Indigenous People of Biafra
It is not a rosy year for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a militant organization conceived and established for the realization of the birth of the Republic of Biafra, a project which dates back to the mid1960s.
When the group commenced its agitation, it was considered by the government as an inconsequential body, and it was treated with derision. Its founder and leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was regarded as an unserious agitator and political nonentity, deserving no attention.
When it launched into anti-government activities, it enjoyed widespread acceptance from the youths who perceived it as a liberation force capable of bringing about a country called Biafra for the people of the South East. And no notable Igbo leader came out openly to cast aspersions on the group.
Later, the group became violent-prone during which many excesses were committed, and so its leader was arrested and detained.
After a lot of pleading by Igbo leaders and other prominent Nigerians on his behalf, he was taken to court and charged with treason. He was ultimately granted bail with a warning to desist from anti-government activities.
On regaining his freedom, instead of treading the path of honour by stopping the agitation, he embarked on ways to invigorate it, violating all his bail conditions.
This development engendered the revocation of the bail and his being declared wanted.
He is now a fugitive from justice, and his group is gradually going into oblivion.
Northern youths
Northern youths, operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), badly shook the nation with its announcement on June 6 of a quit notice to the Igbo living in the northern part of the country. They were asked to leave for the South East on October 1.
This line of action was greeted with howls of condemnation throughout the country. Almost all groups and Nigerians of note stridently criticized the notice which was seen as a means of destroying the fragile unity of the nation and a level of complexity to the politics of tribalism plaguing the country.
According to the northern youths, the quit notice was in retaliation for the agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the Republic of Biafra and the insults thrown at northerners by the group.
The youths also accused the Igbo of ingratitude, for, according to them, they were the major beneficiaries of northerners’ generosity in the area of business generating stupendous wealth for them.
They mentioned specific business sectors dominated by the Igbo in the North through which they made a lot of money which was later used to transform their own region.
As October I was approaching, there was mounting tension. But a palpable sense of relief was felt all over the nation with the revocation of the notice by the spokesman of the coalition, Abdulazeez Sulaiman, in a statement issued in Abuja on August 24.
Boko Haram
Boko Haram militants, early in the year, unleashed terror on the country with renewed vigour and determination in order to bring the military to its knees.
But their field day abruptly came to an end when they met their Waterloo from the well-equipped and gallant armed forces which fought in accordance with the rules of engagement.
It was with glee that the Nigerian government, towards the end of the year, announced the degradation of the brutal terrorist group that held the nation to ransom for many years.
An indication of the heavy defeat of the militants is a return to normalcy in Maiduguri, Kondugua, Kaoure and Bama which used to be their strongholds.
A strategy to flush out the remaining scattered members of the group out of Nigeria and its neighbouring countries is in the offing, and $1billion has been earmarked to finance the project.
Niger Delta Avengers: The Niger Delta Avengers, a group which prides itself on avenging what it regards as the government’s injustice to its people and region, on many occasions wreaked havoc on oil facilities.
The destruction caused by the group imperceptibly dragged the country into economic crisis, and the devastating effects of this on the national economy manifested in other sectors which affected the standard of living and provision capital projects.
Nigerians appealed to the government to bring the agitators to the negotiating table. The advice was at first spurned. But it was later heeded.
The Federal Government swung into action, and the group was pacified through some offers and concessions which are greatly beneficial to the people of the region.
The group now maintains the peace, but it issues threats to preclude the government from taking decisions it considers unfavourable to the interest of the Niger Delta.
Pan-Niger Delta Forum
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), under the leadership of Chief Edwin Clark, was out with the intention of bringing about enduring peace in the Niger Delta region of the country.
To make this a reality, a 16-point agenda was presented to the Federal Government.
There was opposition to the forum. Some militant groups in the region expressed lack of confidence in it and dragged its name through the mire. They advised the government to keep away from negotiating with it.
There were also divergent opinions from other Nigerians on the intervention of the group. It was hailed mostly by people outside the South-South. They believed it was a means of making the region peaceful. Those who opposed it were of the opinion that it was out to halt the progressive march of the militants to make life more easy for their people.
But the generality of people are of the belief that the implementation of the group’s propositions will lead to a peaceful, progressive and secure region.
Ohanaeze
Dr. John Nwodo was very active as the leader of Ohanaeze, and, as usual, the group was always prepared for the protection and promotion of the interest of the Igbo in the South East and South-South of Nigeria.
Ohanaeze supported the restructuring of the country because of its obvious advantages to its people. They also saw it as an alternative to secession.
When Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was in detention, members of the group were strident in urging the government for his unconditional release.
The organization vehemently condemned the militarization of the South East, following threats from the IPOB. They failed to reason with the Federal Government on the operation, claiming it was meant to punish the people of the region.
The operation, tagged “Python Dance”, was consequently launched but the period was characterized by virulent criticisms from the group.
It was against the use of force in dealing with the IPOB and counselled caution and dialogue.
Arewa Consultative Forum
The interest of the people of the northern part of the country was the major concern of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), and this was well taken care of during the year.
The forum, led by former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, was always oppositional on issues which were inimical to the interest of the northerners, while praising and supporting ones which were favourable to them.
The organization was a vociferous critic of restructuring as propounded by other regions of the country. It was always in support of strong institutions and good governance.
The forum flung itself into programmes to address challenges fuelling poverty among its people and militating against the development of the North.
Afenifere
Afenifere always rose to the challenges confronting Yoruba as a cultural group.
It was at the forefront of the battle for the restructuring of the country and the economic integration of the South West to fight the economic and social problems bedevilling the region.
Some prominent members of the group strongly criticized President Muhammadu Buhari on his advice to the World Bank to give priority to the North East in siting developmental projects. The president’s comment was considered as an act of partiality.
The ravages of the North East by Boko Haram’s atrocities adduced by the presidency and his party for the president’s position was countered by the opponents who insisted it was out of tribalism.
Since the elder statesman, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, took the helm of the organization, this year was special in its life. With the cooperation and commitment of other grandees of the body, he worked assiduously for its revitalization and the unity of the Yoruba race.
Military
The military displayed professionalism, discipline, gallantry and resilience in its battles against Boko Haram militants, and these attributes contributed largely in engendering their humiliating defeat and quick dispersal.
They were hotly pursued to Camp Zero, their spiritual headquarters, in Sambisa Forest which was later reduced to rubble by the superior power of our armed forces.
The hotbed of Boko Haram’s terrorist acts, comprising Maiduguri, Kondugua, Kaoure and Bama, is now a peaceful and secure area with thriving business activities.
Badoo
Badoo, a group of ritual killers, invaded the Ikorodu area of Lagos State and killed with gusto.
Like vampires, they revelled in taking their victims’ blood with white handkerchiefs after the dastardly killing.
This was on for months, and many people, including babies and women, were victims of the brutal antisocial group.
When the killing was on the increase, it became a matter of concern to all Nigerians as human rights organizations, media, women bodies, international groups and well-meaning Nigerians were calling for actions to put a halt to the dreadful activities of these faceless villains.
Ikorodu and its environs slid into ferment. Blood and tears were flowing. There were anguish and anger all over the place. The cries of the victims were worryingly loud.
All these triggered off actions and the murderous attacks were later stopped through the concerted and determined efforts of the government, security operatives, traditional rulers and local people.
