The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ohanaeze

  • PDP, Ohanaeze blow hot over Abaribe’s arrest

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo are demanding the immediate release of former deputy governor of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from security custody. Abaribe who is representing Abia South in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly and Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy was arrested yesterday by operatives of the Department of Security Services (DSS) at Transcorp Hilton where he had gone for a haircut. The DSS did not respond to inquiry over the arrest. Operatives of the DSS last night stormed his Apo Abuja residence, armed with a search warrant. The search was still on as at press time.

    But his party,PDP,claimed it was another evidence of “a total clampdown on the opposition and perceived opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.” Its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, attributed Abaribe’s arrest to moves to intimidate and emasculate vocal members of the National Assembly. He alleged that “constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech no longer obtains and citizens are marked, arrested and detained on the whims and caprices of those in power.” He asked the DSS to ” immediately declare Senator Abaribe’s whereabouts, as well as the charge against him.

    Moreover, the laws of our nation are clear on the process of arrest and prosecution of any citizen and not recourse to clampdown and intimidation.” Ohanaeze Ndigbo suspected that the arrest was in connection with the disappearance of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for whom Abaribe stood as surety in the treason case against him. The group said that the circumstances that led to Kanu’s disappearance were beyond the Senator and even the contemplation of the law that a surety can guarantee the production of an accused person. The Ohanaeze, in a statement by its President General Chief Nnia Nwodo, Ohanaze said the army in the name of “Operation Python Dance” invaded Nnamdi’s home and destabilized normalcy there. “It is only the security agency that can disclose Nnamdi’s whereabout. Senator Abaribe has no capacity, nor has any surety in the circumstances to know the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu. What happened in Umahia was an invasion, a war of a kind.

    “Nnamdi may have been killed or captured in the imbroglio or even escaped into hiding. The onus lies on the security forces to disclose his whereabouts. “The judiciary is beginning to tow the line of the executive by throwing the law overboard in matters that affect the South East. We are all equal before the law. Senator Abaribe must be released forthwith.” Sources said yesterday that Abaribe was accosted at the hotel as he tried to have a haircut. The Nation gathered that the DSS had sent a verbal message to him that its DG Lawal Daura “wanted to have a friendly chat with him.” Abaribe was said to have turned down the invitation preferring that it should send a letter through the President of the Senate for him to honour any invitation. Sources said “a formal invitation from DSS never came,” and people suspected to be DSS operatives had been trailing him for unknown reasons. It was also learnt that a team from the DSS recently visited Abaribe’s senatorial office in Abia State, to ascertain the authenticity of the constituency projects he has executed.

    The operatives were said to have left the senatorial office “without finding anything to hang on him.” One of the sources said that “it is clear that the arrest of Abaribe has nothing to do with the bail bond he signed on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu.” Officials of the DSS had in April, stormed the senator’s office at the National Assembly. Spokesman to Abaribe, Uche Awom, confirmed the arrest yesterday. Awom said that the Abia South senator was attested when he went to Transcorp Hilton to have haircut. He said: “Yes, it is true that he has been arrested. He was arrested at the Transcorp Hilton by noon on Friday when he went there to have haircut.” Awom said that no reason was given for the arrest. Only on Thursday, Abaribe expressed the disappointment of Southeast senators over the cut in the allocation for the building of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Terminal Building, Enugu. Abaribe who is Chairman, Southeast Senate caucus, wondered why the allocation to the Enugu Airport in a zone that hardly receives a fair share of the national patrimony would be cut from N2 billion to N500 million. He expressed the determination of the Southeast caucus to get to the root of the budget cut.

  • Yoruba group to Ohanaeze: Nigeria greater than politics

    The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum yesterday urged Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to consider Nigeria as greater than politics.

    In a reaction to Ohanaeze’s statement on President Muhammadu Buhari’s Democracy Day address, the group, in a statement by its Secretary General, Akin Malaolu, said the Ohanaeze leadership should rise above pettiness.

    It said: “Chief John Nwodo, the Ohanaeze leader, should remember that language is the conduits through which knowledge and ideas are transmitted. A misdirection can lead to chaos, disrespect for lawful orders and can regenerate or degenerate into spasms of communal bloodlettings.”

    It added: “President Buhari had many times shown in deeds and in words efforts to reign in blatant and heinous crimes. Security agents are showing a better understanding of the issues so is the National Assembly.

    “Many people are being arrested for participating in crimes, killings in many states in the Middle Belt. Arms are being seized and people are being prosecuted.

    “The least a group like Ohanaeze should do is to encourage all the moves being made to end killings.

    “The National Assembly, which was initially hesitant on security developments, is now asking security chiefs to submit budgets for funding.”

  • Utomi, Chidoka back Ohanaeze on restructuring

    Chief Osita Chidoka, a former minister of Aviation, and renowned economist Prof. Pat Utomi, have said constructive engagement on the Nigerian project remains the best way to go.

    They spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday on the sideline of a restructuring summit by Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    Chidoka described Nigeria as a product of negotiation, which must renegotiate at all times to get the best out of it.

    He said Nigerians must agree that the country must be at peace with itself and hailed Ohanaeze Ndigbo for providing the platform.

    Chidoka advised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to restrain from standing in the way of dialogue.

    ”Nigeria is a work in progress; no country is a final product. So, we need to constantly renew the idea of Nigeria.

    “What Ohanaeze has done today is a step in the right direction. Nigeria is a product of negotiation and we will continue to negotiate Nigeria.

    “This is the only way the country can thrive and this summit is a good platform for it.

    “Nigeria needs restructuring, I am one of those who believe that no matter the decision you take, there is need to come to the table to talk about it,” he said.

    Utomi said justice was a condition for peace and development in any society.

    He said Nigeria was a long-term project where people should focus on long-term goals rather than short-term gain, resulting in injustice, desperation and strife.

    “I find it necessary that we should decide on a modus vivendi.

    ”It is important we create an atmosphere for engagements that will make our democracy viable and this is one of the platforms.

    “It is important to note that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, under the leadership of Nnia Nwodo, has maintained focus and the focus should be maintained,” Utomi said.

  • Igbo summit: MASSOB, Pro-Biafra group warn IPOB against plot to attack Ohanaeze

    TWO pro Biafra groups, Biafran Reformation Movement (BRM) and the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, have flayed members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) for threatening to disrupt the planned Igbo summit in Awka, Anambra State by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo. IPOB has vehemently threatened to disrupt the summit by attacking the Ohanaeze leaders, if the organisers go ahead with the plan. A statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPoB, Emma Powerful, described Ohaneze Summit as a selfish idea, adding: “Restructuring was not what Ndigbo stood for, rather actualizing Biafra. Ohanaeze is working against our goal.”

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday in Awka, the leader of Biafran Reformation Movement BRM, Ndubuisi Igwekani and the leader of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, said they were not in support of IPOB The BRM leader, told The Nation that his group would not tolerate continuous shedding of Ndigbo blood by anyone or group. According to him, “We condemn anything that will destabilize the peace we are enjoying in Igbo land and Anambra in particular. We want to achieve the Biafra project in a peaceful manner without carring arms, which should equally be the prerogative of Ohaneze. “Anyone or group that tries to destabilize Ndigbo should look for another way to do it and not through violence, our main aim is to actualize Biafra.

    “We will win the war without intimidation and bloodletting.It would be achieved in a peaceful manner,and what we are looking for is how to bring everybody together to achieve our goal which is Biafra,” Igwekani said MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, said his movement would never support anarchy, adding that what Ohaneze was doing was purely it’s programme. “MASSOB had said it repeatedly that it is not violent. All we need is becoming Biafra and nothing more. We are not interested in killing our people and anyone that does that becomes our enemy. “If IPOB is making plans to attack Ohanaeze, it should desist from such and MASSOB will never be part of it, ” Madu said. Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command, yesterday declared that it was ready for any one or group that planned to disrupt the Ohaneze Ndigbo summit in Awka on Monday.

  • Nigeria should learn from Biafra, Ohanaeze, Afenifere warn

    Chieftains of pan-Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its Yoruba counterpart, Afenifere, have cautioned Nigerians to learn from Biafra to avoid a repeat of the horrifying episode in the nation’s political history.

    They condemned the killings, saying these have left many displaced, malnourished and degraded.

    The umbrella socio-cultural organisations noted that similar situations are factors that led to the 30-month Civil War.

    They spoke at the presentation of a book: Shadows of Biafra, by Uchenna Nwankwo, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Victoria Island in Lagos.

    Civil war hero and grand patron of Lagos Ohanaeze, Chief Guy Ikokwu, who represented the president general of the organisation, Chief Nnia Nwodo Jnr., noted that living participants of the Civil War from major and minority ethnic nationalities not only regretted their roles of “brigandage and folly”, but “now want a better Nigeria with equity and justice for all”.

    He said: “Biafra was a lesson to Nigeria and the Black race. There were a lot of human errors which could have been avoided by Nigerians and Biafrans. Some of the participants and actors are dead.

    “And in the last few years, militia Fulani herdsmen with AK-47 guns, some of whom are foreigners, roam agricultural settlements with reckless abandon, killing recklessly thousands every year and claiming land ownership in the Middle Belt and southern states of Nigeria.”

    Afenifere chieftain, Chief Supo Shonibare, who called for true federalism that allows for collective leadership, said: “Uchenna Nwankwo is a timely material that forces us to revisit the lessons of Biafra.”

    A 1992 presidential aspirant on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Uma Eleazu, who represented Falae, the chairman of the event, said: “We need to sit together to talk about and face our mistake.”

    Other dignitaries at the event were former military governor of old Imo State and Lagos States as well as a chieftain of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retired), Senator Ebenezer Ikeyinwa, Niger Delta activist Fred Agbeyegbe, His Royal Majesty Uche Dimgba Ezeudo, former Head of Service (HOS) of Lagos State, Chief Abeke Taire and legal practitioner, Tochukwu Ezukanma.

     

    Ikokwu condemned the mayhem by Boko Haram and militia herdsmen.

    The Ohanaeze chief urged the government to take proactive measures to end the menace.

    He cited the upgrade and modernisation of the livestock industry to the modern ranch similar to the livestock equivalents overseas as the solution to a better rewarding beef, dairy, hides and skin industry.

    The Igbo leader noted that this would enrich the nation’s economy through job creation and taxation.

     

  • Ohanaeze inaugurates youths’, women’s wings

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday inaugurated its newly elected youths’ and women’s wings.

    The swearing-in of the elected officials was performed by the President-Peneral of the organisation, Chief Nnia Nwodo, and the Secretary General, Uche Okwukwu.

    Those sworn in included Arthur Obiora (President); Kingsley Dozie Lawrence (Deputy President); Madukaibe Uchenna (Secretary); Hillary Chukwuebuka (Treasurer); Osmond Nkeoma (Publicity Secretary) and Umenyi Chukwuemeka (Financial Secretary).

    Others are: Onyeka Omeke (Assistant National Secretary); Immaculata Nwoke (Assistant Treasurer) and Chike Onunkwo (Assistant Financial Secretary).

    Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor is the Women’s Leader. Others are: Nkechi Roslyn Ugwu (Assistant Woman Leader); Ada Chidozie Ofoegbu (Secretary); Uju Egbuju (Treasurer); Roseline Nwuzor (Financial Secretary); Pamela Ariolu (Publicity Secretary); Henrieta Ozioko (Legal Adviser); Priscilla Umeham (Assistant Legal Adviserý).

    Nwodo urged them to live up to maintain the Igbo tradition of respect for elders.

    The event was witnessed by members of the highest decision-making body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Ime-Obi.

     

  • Lawyers to govt: probe bombing of Ohanaeze leader’s home

    Igbo lawyers under the platform of Otu Oka-Iwu (Law Society) have expressed “shock and dismay” on the alleged bombing of of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide President-General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo’s country-home, urging the government to probe the matter.

    The law society, in a statement by its President Chief Chuks Ikokwu, described the perpetrators of the bombing as “cowards and the real enemies of society and Ndigbo”.

    It added: “It is worrisome that several days after the incident, no suspects have been apprehended.”

    According to the association, whether the bombing is the act of some misguided persons or state actors, “it is imperative that government mobilises all necessary personnel and resources to fish out the perpetrators and speedily bring them to justice.”

    The law society noted that the mandate given to Chief Nwodo by Ndigbo “is a divine call to duty,” adding that “no amount of intimidation should cow him to throw in the towel.”

    The association stated that it “follows closely the bold and courageous initiatives” that the Ohanaeze chieftain had taken since his election “towards restoring Igbo voice and dignity in the Nigerian polity”.

    In an endorsement of Nwodo’s leadership style, the umbrella body of Igbo lawyers noted that Nwodo “has been outspoken and courageous in speaking truth to power in Nigeria’’.

    They urged Chief Nwodo to “stand firm and unshaken” even in the face of this latest attempt to cow and intimidate him.

    Otu Oka-Iwu urged Ndigbo worldwide to “close ranks” and not allow authors of divide-and-rule stratagems to “break our ranks through politics of violence, bombing and carnage, which is alien to the Igbo culture and way of life‘’.

     

  • Ohanaeze, Uba, others seek probe of explosion at Nwodo’s residence 

    Security agencies have been urged  to probe Sunday’s explosion at the Enugu home of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader Chief John Nwodo with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

    Senator Andy Uba and the Ohanaeze youth wing in separate statements criticized the throwing of explosives at the Nwodo home.

    Uba, Chairman of Senate committee on Interior described the incident as “dastardly”

    To him, the peace of the South east should “not be polluted with incidents such as this one.”

    He sympathised with Chief Nwodo and assured him that “the good people of the Southeast and beyond are with him as he continues to advance the cause of the Igbos.

    Uba urged the President-General to continue to discharge his duties without fear or favour.

    He called upon the security agencies to as a matter of urgency investigate the explosion  leaving no stone unturned.

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Enugu Chapter yesterday paid a solidarity visit to Nwodo.

    Led by its leader Dr Alex Ogbonnia, the 17 local government areas  in Enugu State were represented.

    Ogbonnia described  Nwodo as the conscience of Igbo nation

    He said whoever was trying to repress  Nwodo was wasting his time because the ideological foundation of what he advocated and was fighting for was anchored on truth.

    Nwodo  thanked them for their solidarity visit which he said had emboldened him as it was a sign of acceptability and support.

    Nwodo observed that the country had entered another stage of its struggle for independence and called for total vigilance as the attack was only symbolic and could happen to any other person.

    The Ohanaeze youth wing pleaded with security agencies to fish out the people behind the explosion at the  Nwodo home at Ukehe, Nsukka.

    A member of the youth wing, Chief Chinedu Ugwa,  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident as strange, saying that the youth wing was in solidarity with Nwodo.

    Ugwa, who is the coordinator of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing in the Southsouth, called for vigilance in Igbo land as the security situation worsens in parts of the country, especially in neighbouring Benue State.

    “We in the youth wing of Ohanaeze are saddened by the development and condemn it. We pray for safety of the President-General of our parent body, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

    “This incident is unfortunate and we urge our leader not to lose focus on his task of unifying the Igbos and building bridges of peace amongst Igbos across the world.

    “Nwodo is a peace advocate and should put the incident behind him and move on.

    “We frown at it and say no to the act as we await the response of security agencies to unravel the cause of the explosion that went off on Sunday at Nwodo’s house.

    “This is a distraction that should not be allowed to divert the attention of the Ohanaeze leadership from its vision of re-positioning the Igbos in Nigeria to play greater roles in economic development of the country.

    “We earnestly ask the security agencies to reinforce security around Nwodo to enable him function in his office while the perpetrators of this dastardly act should be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

  • Explosion at Ohanaeze president’s home

    An explosion yesterday rocked the Enugu home of Ohanaeze Ndigbo President Chief John Nwodo.

    It destroyed windows, an air conditioning unit and the ceiling of one of the houses in the compound. But no life was lost.

    Nwodo said the incident would not deter him from continuing to serve his people.

    It was observed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was hurled over the fence into the compound.

    Nwodo’s media aide Emeka Attamah said the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, accompanied by the Area Commander for Nsukka Police Command and the Divisional Police Officer for Igbo Etiti LGA, came to inspect the house.

    The police chief enjoined the public to always be vigilant and report strange faces to security operatives.

    He described the state as peaceful, wondering why some miscreants would be after Chief Nwodo’s life.

    What happened, he said, was a sign for the need for greater security around Nwodo.

    The commissioner ordered that security be beefed up in  Nwodo’s compound and promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

    The Commander of the Bomb Disposal Unit, John Aniche, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the items recovered from the scene included batteries, pellets and other materials used in preparing the IED.

    Nwodo expressed surprise that some people could be after his life.

    The incident, he said,  would not deter him from leading his people.

    Enugu State Police Commissioner, Danmallam with Nwodo and the traditional ruler

    The traditional ruler of Umudele in Ukehe, Igwe Lawrence Aroh, thanked God for saving Nwodo.

    Igwe Aroh wondered why some people would constitute danger to others.

    He assured the commissioner that the people would be extra vigilant, adding that any such attempt in the future would be nipped in the bud.

    Enugu State Director of Department of State Security (DSS), Mrs E A Likiyon was also at the scene.

    Deputy Senate President Chief Ike Ekweremadu has condemned the bombing,  describing it as a `dastardly act’.

    Ekweremadu, in a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, said it was “certainly ugly, evil and outrageous.”

    “This is quite an unusual development in the Southeast and we will not accept it.

    “I call on the security agencies to get to the root of this devilish act and ensure that the culprits are brought to book immediately,’’ he said.

     

     

  • Ohanaeze raises the alarm over Ekweremadu, lawmakers’ safety

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has flayed the invasion of the Senate by armed men.

    It says it is particularly concerned about the safety of Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, and other lawmakers as well as staff of the National Assembly.

    Ohanaeze, in a statement in Enugu, said: “This reprehensible gangsterism and attack on the parliament and our democracy is unacceptable.”

    It added: “The breach of security in an otherwise most-secured environment in Nigeria gives course for suspicion.

    “We know for certain that there are several security checks before one can access the National Assembly Complex.

    “We are also aware that it takes the motion for the suspension of the Order 17 of the Senate Standing Rule before anybody outside the Senators and chamber staff is allowed access into the Senate Chamber.

    “It is also common knowledge that the National Assembly Complex is surrounded by the Presidential Villa, headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS), the Office of the National Security Adviser, among others. So, how on earth did the assailants escape with the mace?

    “We watched on live television and the other footage of the incident how the invaders moved menacingly towards the Deputy President before he was whisked away to safety by his security guards.

    “With a hindsight of the attempt on Senator Ekwremadu’s life in November 2015, which the security agencies refused to investigate or say a word about, we have genuine cause to believe that the attack on the Senate chamber by armed men on a day the Senate was in session and with Senator Ekwremadu presiding had more sinister motives than met the eye.

    “The 1999 Constitution (as amended) is very clear that the primary purpose of government is the welfare of citizens and the protection of their lives and property.

    “We wish to state unequivocally that with all the legitimate instruments for the protection of lives and property, including those of the lawmakers and the parliament, firmly in the hands of the executive arm of government, Ndigbo and the world know whom to hold responsible should any harm befall the Senator or other lawmakers and parliamentary staff.

    “Senator Ekweremadu is just the one eye with which Ndigbo are seeing in this administration that have unabashedly side-tracked the South East. He is the only Igbo man occupying a principal and non-appointive position in the top hierarchy of the Federal Government today, and we believe that there should be limits to political rascality.”