, while others dressed in black and marched through the streets of Owerri.

    They disrupted vehicular movement and other activities in some parts of the town.

    The protesters chanted war songs and displayed different placards with inscriptions asking the Federal Government to release Kanu.

    The women claimed that the security agencies knew the whereabouts of Kanu who has been out of public view since he had an encounter with the military in Umuahia about one year ago.

    Read also: Ohanaeze urges Ndigbo to ignore IPOB’s threats, extends hand of fellowship to agitators

    They asked Gov. Rochas Okorocha to help them to actualise their dream of a getting  Biafra.

    The women later barricaded the popular Government House Roundabout and created a chaotic atmosphere around the area.

    One of their leaders, Mrs Ann Ibe, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they came out in full force to fight for the actualization  their dream.

    She said they were ready to die for the cause.

    When a special team of police men sent by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Dasuki Galadanchi, arrived at the scene, the protesters broke into a dance.

    Some of them pulled off their clothes and danced naked, while others lay on the ground and dared the police.

    The police succeeded in arresting some of the protesters after in spite of their offering serious resistance.

    Commenting on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Andrew Enwerem, said the women were arrested for conducting an illegal assembly and holding an unlawful protest.  (NAN)

  • Abia community in fears over discovery of scores of dead bodies

     …IPOB calls for investigation into the killings of ‘members’

     

    The people of Obiawon village in Ogwe autonomous community, Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State are said to be living in palpable fears following the discovery of corpses of yet-to-be identified persons dumped in a forest in the village.

    While the people are said to also fear arrest of innocent indigenes by members of security agencies who have reportedly been parading the community since the community members discovered the corpses, they are however calling on authorities concerned to ensure that there won’t be any outbreak of disease in the agrarian community.

    Attempts by our reporter who visited the community with the help of a guide to visit the location where the bodies of the victims were dumped were unsuccessful as reports have it that personnel of security agencies in the area have been patrolling on the routes leading to the forest.

    Some of the community members who spoke anonymously told our reporter that apart] from the bodies of about four persons found in a section of the forest, bodies of over 30 persons were spotted dumped in a ditch in another section of the forest.

    A source who claimed to have seen the said 30 corpses said that they had started decomposing as indications show that they might have been dumped in the last two weeks by yet-to- be known persons.

    “We are not at war with any community. All I can tell you is that our people are farmers and our business is farming. We were shocked when we saw the bodies in a forest in the village and one wonders who were those that took us unawares to come into our village to dump these bodies?

    “We are confused, really over this development. Something urgent should be done to avert any outbreak of disease in our community.”

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in a release through its spokesman, Emma Powerful on Tuesday condemned the killing and dumping of the body of the deceased persons in Abia community.

    Powerful in the release claimed that the bodies of the deceased persons were members of the pro-Biafra group who were arrested and detained in various army camps across the state during the Operation Python Dance II in the southeast and called on international bodies to investigate the killing and dumping of the bodies with the aim of unraveling those behind the dastard act.

    “The site of these decomposed bodies should be designated as an international crime scene and promptly investigated.

    “Should the United Nations, ICC, USA and European Union fail to act on this gruesome discovery of mass grave of Biafrans in Ukwa Ngwa, Abia State, we would conclude that there exists a credible bias and conspiracy to exterminate and Islamise Biafra by the pro-Islamic international community.

    “As we draw near to the anniversary of the murderous invasion of Afaraukwu on the 14th of September 2017, we once again call on Igbo governors, the global Christian community, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other reputable and relevant human rights organisations around the world, to prevail upon the International Criminal Court, the Nigeria Government and her security operatives to release the remaining dead bodies of Biafrans in their custody since last year.

    “An international panel of enquiry must be constituted, as a matter of urgency to investigate the atrocities of this Buhari regime against innocent populations in Nigeria and Biafra in particular,” part of the release read.

    Efforts to reach the spokesman of the 14Brigade Command Headquarters, Ohafia, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi over the allegation by the IPOB failed as his number could not be reached, but a source at the command who pleaded not to be mentioned, however debunked allegation, stating that it is the figment of the Pro-Biafra group who tries to seek attention whenever it seems that no one is giving them attention.

  • Steps that ended Niger Delta militancy, IPOB secessionist plot – Osinbajo

    …Nigeria’s foundation deficient, threatened, say Monarchs

     

     

    The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said that the intervention by traditional rulers at the wake of bombing of oil installations by the Niger Delta militants and the secessionist uprising in the South East was the panacea that brought relative peace in the two regions.

    He spoke in Abuja while declaring open the 10th National Development Summit of Nigerian Traditional Rulers.

    According to him, the natural rulers have played crucial roles at the point that the country was threatened by the Niger Delta militants and the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

    Read Also:FG to assist, compensate victims of Jibia flooding – Osinbajo

    He challenged traditional rulers in Nigeria to take greater responsibility in resolving conflicts in the country, saying dialogue and engagements are as just as important as law enforcement in tackling disputes.

    He said that traditional rulers were better placed “to champion this vision of continuing dialogue and engagement because of the respect you command from the widest possible range of stakeholders and parties.

    Osinbajo said “Dialogue and engagement are just as important as law enforcement, especially in situations triggered by misunderstandings and disagreements between people and communities who have existed peacefully side-by-side for centuries.”

    The vice president also said even though the law enforcement agencies are critical elements in deterring criminality and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice, overlooking the place of non-coercive conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms would do a great disservice to the people of Nigeria.

    He said, “You are also repositories of important intelligence that can be useful in detecting suspicious or criminal activity. The partnership between traditional authority and government is therefore crucial.”

    According to him, it was in recognition of this critical role of traditional rulers that informed government’s approach to dealing with Nigeria’s most pressing security issues in the Niger Delta and in the Middle Belt.

    “I can say without fear of contradiction that the New Vision for the Niger Delta would not have happened without the support of traditional rulers and leaders in the region. We have made it a priority to meet with them and carry them along, and ask for their wisdom and their support in resolving issues with stakeholders and communities. This was also our approach in the wake of secessionist agitation by IPOB in the South East.”

    He said government has been engaging traditional rulers in the flashpoint regions, counting on the influence they wield to chart a new and collective course of understanding, instead of the default approach of resorting to violence as a way of dealing with grievances.

    “As custodians of our rich history, we also believe that you have a duty to remind us of the things we have got right in the past, but from which, for some reason or another, we have departed from, to our detriment,” he stated.

    The vice president said Nigeria’s traditional cultures had long ago perfected timeless dispute-resolution and community-engagement mechanisms that are now under threat of being lost forever.

    “As traditional rulers, your forebears and ancestors were the initiators and implementers of many of these mechanisms, and our cultural institutions have evolved ways of passing this knowledge down the generations – even if we have not been paying attention as we should.

    “May I therefore most respectfully ask that you take this as a call to you, as royal fathers, as traditional rulers, as elder statesmen, to commit yourselves to deepening your partnership with government, to achieve our shared goal of laying the foundation of peace and security that will guarantee true greatness for Nigeria.” he added

    The Traditional Rulers at the summit expressed fears that the foundation of Nigeria as established by the founding fathers had been visibly deficient and threatened.

    They also said that the only way the country could be made great was when the leaders and different ethnic nationalities resolve to build a nation on a foundation of equity, justice, fairness, labour and high moral standards.

    In his welcome address, Chairman of Governing Council of the National Development Summit of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso Abe called for more roles for traditional rulers by the government.

    The monarch said it was disheartening that the constitutional review embarked upon by the National Assembly had remained inclusive for over a decade, while resolutions at the recent national conference, have not been considered for adoption in the interest of national survival and progress.

    Dr. Abe who is the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom of Delta State, said the country needs a good leader that will create jobs and build bridges, adding that as a result of the security challenges in the country, most traditional rulers were unable to attend the summit that started with over 400 members when it was inaugurated by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua ten years ago.

    He said that the country was born with incredible potentials neither uncommon ideals that could make it soar into greatness, adding that Nigeria was not meant to crawl or stagnate.

    He said “Here is a country born with incredible potentials, established on goodness and trust, with uncommon ideals and dreams that could make her soar into high altitudes of greatness. Like the eagles, Nigeria was born with powerful wings, in the form of enormous natural endowments. Nigeria was never meant to crawl or stagnate.

    “Whatever we may say or do the fact remains that our foundation as a nation as designed by our founding fathers has been visibly deficient and threatening. Administrations come and go but none has been courageous enough to address conclusively the issue of structural flaws.

    “We cannot do anything against the truth. The only way the eagle will fly is for it to realize that it is gifted with better wings than other birds and make a decision to use the wings effectively.

    “We must resolve to build a new nation on a foundation of equity, justice, fairness, labour and high moral standards. This is what makes the United States of America and other advanced economies to tick.

    “It is amazing how constitutional review has remained inclusive for over a decade at the National Assembly in spite of the exigency of the matter. It is equally disheartening that the resolutions of all recent national conferences were never considered for adoption in the interest of national survival and progress, the huge funds sunk in these projects notwithstanding,” he said.

  • Court refuses to order Abaribe’s release

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declined an oral application for bail filed by Chukwuma Umeh (SAN) on behalf of detained Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.

    The court, however, ordered that the senator be allowed unhindered access to his lawyer.

    Umeh, who appeared for Abaribe in the criminal case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, said at the commencement of proceedings that his client was arrested over his role in the matter.

    Abaribe and two others stood as surety for Kanu, who is standing trial on charges of treasonable felony.

    Following Kanu’s sudden disappearance and his absence in court, Justice Justice Binta Nyako had on March 28 ordered the sureties to produce Kanu or show cause why they should not forfeit their N100million bail bond each and jailed until they produce the IPOB leader.

    Umeh told the court that his client’s arrest and subsequent detention had created tension in the country.

     

  • IPOB: Court grants Kanu’s co-defendants bail

    Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to four men – National Coordinator of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Bright Chimezie; Chidiebere Onwudiwe; Benjamin Madubugwu and a former Field Maintenance Engineer of MTN David Nwawuisi.

    They were charged with IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu with treasonable felony.

    Justice Binta Nyako agreed to allow their bail on grounds of ill-health and the number of years they had spent in detention awaiting trial.

    According to her, the defendants had spent about three years in custody when the maximum penalty for their offences, if convicted, ranged from five to seven years.

    She noted that Chimezie was earlier granted bail by the Federal High Court in Uyo in May 2017, but the Department of State Services (DSS), which held him in custody, refused to release him.

    The judge said Section 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 made bail a right of every defendant unless the prosecution was able to prove why the defendant was not entitled to bail.

    She said: “Taking all these into consideration, I have not seen any reason why I should not grant bail to the defendants.”

    The bail conditions were similar to the ones attached to the bail granted Kanu last April.

    The defendants were restrained from granting interviews, participating in any rally or found in the gathering of people.

    Justice Nyako also ordered them to produce two sureties each, for whom N10 million should be deposited in the court’s account.

    The defendants were also mandated to deposit their passports with the court registry, and they must not travel out of the country without the court’s permission.

    They are also to report to the Commissioners of Police in their states of residence fortnightly.

    She said: “There should be no gathering, no welcome oyoyo (a reference to a welcome party). Just take care of your health, spend time with your family. Don’t travel outside the country without the court’s permission. No press interview of any form.”

    Justice Nyako rejected the plea by Chimezie’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who also stands as Kanu’s lawyer, to substitute the requirement for cash deposit with the signing of bail bond worth the same amount.

    Ejiofor was concerned that it would be difficult for his client and other defendants to each get N20 million cash.

    Justice Nyako, however, modified the condition to allow the defendants be released pending when they would get the cash.

    She added that she would impose another condition to guarantee that they would deposit the cash in the court’s account after being released.

    The matter was adjourned till November 14 for continuation of trial.

  • Abaribe arrested over IPOB, alleged gun-running-Lawyer

    The Department of State Security (DSS) operatives arrested the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, on Friday for allegedly aiding and supporting a proscribed body, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

    Abaribe’s lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN) who disclosed this on Saturday also the DSS claimed that Abaribe was into gun running.

    Ume said the accusations were contained in a search warrant dated 2nd June 2018 which directed DSS operatives who searched Abaribe’s house to “focus and search for arms and ammunitions and any other incriminating document, while the alleged crime was aiding and supporting a proscribed body i.e. IPOB.”

    He said that the disparity and excruciating search of all corners and every item in the house lasted for about 5pm till 11:15 pm Friday.

     He noted that “Of all the 27 items seized and taken away, non could be all they wanted to see in terms of arms and ammunitions or stored bags of Ghana Must Go for sponsoring the said IPOB.

    “But unfortunately two of the 27 items include: The two handsets of two USA citizens found in the home.

    “One of the laptops taken included that of an educationist containing examination questions slated to be set for students on the 25th of June 2018.

    “All pleas for this questions to be copied was refused.”

    Ume said that they are worried at the turn of events especially when leader of IPOB Nnamdi Kanu was to appear in court on October 2017 in September, his house was brutally shut down.

    “Senator Abaribe, the surety to Nnamadi Kanu is to appear in court on 26th June 2018, but on 22nd June 2018 Senator Abaribe was arrested and detained incommunicado.

    Ume who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on the arrest and detention  said, “Yesterday in the forenoon hours our Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, a high ranking senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was arrested by officers of state security services.

    “The articulate senator who has contributed a lot to our nation building effort is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “His arrest was shocking as it was curious.

    “As his counsel, I have long ago complied with DSS stipulation for meeting with its detainee.

    “I have also requested for a meeting with the D.G of the services to know the reason for his arrest.

    “All fell into refusal ears at about 4:45pm I was alerted that officers of the services were heading to the senator’s residence.

    “I had to break my long wait at the DSS Head Quarters and rushed to the senator’s residence.

    “Primarily, the search warrant dated 2nd June 2018 focused and searched for arms and ammunitions and any other incriminating document while the alleged crime was aiding and supporting a proscribed body i.e. IPOB.

    “The disparity and excruciating search of all corners and every item in the house lasted for about 5pm till 11:15 pm yesterday (Friday).

     “Of all the 27 items seized and taken away non could be all they wanted to see in terms of arms and ammunitions or stored bags of Ghana Must Go for sponsoring the said IPOB.

    “But unfortunately two of the 27 items include:

    The two handsets of two USA citizens found in the home.

    “One of the laptops taken included that of an educationist containing examination questions slated to be set for students on the 25th of June 2018.

    “All pleas for this questions to be copied was refused.

    “We are worried at the turn of events Nnamdi Kanu was to appear in court on October 2017 in September, his house was brutally shut down.

    “Senator Abaribe, the surety to Nnamadi Kanu is to appear in court on 26th June 2018, but on 22nd June 2018 Senator Abaribe was arrested and detained incommunicado.

    “On 16th June 2017 via a letter to NSA Senator Ike Ekeweremadu was levied a corrupt officer

    “On 12th April 2018 Senator Shehu Sani was accused of aiding armed robbers

    “On 24th march 2018 Senator Dino Melaye was accused of aiding bandits

    “On 4th June 2018 Senator Bukola Saraki was accused of aiding armed robbers who massacred his own people.

    “On 27th February 2017 /2nd march 2017 His Excellency former Governor of Benue State Gabrial Suswam was clamped down

    “On 22nd June 2018 it is Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe was arrested for purportedly aiding a proscribed organization.

    “These are certainly against the spirit of partisan politics very dear to our constitution and nation building process.

    “If in 2014/2015 opposition to PDP were muzzled like this way. The advantage the nation gained by unseating a party in power would not have been possible.

    “This man is a known strong voice of the Igbo nation. Hence this is a clamp down on the region”

    Ume also said that Abaribe’s revelation that N30 billion was smuggled into the budget of the Power Ministry without the knowledge of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy may have also been part of the reason for his arrest.

    Abaribe who is Chairman, South East Senate Caucus, had raised the alarm over the cut in the budget allocation to the zone.

    He insisted that no right thinking Igbo would support any cut on allocation for projects in the South East region.

    Abaribe confirmed that the caucus is set to meet to find out what went wrong especially at what point the cut in the allocation was made.

    He said that “we are committed and determined to find out who made the cut.”

    He noted that they actually lobbied for the Enugu Airport Terminal allocation to be increased to N3.5 billion until the Ministry of Aviation told them that what they had was an envelope which could not be increased beyond the N2 billion allocation.

    Abaribe who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy noted for instance that N30 billion was smuggled into the Power budget without his committee’s knowledge.

    He said that the N30 billion was listed for expansion and re-enforcement of infrastructure in the distribution companies to reduce stranded firms.

    The amount, he said, “never passed through the Senate Power committee.”

    He asked “where did such huge sum of N30 billion come from.”