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Tag: South East Senators

  • South East senators condemns Army/IPOB row

    South East senators condemns Army/IPOB row

    The South East Senate Caucus on Tuesday decried the ongoing military show of force in the South East, particularly in villages around Umuahia, Abia State.

    The caucus, in a statement issued by its chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also condemned the alleged military incursions into the country home of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, saying “such action suggests willful personalisation of the operation and deliberate abuse of the people’s fundamental right.”

    Abaribe expressed sadness that the military chose a time when the caucus has engaged the IPOB leadership and even extracted firm commitment from them that its agitation would be strictly non-violent  and in conformity with international best practices.

    The statement said: “We had hoped that our ongoing engagement with the group be given a chance, and here we are, with a hurried military action deep into a highly populated area with high propensity for casualty, which occurrence would rather escalate the already tense situation.

    “It is more worrisome that the military’s operation ‘python dance 2’ restricted to the South East in a peace time, has no doubt fouled the environment and sent strong signal that the region is under siege, which should not be so in a democracy.

    “We therefore urge extreme caution, and advise the military to de-escalate the situation and choose the best operational modus that will not only guaranty the safety of Nigerians, but also enhance national unity.

    “Nigeria is not at war, people are only exercising their constitutional and universally guaranteed rights. So far they are carrying on in a manner that had never given room to violence which could warrant a wholesale military expedition.”

     

  • South East senators to boycott Buhari’s town hall parley

    The South East Senate Caucus on Wednesday resolved to boycott Thursday’s town hall meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Enugu.

    President Buhari is scheduled to hold what organisers termed Economic and Security summit with stakeholders in the South East.

    The Chairman of the Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, confirmed that the South East Senators will stay away from the town hall meeting.

    Abaribe cited lack of adequate consultation as reason behind their resolution to stay away from the meeting.

    The Abia South Senator said though there was an attempt to consult the caucus prior to the meeting, it was not adequate.

    He said, “The South East Senate Caucus will not attend a planned town hall meeting with Mr. President slated for Enugu having not been adequately consulted.

    “Again, it is the view of the Caucus that what the South East needs is development and not to be tagged with any other issue like security.

    “South East has been utterly neglected and marginalized over time especially with regards to addressing factors that stimulates development including the place of Ndigbo in the present administration.

    “So if we are to hold a town hall meeting the agenda must be restricted to purely development of the region. The agenda must be articulated to address the issues as highlighted.”

     

  • South East senators to FG: Probe IPOB members’ killing

    The South East Caucus in the Senate on Thursday asked the Federal Government to immediately constitute a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the alleged killing of about 150 defenceless members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    A statement issued by Chairman of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in Abuja, said the Amnesty International report, which painted a very chilling picture of the brutal killing of peaceful protesters allegedly by the Nigerian Army is not only embarrassing to Nigeria as a country, but one that cast doubts on the operational modus of the Nigeria military in handling civil protest in a constitutional democracy.

    Abaribe said the caucus resolved that the reported killings must be investigated and those found culpable made to face the law.

    Amnesty International in a report on Wednesday said an analysis of 87 videos, 122 photographs and 146 eyewitness testimonies relating to demonstrations and other gathering between August 2015 and August 2016 consistently showed that the military fired live ammunition with little or no warning to disperse the crowd of IPOB members.

    The group also claimed that it found evidence of mass extra-judicial executions by security forces, including at least 60 people shot dead within two days during events to mark Biafra Remembrance Day.

    Abaribe said,” It is not enough for the Nigeria military to debunk the report, we as a caucus demand an independent inquiry in the mould of a judicial panel and urgently too.

    “It is our candid view that such panel would reassure the Igbo that the Federal Government is alive to its responsibilities one of which is the protection and respect of the fundamental rights of all people irrespective of tribe or religion.

    “Unraveling the authenticity of the report would help to prevent a reoccurrence just as it will engender unity in our country.

    “But the most important to us now is that the report must be probed and those implicated must be made to face justice.”

  • South East Senators, Rep seek relocation of Boko Haram suspects from Anambra

    South East Senators, Rep seek relocation of Boko Haram suspects from Anambra

    •Obiano to residents: “I can’t use Boko Haram to play politics” in Rivers 

    The South East political class is mounting pressure on the federal government to relocate from Anambra State, the Boko Haram detainees who were recently transferred to the Ekwulobia Prison in state.

    The South East Senate Caucus said yesterday that the relocation was imperative in the interest of peace and security.

    Senator Mao Ohunabuwa (Abia North) who spoke for the caucus in Abuja claimed there was  no justifiable reason for the transfer of the Boko Haram detainees  to a state  far away from where the suspects were arrested.

    Simultaneously, a member of the House of Representatives, Eucharia Azodo (Aguata, Anambra), sent a petition to the federal government to reverse its decision to transfer    the detained  Boko Haram members  to her state, while Governor Wlillie Obiano of Anambra State who is  being accused of complicity in the transfer by political opponents deplored what he called attempts to politicize the issue.

    Ohunabuwa said that the presence of the suspects in Ekwulobia is capable of creating avoidable tension and fear of the unknown in the area.

    He asked for their relocation immediately and threatened to raise the issue on the floor of the Senate should they be retained in Ekwulobia.

    He said that such prisoners should be confined in the states where they committed the crime or any other state in the north with maximum prisons.

    Ohuabunwa also regretted the renewed killings by the insurgents saying that no effort should be spared to flush out the insurgents from the country.

    And in her petition to the federal authorities, Azodo said  the relocation of the detainees to Ekwulobia Prison has  serious security and socio-economic implications for  the people of the state.

    She said her constituents are not comfortable with the prisoners’ presence in their midst because the Ekwulobia prison does not have the capacity to accommodate such high risk inmates.

    “Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State is not a maximum security prison,” she said.

    “The prison originally has the capacity to house 85 inmates but it is presently overburdened with 135 inmates. The new 47 Boko Haram inmates will over stretch the prison and that could pose dangerous consequences for the community and entire state.

    “The arrival of these detainees has led to anxiety across the state with places like Onitsha, Ekwulobia and other major cities of Anambra State witnessing protests.

    “Many businesses including markets, filling stations have been closed as a result of the arrival of the Boko Haram detainees.”

    According to the lawmaker, the people feared the possibility of jail break that could lead to a culture of violent attacks within the communities.

    “There is a general fear of the possibility of a jailbreak aided by their (Boko Haram) members. The relocation of the prisoners to Ekwulobia is in flagrant violation of the avowed wishes of the peace-loving people of Anambra State.

    “Even though the management of prisons is on the Exclusive list, I urge the federal government to rescind its decision to relocate the Boko Haram detainees to Anambra.?”

    Governor Obiano who has come under attack for allegedly conniving with the federal government on the transfer of the detainees to his state declared yesterday that contrary to insinuations, he would not play politics with the pains and agony of his people.

    He appealed to the people of the state to go about their normal businesses while he continues to engage the relevant authorities on the recent transfer of the detainees.

    The governor through his media aide, James Eze said: “We wish to inform the general public that Governor Obiano NEVER made any comments to any media. Since the eruption of this controversy, Governor Obiano’s position has been consistent. For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Willie Obiano is aware of the strong feelings provoked by Boko Haram among NdiAnambra and the people of the South East.

    “Therefore, he shall never use this subject of pain and anguish to play politics. Those who are not held back by any moral considerations in their pursuit of power, cheap popularity and vendetta are free to play with the agony of the people for their narrow interests.”