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Tag: Southeast

  • Presidency: military deployment in Southeast not invasion

    Presidency: military deployment in Southeast not invasion

    The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla has described as uniformed the argument that the military deployment in the South-east amounted to an invasion of the region.

    He argued that the President, by authorising such a deployment, acted within his powers as provided in the Constitution and was bound to do so in the face of the threat to national security constituted by the activities of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Read:Army to launch Python Dance II in South East Friday

     

    Obobo-Obla, in a statement yesterday, cited Section 8 (1 – 3) of the Armed Forces Act to justify the deployment. He added that the decision of the Federal Government was also supported by the provision of Section 217 of the Constitution, which allows the use of the armed forces in the face of insurrection and in aid of civil authorities to restore order.

    He said: “It is axiomatic that Abia State constitutes part and parcel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President, Commander–in-Chief; President Muhammadu Buhari, has the power to deploy the Armed Forces to any part of the territory that constitutes the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to maintaining and securing public safety and public order.

    Also: IPOB: South East governors wade into agitations, initiate dialogue to end crisis

    “It follows that by Section 8 (3) of the Armed Forces Act, the President, in exercise of his powers to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces, direct that the deployment of any branch of the Armed Forces for the purpose of maintaining and securing public safety and public order.

    “This is precisely what the President did when he deployed the Armed Forces to the Abia State of Nigeria to maintain and secure public safety and public order. Put differently, the President can, in certain circumstances, deployed the Armed Forces of Nigeria to perform police duties.

    “Examples of the use of the Armed Forces to maintain law and order sometimes in this country abound; so why are detractors of the Federal Government suggesting that the deployment of the Armed Forces to Abia State or the South East region amounts to invasion?”

    Citing the provisions of Section 217 subsections 2 (a) (b) (c) of the Constitution, Obono-Obla argued that “grammatically or literarily or contextually the description or branding of the deployment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to Abia State to maintain public safety and public order as invasion, in the face of threat by IPOB, is absolutely wrong.

    “The pertinent question is, what is an invasion?  An invasion is a military offensive in which large parts of combatants of one geo-political entity aggressively enter territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a territory, forcing the partition of a country,” Obono-Obla said.

  • Southeast to replicate DAWN Commission for regional integration

    The Southeast has concluded plans to replicate the idea of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Director General of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, addressed reporters yesterday after a two-day visit to the Cocoa House, Ibadan headquarters of the commission.

    He said the region wanted to take a step forward by replicating what the DAWN Commission was doing for Southwest.

    The director general said the visit helped his team to tap the experience for stepping up the region’s economic integration and development efforts.

    Ortuanya added that the visit also helped his team to envision a strategic plan and identify the professionals needed to manage the proposed agency successfully.

    According to him, the forum’s secretariat and DAWN Commission share some things in common, given their mandate for regional cohesion and integration. The director general said DAWN Commission was a success, having established its footprints in several areas of cooperation among the six states in the Southwest.

    He said: “We are barely one month old, whereas DAWN Commission is four years old. We felt we should have this interaction with DAWN with a view to leveraging on its experience. Going forward, this will help us. What drives the society now is economic empowerment. If we have empowerment in Southeast, it will also help Nigeria’s development.

    “DAWN developed a strategic master plan for the development of the Southwest. We also need to go this way in sustaining our values of hard work, innovation, honesty, respect and cooperation, among others. If the regions are able to sustain themselves, then they will rely less on the centre.

    “We have seen the DAWN’s strategic document, tagged: One Bloc. This will form the policy guidelines for the Southeast Governors’ Forum. We have also seen the type of young professionals driving this vision. We have learnt from all these and more through this visit.

    “We thank the DAWN Commission for opening its doors to us. We strongly believe that the future of Nigeria depends on cooperation.”

    DAWN Commission’s Acting Director General, Mr Seye Oyeleye, described the visit as a good step in the right direction.

    He said: “It is good that other regions are coming to embrace this approach to development. We need to de-emphasise ‘statism’ and encourage regionalisation for the obvious advantages therein. The visit was refreshing. They have discovered that there is no magic to what we are doing to fast-track growth and development. I am glad they have a lot of opportunities in the Southeast. The moment they make their own commission work, development will move fast.”

  • Quit notice: Northern leaders back unity

    Quit notice: Northern leaders back unity

    Northern traditional leaders in the Southeast and Southsouth regions of the nation gathered in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, to distance  themselves from the quit notice given to the Igbo in the North months ago.

    But more than washing their hands off the offensive directive, the leaders also pointed out that they were for a united Nigeria.

    They cited intermarriages among the ethnic groups as a major reason why no one should seek to divide the country.

    The leaders said there was no need for hate speech and that Nigerians should live peacefully with one another.

    The northern traditional rulers said that they have lived most of their lives in the Southeast and Southsouth.

    Some of them also said that their mothers were either from the Southeast or Southsouth, adding that they could not stand and watch some persons who represent the interest of few deny them the love and happiness they have enjoyed with their maternal relations.

    Danladi, while addressing newsmen, said that the peace and unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, stressing that the traditional rulers and their subjects would not be part of any call against the unity of the country.

    Danladi said, “We are saying that we are not in support of what is happening in this country today. Our stand is that we want peace in Nigeria. Irrespective of your tribe, ethnicity and religion, we are one.

    “For instance, most of these Sarikis in south east were born here. Some of us, our mothers are from here, their wives are from here. Likewise some of our brothers from south east who are in the north, most of them were born there and also married to people from there. Some have stayed there for close to 60 years. Where will they go? Like me now, if you ask me to go, where do I go to? All my life I’ve lived it here. We want this country to be united as it was before us.

    “Number one thing, I must not fail to say is that, the quit notice our brothers gave to non-northerners in the North is wrong. We are totally condemning it and ask them to reconsider that they have people down here in the Southeast too. The hate speeches coming from both sides, we condemn it and ask our traditional rulers here in Southeast and South-south to always liaise with the government of their states. We are appealing to the 11 state governments of the Southeast and Southsouth to also work with their Sariki because they are the leaders and representatives of our people here.

    “For instance, you all know the role I’ve been playing on issues concerning herdsmen. There was a time such issues were high here in Abia, but as you can see, it’s calm now. That’s how these Sariki can also help in states where they dwell.

    “We came out here, you should know we must have done some works. We are not children. We have spoken to them and we are still begging them. We know we have elders and Emirs that can talk to them. In the North, one Emir can do what 100 persons cannot do. Unity of this country first. I repeat, we are not in support of the quit notice that was issued to non-northerners.”

    He said that they were happy that President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country healthier than he left.

  • Southeast governors welcome President

    The South East Governors Forum has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria after his medical vacation in the United Kingdom (UK).

    Chairman of the Forum and Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi on behalf of the forum, thanked God for granting the president a divine healing.

    Umahi, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Uzor, described the President’s healing as a great work of God and wished him total recovery as he resumes duty.

    “I thank Nigerians for praying for the speedy recovery of the president.  This shows that they are becoming more patriotic despite varying political lines.

    “I call for more prayers and dedication to service from Nigerians because we can only achieve greatness through unity of purpose,” the statement read.

    The forum cautioned against hate speeches by Nigerians and reiterated its readiness to protect lives and property of every Nigerian irrespective of tribe or religion.”

  • North’s monarchs in Southeast, Southsouth disassociate themselves from quit notice

    Northern traditional rulers in the Southeast and Southsouth have disassociated themselves from the quit notice order issued to the Igbo living in the North by the Arewa Youth Congress (AYC).

    The monarchs spoke yesterday in Umuahia, Abia State capital, at the end of a meeting organised by their chairman, His Royal Highness Sariki Alhaji Yaro Danladi.

    Addressing reporters, Danladi noted that Nigeria’s peace and unity were not negotiable.

    The Sarikin Hausawa said traditional rulers and their subjects would not be part of any call against the nation’s unity.

    He said: “We are saying we are not in support of what is happening in this country today. Our stand is that we want peace in Nigeria. Irrespective of your tribe, ethnic and religion, we are one.

    “For instance, most of these sarikis in the Southeast were born here. Some of us and our mothers are from here; our wives are from here. Likewise for some of our brothers from Southeast in the North. Most of them were born there and they also married people from there.

    “Some have stayed there for close to 60 years. Where will they go? Like me now, if you ask me to go, where do I go to? All my life, I have been here. We want this country to be united as it was done before us.

    “The number one thing I must not fail to say is that the quit notice our brothers gave to non-northerners in the North is wrong. We are totally condemning it and ask them to reconsider that they have people down here in the Southeast too.

    “The hate speeches coming from both sides, we condemn them too and ask our traditional rulers here in the Southeast and Southsouth to liaise with the governments of their states.

    “We are appealing to the 11 state governments of the Southeast and Southsouth to also work with their Sariki because they are the leaders and representatives of our people here.

    “For instance, you all know the role I’ve been playing on issues concerning herdsmen. There was a time such issues were high here in Abia. But as you can see, it’s calm now. That’s how these Sariki can also help in states where they dwell…”

  • Southeast governors, others reject agitation for Biafra

    Southeast governors, others reject agitation for Biafra

    Igbo leaders seek restructuring

    Arewa Youths to reconsider quit notice

    Political leaders in the Southeast have disowned the campaign for secession being championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    The secession calls gained momentum after Kanu, who is standing trial for alleged treason, was released from prison on bail.

    The leaders were accused of keeping silent while the separatist group, joined by a faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Soverign State of Biafra (MASSOB), shut down commercial activities in the Southeast on May 30.

    Following this, a group of youths in the North gave the Igbo an October deadline to leave the region.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo held series of meetings with political and religious leaders as well as traditional rulers from the North and the Southeast. He declared at the end of the meetings that there was a consensus that Nigera would remain indivisible. He said all grievances would be addressed.

    The Igbo leaders who met in Enugu yesterday said they resolved in favour of a united Nigeria “where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and equal opportunity are paramount, regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender or political affiliation”.

    They rejected the claim by MASSOB and IPOB that they speak for the zone.

    At the meeting were the five Southeast governors, National Assembly members, led by Deputy Senatre President Ike Ekweremadu, apex Igbo socio-cultural Igbo organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo, religious leaders and other others.

    The meeting ended in the wee hours of yesterday with a communique read by Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum. It condemned hate speeches and conducts emanating from any segment of Nigeria.

    The Igbo leaders supported the restructuring of Nigeria on the basis of fairness and equity.

    The communique states: ”We therefore call on the Federal Government and all Nigerian leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the modalities of achieving this pressing question within a reasonable time frame.

    “Ndigbo support the report of the National Conference of 2014 and urge the Federal government to set up structures that will enable the implementation of same within a reasonable time.

    “That the South East governors, members of the National Assembly from the South East and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should henceforth constitute the official organs that will speak on behalf of Ndigbo on political matters.

    “That the South East leaders in consultation with leaders from other parts of the country, will engage the Federal government on all areas of concerns to Ndigbo and to Nigeria as a whole.”

    The leaders assured Ndigbo residing in other parts of the country of protection. Besides, they promised to ensure the safety of non-Igbo in the Southeast.

    Also at the meeting were the Ohanaeze leadership, led by its President John Nwodo, former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Adolphus Wabara, former Chief of General staff Commodore  Ebitu Ukiwe, former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu; Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu; former Inspector General of Police Ogbonnaya Onovo and former Ohanaeze President Gary Enwo Igariwey.

    There were also traditional rulers, including Obi of Onitsha Alfred Achebe; National Chairman of United Peoples Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Bishop Maxwell Anikwenwa; Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Gilbert Nnaji, Chukwuka Utazi,  and Ben Obi as well as members of the House of Reps, among others.

  • Kanu not regarded as Southeast leader, says Presidency

    Kanu not regarded as Southeast leader, says Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday explained why the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was not part of the ongoing consultations with leaders of the Southeast.

    The main reason for his absence is that he was not considered as a leader of thought in the Southeast region.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo last week started series of conversation meetings with leaders of thought, politicians, traditional rulers and the clergy over rising ethnic tensions in parts of the country.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator BabafemiOjudu, said the IPOB leader was not invited because the Presidency does not regard him as a leader of thought in the Southeast.

    According to him, a window of possibility would be opened for Kanu to meet with the Federal Government for discussion should the need arise in the future.

    He said: “Well, the thing is that we were looking for leaders of the people, leaders of thought and we do not see him as a leader of thought in the East.

    “May be opportunity will come at one time or the other for him to be engaged.

    “But so far, what we have done is to look at people who have influence in the communities, whether it is religious, whether it is traditional, whether it is political, social or governance. These are the people we brought in for discussion.” he added

    He added that the South leaders, including Ohanaez Ndigbo,who came to see Osinbajo have neither asked for a referendum on Biafra or secession, Ojudu said they have only complained about marginalisation in appointments and harassment by police at road blocks.

    The special adviser assured that their concerns were issues that could easily be addressed.

    He said: “Nobody has tabled that in all the discussions we have had. Nobody, I can tell you. Ohanaeze came with a prepared document. They never talked about referendum. They never. They never even talked about secession.

    “They made complaints about police harassment at road blocks. They made complaints about losing some key positions, not being appointed into security positions and all those kinds of things.

    “And these are things that can easily be addressed. Nobody canvassed secession at those meetings, nobody canvassed referendum.”

    Ojudunoted that the Southeast leaders that have met with the Acting President were in support of one united, peaceful Nigeria.

    He said the Federal Government would tackle the perceived injustice in parts of the country through equitable distribution of resources and employment creation.

    He added: “So, for us, and that was the conclusion that everybody came to in the consultations we have had that we should all agree that we can live together peacefully.

    “We should address injustice where we find it and the government should be equitable in the distribution of resources across the country and then, find solution to youth unemployment and the frustration that is confronting most of the young people across this country.”

  • Southeast governors, IG: Igbo are safe in the North

    Southeast governors, IG: Igbo are safe in the North

    APC: rein in separatists

    The dust raised by the ultimatum issued by some groups for the Igbo to leave the North was yet to settle yesterday.

    But Southeast governors told their citizens not to panic, stressing that they are free to live anywhere in Nigeria.

    Besides, the police assured the Igbo living in the North of their safety.

    Police chief Ibrahim Idris ordered top officers to keep the peace nationwide after a meeting of the top brass in Abuja.

    The House of Representatives also urged the police and other security agencies to ensure that everybody is safe.

    The youths, who issued an October deadline for the Igbo to quit the North, claimed that their action was due to the unchecked agitation for secession by Southeast groups, led by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    But the Federal Government, North’s governors, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and others have condemned the quit order as “provocative” and “uncalled for”.   The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) vowed that members of such groups would be stopped.

    Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi called on northern leaders to take actions would counter the intended plot of the youths to ensure that the grim history of the past is not repeated.

    He said: “We must call on all serious-minded patriots, particularly the religious leadership in Nothern Nigeria; the leadership of other socio-cultural groups in Nothern Nigeria; the Nigerian Governors Forum; and all the service branches to rise up with voices of peace and wisdom to counteract the mischievousness and exuberant excesses of the northern youth.

    “The ugly lessons of history are too grim to be stoked with carelessness. As leaders, we must exert the full measure of our powers and influence to forestall a repetition.

    “We call on all Igbo sons and daughters resident in Nothern Nigeria to go about their lawful daily activities without fear of intimidation, hindrance or molestation.”

    Umahi reiterated the governors’ commitment to “the existence of a virile, united prosperous and progressive Federal Republic of Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, mutual respect and equality of opportunity to all citizens, regardless of creed, ethnicity or gender, will reign supreme under the inflexible rule of law”.

    The governor also denied insinuations that a meeting resolved to send buses to evacuate Igbo in the North.

    “The rumours being peddled on conventional and social media platforms that we, the governors of the Southeast have met and agreed to mobilise vehicles and cash for repatriation of Ndigbo resident in Northern Nigeria must be disregarded, as they are nothing but tissues of lies.

    ”No amount of provocation would lead us to such precipitate and irresponsible action at this time. Those exploiting such vacuous tittle-tattle as a basis for divisive rhetoric in public spaces are simply playing juvenile politics and we urge them to cease and desist.”

     

    In Abuja, the IGP ordered Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commissioners and other senior officers to ensure peace nationwide.

    He told them that “the issue that is becoming a concern is the issue of threat by some tribal and regional groups”.

    “Yesterday, a group issued threat to some groups in this country and, like I observed, no individual has authority to stop any Nigerian from pursuing his daily bread in any part of this country because these are rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution.

    “We are not going to allow the groups to carry out the threat,” Idris said, adding:

    ”I want us all to be alert and stop anybody, group or individual that attempts to prevent any Nigerian from carrying out his daily activities; we have responsibility to ensure that those groups are stopped by all means. Being a Nigerian, no group has the right to prevent anybody from his rights either movement, association or whatever.

    He added: “The Nigeria Police Force has the right to stop such groups. The group called themselves northern youth group; nobody has that authority to stop any Nigerian from participating or residing in any part of this country; it is a constitutional right and I believe it is illegal to prevent people.

    “When the IPOB came out last month, we adopted a procedure and we are adopting the same procedure with this new group. We are trying to ensure that no individual or group causes confusion in this country because the threats constitute a subversive activity against the security of the state and we cannot allow that to happen.

    “We are going to conduct investigation into it and the state government has issued a directive of arrest to security agencies and you are aware that the State Security Council includes the Commissioner of Police; so definitely under that cover, CPs are to ensure that the directive given by the state governor is carried out as far as there is an impediment in the law of this country.

    “It is a directive and an authority on them to ensure that where these groups are seen, we have the responsibility to arrest them. The groups mentioned some dates, so we have to be very conscious of the date and ensure that no individual or group goes round this country to actualise the threats made. We will not allow them to carry out their threat.”

    On whether any arrest has been made, Idris said: “So far, I am not aware of any arrest that has been made but I want us to be mindful of the fact that to conduct an arrest is very easy, but there are so many factors that have to be taken into consideration.

    “There is no arrest yet but we as Force men have to make sure that no individual or group is seen physically either on our street or inside towns or villages trying to disturb any Nigerian from carrying out his activities on those dates mentioned”.

  • Imo, Southeast turn up heat on kidnappers

    Imo, Southeast turn up heat on kidnappers

    An anti-kidnap unit launched in Imo will make abductors in the state and the Southeast uncomfortable, reports OKODILI NDIDI 

    The Southeast was once a kidnappers’ paradise, recording between 25 and 30 high-profile kidnap cases every month. Those were the days of the invincible Vampire, who, along with his recruits, abducted, killed, and extracted ransom with ease from victims and their families. It amazed residents in the zone and beyond how the kidnap kingpin outwitted security personnel. It was more astonishing that even when he was apprehended and chained the Vampire still managed to escape. Those were days of terror in the Southeast, with clear consequences. Socio-economic activities went down. Investors fled.

    Some of the state governors in the zone, particularly Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, deployed huge amounts of money and other resources to combat the scourge. But the more the authorities fought kidnappers, including demolishing their properties, the more daring they became. Even after the police managed to overwhelm Vampire for the last time, his surviving victims still walk with fear.

    Not to worry, the dark days are over. The Southeast will soon be too hot for kidnap gangs and other criminals, thanks to the new Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) launched in Imo by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. The state government is also playing a big role in the new approach by providing up-to-date equipment to support the drive.

    Before, the police had relied on obsolete equipment and limited manpower to battle deadly and better equipped kidnap gangs.

    Aside from Lagos and Abuja, Imo is the only state where the new anti-kidnap unit has been commissioned. According to the IGP, the unit will provide intelligence for fighting kidnapping in the whole of the Southeast zone. That is not all; the police have also permanently deployed one of their surveillance and reconnaissance helicopters to the Imo State command to aid the fight against kidnapping in the zone.

    This is apart from the commissioning of a new Squadron of the Police Mobile Force to add to the existing Squadron in the state to shore up police manpower, as well as the Special Protection Unit (SPU), which is also newly built by the state government in Ideato South Council Area of the State.

    The Imo Governor, in additional efforts to compliment the Police, also donated brand new vehicles outside of the 100 Hilux vans he gave out to security agencies in the state during the early days of his administration to beef up security in the State.

    With these and other covert measures that have been put in place, the heat has surely been turned on the kidnap syndicates and one message is clear, they either relocate from the zone or meet their waterloo.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the Tactical Intelligence Unit, the Inspector General of Police observed that it will provide the needed intelligence to flush out kidnappers and other criminal elements from the zone.

    Assuring that the menace of kidnapping will be soon be a thing of the past following the commissioning the Intelligence Unit, the IGP, noted that “the new Unit will give the Police the capacity to nip kidnapping in the bud”.

    According to him, “it is one of the Units we are using to tackle kidnapping because it is an intelligence outfit that has given us capacity to pre-empt some of these kidnappings. When we came in we had only one of such Unit based in Abuja but we now have one in Lagos, one in Imo and one in Port Harcourt because we need to expand our capacity”.

    The IGP however emphasized the need of community participation in tackling kidnapping, asserting that, “the issue of kidnapping can be addressed on a two-prong action, which is Police action and the community participation. I think as community leaders, as parents, we need to discourage our youths who are taking kidnapping as a way of making easy money. We should put our heads together to ensure that our youths take their minds off this crime”.

    He however lamented that the Police is presently underfunded.

    In his words, “one of the challenges the Police is facing is funding, during the last security summit in Abuja, we all agreed that the Police is underfunded. The police needs more fund. We also recognized that under in a normal budgetary allocation we cannot get involved that is why we are trying to revive the Police Trust Fund Bill. We have been in touch with the leadership of the National Assembly to see how this Bill can be brought up and made operational. Because we believe that if the Nigeria Police Force must be very effective and stand on its feet the funding of the Police must be adequately addressed by all of us”.

    Also speaking shortly before handing over the keys to the brand new vehicles to the police boss at the Government House, Governor Okorocha, noted that his administration has done a lot to assist the Police in fighting kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state.

    He described Imo as the most peaceful state in the country, stating that within the past six years, his administration was able to prove that crime can be curbed with development, stressing that “there are lesser crimes where there is development than where there is underdevelopment”.

    His words, “I had always proposed ideas on how to help the Nigeria Police. The first time that the Nigeria Police got 1000 SUVs was from me, Rochas, as a businessman and not as a politician. We often speak evil of the Nigeria police and we have not been able to appreciate what the Nigeria police stands for under the very painful situation they work, in the discharge of their duties. If there is one man that appreciates the Nigeria Police it is me. I first donated a college of administration, a brand new 200 bed hospital, mobile squadron unit, workshops.

    “The right place to site Zonal Office is Owerri because of its strategic position. Federal government alone cannot provide the needs of the Police so I want to set the pace so that other states can follow.”

     

  • Genesis of separatist agitations in Southeast

    Genesis of separatist agitations in Southeast

    Seventeen years after the relaunch of the secessionist agenda by eastern agitators, the struggle for an independent state of Biafra has sparked ethnic tension. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU traces the genesis of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) – the arrowheads of the struggle.  

    It was in 1999. A young Igbo chief, Ralph Nwazuruike, suddenly appeared on the scene. He is not a politician. Neither is he a businessman. He is not a retired soldier. His antecedent was unknown. He is not a national figure. But, the strange crusade by the Indian-trained lawyer generated fear, which reverberated across the land.

    Twenty-nine years after, the ghost of Biafra was exhumed. Nwazuruike said he was ready to raise an army for the realisation of a separatist agenda, which the late warlord Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu failed to achieve at the height of his illustrious military career.

    Anxiety was about to envelop the polity. The new champion of a dead agenda is a man of speed. To the consternation of a shocked country, he hoisted the Biafran flags in different locations in the region. To demonstrate his seriousness, he also launched a nationalist organisation, the Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra (MASSOB). As other Nigerians dismissed the new movement as a huge joke, many of Igbo kinsmen saluted his patriotic sagacity. Soon, MASSOB held series of rallies to draw home its point. It launched what it described as the Biafran International Passport. Later, they attempted to launch a separate currency.

    The group also unfolded plans to form the Biafra Government in Exile and the Biafran Shadow Government.

    Nwazuruike believed he could achieve where Ikemba Odimegwu-Ojukwu failed in 1970. Following the 1966 coup and counter-coup, which led to the massacre of Igbos in the North, the military governor of the defunct Eastern State declared a state of Biafra. Thus, the East, under his leadership, embarked on a disastrous secessionist war. Amid the war, the embattled Commander-in-Chief abandoned the troops on the war front and left the ill-fated country of his dream.

    Many Igbo have continued to nurse the pains of the war. Although the former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, embarked on a programme of reconstruction, rehabilitation and political reconciliation, it did not lead to the psychological reintegration of the ethnic group into Nigeria.

    Before and after independence, Igbo dominated many sectors of the country. But, they believe that, since the war, they have been marginalised by successive administrations. Ironically, key Igbo leaders were allies of the successive governments.

    In the current dispensation, Igbo has alleged neglect. This has underscored the resurgence of the clamour for a sovereign state, unlike Yoruba, who following their tribulations after the annulment of the ‘June 12’ election, intensified their clamour for a sovereign national conference. Issues that have provoked disaffection in the East are not entirely absent in the North, West and Southsouth.

    These include: poor state of infrastructural facilities, especially roads and lopsided distribution of federal appointments to the disadvantage of the East. There is always competition for ‘federal resources.’

    At stake in Nigeria is the core national question; the crisis of distribution; which successive regimes have failed to resolve.

    Besides, Igbo is bitter that it has not produced a president for Nigeria. It has expressed disgust at its marginalisation during state creation. While the Northwest has seven states and other zones have six each, the East has five.

    In the views of its leaders, only a return to true federalism through restructuring could keep the East under the banner of Nigeria.

    However, the strategies employed by MASSOB infuriated the government. Despite the fact that MASSOB leaders described the group as a peaceful organisation on a legitimate mission, government has branded it as a violent group on a mission to undermine the country. During the group’s peaceful protests, the East stood still. Commercial activities were disrupted. Also, motorists suffered on the roads.

    To the government, national sovereignty was being subverted. In the course of MASSOB/police confrontation, scores of lives have been lost. MASSOB alleged that no fewer than 1,000 agitators have been killed by the police. Many members of the group also languish in detention. The group’s leaders have been arraigned in courts for charges ranging from subversion and treason.

    The struggle is an expensive venture. The agitators required money to pursue the decorative regional goal. Although MASSOB was previously at the fore front of the struggle, other groups also sprang up to agitate for the same cause. They include the Biafra Zionist Movement, led by Benjamin Igwe, a lawyer. Along the line, there were allegations that the agitation has been converted to a business venture.

    Curiously, there was a split in the group, when a crisis of confidence broke out in its leadership ranks. Nwazuruike started to take a back seat. MASSOB was factionalised and up came the Director of the MASSOB Radio, Nnamdi Kanu, who instantly filled the void. His group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), became a pain in the neck for the Federal Government.  He was charged and remanded in prison. Recently, he was granted bail on terms and conditions, his kinsmen described as stringent. One of such conditions is that he must not be seen in a crowd of more than 10 people. Last week, there were speculations that the Federal Government may appeal for the review of his bail conditions.

    But, will he succeed in his struggle? Time will tell.