The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kanu

  • Ohanaeze to Fed Govt: dialogue with Kanu to heal wounds

    Ohanaeze to Fed Govt: dialogue with Kanu to heal wounds

    The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use the readiness of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to douse security tensions in the Southeast.

    In a statement by its National President Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group advised the Federal Government not to allow such opportunity to pass it by.

    It said the government should avoid other groups and deal directly with Kanu.

    The statement said: “Kanu has, through the spokesman of the IPOB, declared his readiness to dialogue with the government. This is a much-awaited opportunity? which should be utilised to end the bitterness against the Federal Government by people of the Southeast.

    “We call on President Buhari not to allow this golden opportunity slip off his hands. It is our firm belief that the Buhari administration will engrave its name as hero of democracy, if it utilises this opportunity to free Kanu.

    “For the dialogue to be genuine and fruitful, Kanu should lead the IPOB delegation. There have been reports of negotiations between some Niger Delta groups and a representative of the Federal Government. Nobody or group should negotiate on his (Kanu’s) behalf. This is to avoid a situation where the government will end up wasting time and resources. If the government succeeds in this regard, it will no doubt endear it to Ndigbo and help in healing so many wounds.”

     

  • Kanu willing to renounce Biafra for freedom, says MEND

    Kanu willing to renounce Biafra for freedom, says MEND

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is willing to renounce Biafra in secret in exchange for his freedom.

    The militant group said it (MEND) and the Federal Government rejected what he called Kanu’s “hypocrisy” of remaining defiant in public while accepting to secretly renounce secession from Nigeria.

    in an online statement yesterday through its spokesperson Jomo Gbomo, MEND condemned the alleged provocative and hypocritical statements by IPOB and Kanu, purporting to dissociate themselves from some of the concessions so far secured by the militant group in the dialogue between it and the Federal Government.

    The militant group said the discussions were aimed at resolving the current Niger Delta crisis.

    The statement said: “MEND hereby uses this opportunity to inform the world that following the group’s negotiations with the Federal Government, Nnamdi Kanu has made it clear that he is willing to renounce ‘Biafra’ in secret in exchange for his freedom. MEND and the Federal Government have, however, flatly rejected the IPOB/Kanu hypocrisy to remain defiant in public, while accepting to secretly renounce secession.

    “MEND urges the already frustrated and desperate Mr. Kanu and IPOB to swallow their pride and make a public denunciation of ‘Biafra’ so that the gullible donors and followers, deceived by the illusion of a ‘Biafra Republic’ which aims to annex the Niger Delta region as part of its territory, shall become fully aware that the so-called ‘Biafra Republic’ is merely a business venture and scam whose sole beneficiaries are Kanu, directors of IPOB, their families and cronies.”

    Despite the peace efforts, members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups are still bombing crude oil and gas pipelines as well as other installations of oil companies in the region.

     

  • Kanu, Enyeama proud of Dream Team

    Kanu, Enyeama proud of Dream Team

    Former Nigeria internationals, Kanu Nwankwo and Vincent Enyeama have showered praise on the country’s Under-23 national team for qualifying for the quarter final of the football event of the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.

    Dream Team VI defeated Sweden 1-0 in Group B on Sunday night, thanks to  Sadiq Umar’s 39th minute header at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus.

    Kanu, who captained Nigeria’s U-23 team to win gold at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, tweeted that coach Samson Siasia and his boys have made the country proud in Rio.

    “Congratulations our dear team Nigeria U-23.Well done boys and well done Samson and your coaching staff, we are proud of you all keep going,” he tweeted.

    Enyeama also congratulated the team for making it to the quarter final stage.

    “Congratulations to team Nigeria (male football) for qualifying to the quarter finals.#Olympics2016. Thank you for making Nigerians proud,” the Lille of France goalkeeper said.

    On Wednesday, Nigeria will  play against Colombia in Sao Paulo, while Sweden have a must-win match against Japan in Salvador if they are going to continue their Rio 2016 journey.

  • Kanu can’t renounce Biafra, says MASSOB

    Kanu can’t renounce Biafra, says MASSOB

    Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu cannot renounce his group’s demand for an independent state of Biafra, Movement for the Actualisation of the Soverign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said yesterday.

    A progress report on the dialogue between the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and agents of the Federal Government, at the weekend, said an arrangement was being worked out for Kanu’s release from prison custody by the Federal Government if he renounced his Baifra agitation.

    Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari  said the government through some oil companies and traditional rulers had been talking to the militants to end their agitation and bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

    But Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu could not confirm MEND’s weekend claim. Shehu said the government had not received the report of the talks from those it authorised to discuss with MEND.

    MASSOB leader Uchenna Madu, in a statement yesterday, described the condition as “laughable and inconsequential.”

    The statement said: “MASSOB does not see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu  as one who can betray his belief on Biafra, he is not a sellout, his ideologies on Biafra may differ, he can never betray hundreds of Biafrans that died recently on the course of Biafra.

    “Secondly, Biafra is not a religious faith that can be renounced or abandoned. Nobody can renounce Biafra, it is an identity, culture, tradition and existence of group of nationalities, it’s not personal or individualistic.

    “There are thousands of Biafranistic persons more determined, consistent, dangerous, focused, unshakable than Nnamdi KANU, Uchenna Madu and other leading figures in the Biafra struggle.

    “Biafra is also bigger than all the leading figures put together.

    It is childish on Federal government to expect Nnamdi Kanu to renounce Biafra, the fate of over fifty million people.

    “MASSOB advises Buhari to save his battered Nigeria’s face from more diplomatic shame by allowing the court to grant Nnamdi Kanu and others bail.

    “We shall continue to press for their release including the ultimate aim of Biafra actualization with non-violence. Nigeria will soon experience another dimension of non-violence struggle that will marvel it.  Soon the world will celebrate the downfall of the most corrupt country.”

    But the Ijaw Youth Council said it is still studying the reported MEND /federal government agreement.

    IYC Spokesman Eric Omare told our reporter in a telephone conversation in Warri last night that the federal government was yet to confirm the veracity of the claims, since it was a party in the said-agreement.

    “We are still watching the development unfold, we will wait till sometime during the week before we speak on the matter.

    “The federal government has not even reacted or confirm the said-agreement so we will study the situation before we talk”, Omare said.

  • Court okays detention of Kanu, others

    Court okays detention of Kanu, others

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday upheld a judgment delivered by a Federal High Court, Abuja, refusing bail to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and two of his associates, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu.

    A three-man panel, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, upheld the judgment delivered on Wednesday, January 29, by Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, refusing the appellants bail.

    Justice Aboki, who read the lead judgment, held that the trial court was in order in refusing the appellants’ bail application filed on January 14.

    Justice Tsoho had held among others that Kanu and others were charged with serious offences, including treasonable felony and that they failed to disprove the prosecution’s claim that they would jump bail.

    In his judgment yesterday, Justice Aboki said: “Contrary to the appellants’ contention, it is my view that there was proper consideration of the proof of evidence by the trial court before the consideration of the appellants’ applications for bail.

    “The trial court’s observation that the 1st applicant’s dual citizenship supports the suspicion of his escaping if granted bail, cannot be faulted.

    “The exercise of its discretion was both judicially and judiciously. More so, there are other reasons, as shown from the record, why the appellants were not granted bail.”

     Justice Aboki faulted the appellants’ argument that the court, in denying bail to the 2nd and 3rd appellants, failed to state any reason.

    “The charges against the appellants are for serious offences and the complainant has satisfied the court why bail should not be granted to them.

    “Therefore, the trial court is not in violation of the rights of the appellants herein to personal liberty or fair hearing as contended by the appellants,” the judge said.

    He said although the court has the power to interfere with the finding of a lower court, where such finding is perverse, such case did no arise in this instance.

    Justice Aboki declared: “On the whole, there is no merit in this appeal. And it is hereby dismissed. The ruling of the trial court, rejecting the appellants bail applications, is hereby upheld,” Justice Aboki said.

    Justices Hassan and Mustapher, who were on the panel, also agreed with the lead judgment.

  • Appeal Court reserves judgments in appeals by Metuh, Kanu

    Appeal Court reserves judgments in appeals by Metuh, Kanu

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgments in two appeals by spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh and Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.

    A three-man panel, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, told parties after they adopted their briefs of argument yesterday, that the judgment dates would be communicated to them.

    Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are appealing the ruling by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in which the judge refused their no-case submission and ordered them to enter defence in their trial for alleged money laundering and unlawful receipt of funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    Kanu is appealing the ruling of Justice John Tsoho (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) in which the judge agreed to the prosecution’s request to shield its witnesses in Kanu and two others’ trial on treasonable felony charge.

    Metuh and his company are being tried on a seven-count charge. At the completion of the prosecution’s case earlier this year, having called eight witnesses, the court called on the defence to open its case.

    Rather than conducting their defence, Metuh and Destra made a no-case submission, which Justice Abang rejected.

    The judge believed that the prosecution provided sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the defendants to warrant the court to call on them to enter defence.

    On his part, Kanu and two of his associates, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu, are being tried before the court on six-count charge of treasonable felony, illegal possession of firearms, and managing an unlawful society.

    Kanu is contending in his appeal that Justice Tsoho’s March 7 decision, which varied the court’s position not to allow the masking of prosecution witnesses, was given without jurisdiction. The judge, on February 19, refused prosecution’s motion for witness protection.

    Yesterday, Metuh’s lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and lawyer to his company, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) faulted Justice Abang’s reasoning in rejecting their clients’ no-case submission.

    They urged the court to set aside Justice Abang’s decision, uphold their clients’ no-case submission and quash the charges against them.

    Responding, lawyer to the Federal Government Sylvanus Tahir urged the court to dismiss the Appeal for lacking in merit and for being defective.

    Tahir noted that the appeal being an interlocutory one, the appellants were required under the law, to obtain leave of the trial court.

    He argued that having not fulfilled the condition precedent, the appellants cannot claim to have a valid appeal.

  • 5th Greensprings Kanu Football Camp kicks off

    5th Greensprings Kanu Football Camp kicks off

    The fifth edition of the annual Greensprings Kanu Football Camp kicks off today at the Lekki campus of the school.

    With support from the Lagos State Football Association as well as the presence of coaches from Netherlands and England, hundreds of youngsters are expected to be part of the one-week clinic.

    According to the consultant on sports of Greensprings School, Oluseyi Oyebode, a top female coach from West Bromwich Albion will handle the female students at this year’s exercise in a bid to encourage female athletes to embrace football.

    “In our usual manner, we would not want the foreign coaches to come and go but we want them to tutor our local coaches so they can also replicate this knowledge in their various locations across the country. This is what prompted the two-day coaching course concluded before the commencement of the camp today.

    “Some of the coaches will also put to action what they have learnt during the training when the camping of the students commence. The stage is set as all arrangements have been concluded to stage another befitting clinic that will continue to add to the quality of Nigerian football at grassroots level,” Oyebode said.

    On the support from the Lagos FA, he said: “We are overwhelmed by the support we have been getting particularly coming from the NFF Vice President and Lagos FA boss, Seyi Akinwunmi as well as Emzor, a company has decided to come on board to show their unflinching support to sports development through the sponsoring of 12 students to the camp. However, female footballers will be giving more prominence this year due to the presence of the West Bromwich female coach. We are still hoping that more corporate bodies will identify with the camp,” he said.

    In line with its usual gesture, the management of Greensprings will sponsor 10 students to the camp being part of their social responsibility.

    The serene environment that hosts the camp has become the talking point among football followers while more students across the country are eager to be part of the camp this year.

  • AFCON 2017 FAILURE: Kanu criticises NFF

    AFCON 2017 FAILURE: Kanu criticises NFF

    Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) leadership which he says contributed to the national team failing to qualify for two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations.

    Nigeria’s loss in Egypt ruled them out of contention for Gabon 2017, leaving Kanu upset with the NFF.

    “What is happening with Nigerian football is that the top management is not what it is supposed to be so what is below is being affected,” Kanu told BBC Sport exclusively from Uganda.

    Ex-Arsenal forward, Kanu was in Uganda as an ambassador for both Unicef and Chinese cable station TV StarTimes, helping to market Ugandan players to the Chinese Premier League. He said the Nigeria Federation has to change its style of leadership if Nigeria are to achieve success.

    “When the head is not right, even your body won’t be right”, said Kanu.

    The two time African footballer of the year said it was a huge loss for Nigeria – who also failed to qualify for Equatorial Guinea in 2015 – to miss another Africa Cup of Nations.

    “When we are not at the Nations Cup, it’s not the same,” said Kanu.

    Kanu also highlighted the instability surrounding Nigeria coaches.

    Samson Siasia was placed in temporary charge of the Super Eagles for the Egypt qualifiers following the resignation of Sunday Oliseh.

    As the NFF search for a permanent successor to Oliseh, Kanu maintained it is worth persisting with a local coach.

    “Look at Stephen Keshi, he won the nations Cup and led the Super Eagles to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” Kanu explained.

    During his time in Uganda, Kanu had the opportunity to play football with children in Katanga, and saw some local matches.

    “I watched a game between KCCA FC and SC Villa in the 2016 Star Times Cup a few days ago and I saw a lot of talent that can go to the professional level.”

  • Lagos FA, others support Greensprings Kanu Football Camp

    Lagos FA, others support Greensprings Kanu Football Camp

    Lagos State Football Association has  given its support to this year’s Greensprings Kanu Football Camp, which kicks off on April 4.

    The one-week clinic will be handled by Dutch and British coaches with their Nigerian counterparts will be attended by students between ages five to 17 across the country.

    Lagos FA through its chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi who is also the Vice Chairman, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has agreed to sponsor 12 students to the camp as well as give technical support to the exercise.

    Lagos FA has been a strong supporter of the camp since its inception and with this gesture; the FA has re-affirmed its support for grassroots sports development.

    Like Lagos FA, Emzor Pharmaceuticals has thrown its weight behind the clinic by sponsoring 12 students to the camp.

    According to the consultant on sports to Greensprings School, Oluseyi Oyebode, 12 less privileged students would make it to the camp through the gesture by Emzor.

    “We are overwhelmed by the support we have been getting and particularly coming from the NFF Vice President and Lagos FA boss, Seyi Akinwunmi as well as Emzor has also come on board to show their unflinching support to sports development through the gesture. However, female footballers will be giving more prominence this year due to the presence of the West Bromwich female coach. We are still hoping that more corporate bodies will identify with the camp,” he said.

    In line with its usual gesture, the management of Greensprings will sponsor 10 students to the camp being part of their social responsibility.

  • Owerri agog for Kanu 7-Aside Tourney

    Owerri agog for Kanu 7-Aside Tourney

    The Nwankwo Kanu Sport Centre in Owerri will on Easter Sunday  be a beehive of activities with the kick off of a 7-Aside Soccer tournament for players within the ages of 40 and above.

    Kanu, the two-time former African Footballer of the Year, hinted  that arrangement has been finalised for the event that would be held  through the Easter festive holidays.

    ” As I speak with you, everything for the 7-Aside tournament is already in place and we are looking forward to having a lot of people at the event,” said the Arsenal legend.”The tournament was put together as part of our health and wellness campaign for soccer aficionados in Owerri and beyond.”

    Meanwhile, organisers informed that Club Nippon FC captained by Quincy Okoukoni and Ugochukwu Uche-led D CASA FC will kick off the tournament.

    Okoukoni said he was impressed with what is being put together by Kanu, adding his team would be going for the gold:” We support what Kanu is doing and  that is  why I registered  my team from Abuja and we shall do our best to win the tournament.”

    Kanu reiterated further that  the event would create a platform for bonding and educate the older ones about health issues and the need for continuous exercises,” he noted.

    The tournament would be witnessed by a host of celebrities and advertisers desirous to promote their goods and services with expected  huge attendance at the sports centre.