The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Movement

  • Gombe reviews movement due to fasting

    Gombe State government has reviewed the restriction on motorcycles movement in the state capital from the hitherto 6am to 5pm to 6am to 11pm.

    The Commissioner of Police, Kudu Abdullahi Nma announced this briefly after the State Security Council meeting held yesterday.

    He explained that while commercial motorcycles can now close by 6pm, the public could use motorcycle till 11pm but must not carry any passenger.

    He said the arrangement was to enable Muslims attend evening lecture (Tafsir) normally conducted during the Ramadan period.

    The Commissioner added that buses have been provided to convey Muslims to-and-fro Tafsir grounds at subsidised rates from 10 designated stations recommended by the leaders of the religion in the state.

    He warned that the arrangement did not in any way imply that the security agencies have relaxed security but “only reviewed timing because of the fasting period.”

    In their remarks, Secretary of Jama’atu Naril Islam JNI in the state, Alhaji Saleh Danburam and the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Abare Kalla urged members of the public to be law abiding and cooperate with security agencies.

  • The Biafra Zionist Movement

    The Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM) was founded about two years ago. The movement was founded by a United Kingdom-based lawyer, Benjamin Onwuka, who said it was founded to give “seriousness” to the Biafran dream.

    Onwuka, who hails from Item in Bende local government area of Abia state, said the plight of Ndigbo in Nigeria informed the birth of the BZM. He said the movement has the backing od Igbo intellectuals in the Diaspora, particularly those residing in the United States and South Africa .

    It was learnt that many of the pro-Biafran groups based abroad discovered the seriousness of Onwuka and decided to align their groups with BZM. Having ganered enough support, Onwuka decided to return to Nigeria to campaign for the cause, with the backing of those abroad.

    He had before then shuttled across Nigeria, Europe , and America . Having found its teeth, the group sent an application to the United Nations for an observer status for the Republic of Biafra.

    The application was submitted to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Another application for an independent status was sent to the African Union with a request to convene a meeting of Heads of State and Government.

    The application to the UN secretariat, dated August 6, 2012 with reference BZM/OS./REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA gave the grounds of the application as insecurity of lives and property and alack of religious freedom/worship.

    “It is now abundantly clear that the security of lives and property of the Biafran People are no longer guaranteed in the entity called Nigeria.

    “It is also very clear that the Right of the Biafran peoples to peacefully practice their religion and freedom of association under the United Nations Charter of freedom of Association is no longer safe and guaranteed in the entity called Nigeria.

    “Therefore, the people of Biafra have resolved that on 5th November 2012, we shall be re-declaring our independence and opt of Nigeria in order to guarantee and protect the Biafran Peoples’ Right to practice their religion without being killed and bombed.”