A former Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, has attributed the agitation for the creation of Biafran nation out of Nigeria to the unfair treatment of the Ndigbo in the country.
However, he said while the agitation, spearheaded by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra was justified, the method by which the group was going about the agitation was condemnable.
Nebo, who spoke at the inauguration of new executive members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Council in Enugu, on Saturday, also knocked South-East governors, who he accused of betraying the interest of the region for personal political gains.
He argued that if justice must be done, the next President of Nigeria in 2023 ought to be an Igbo.
He, however, said South-East governors might not allow such because some of them were positioning to be vice-presidential candidates.
The former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who was the guest speaker at the event, said it was clear that the ruling All Progressives Congress would zone the presidency to the South.
“The Peoples Democratic Party is still struggling on the zoning of presidency, but with many of our governors in the South-East, who are here to serve themselves and not the people, and they are looking for the positions of vice presidential candidate, the PDP may actually end up zoning to the North so that one of them will become a vice-presidential candidate.
“In other words, they are ready to sell our nation, the Igbo nation for their personal aggrandisement and that is unfortunate.
“One thing about all these is the issue of justice, equity and fair play. Getting to power is of the desire of every political party, either by hook or by crook. I think the issue is social justice at this time and that is how to get the party to bring about the future of this country, Nigeria, not about the transient nature of power today.”
While he said the injustice against Ndigbo needed to be redressed immediately to end the secession agitation and prevent the country from dismemberment, Nebo disclosed that the call for separate state of Biafra, which the Indigenous People of Biafra and Nnamdi Kanu were championing, was born out of unfair treatment of Ndigbo, which made them lose faith in the country.
“The clamour for the state of Biafra was born out of the massive ill-treatment of Ndigbo, disenfranchisement of Ndigbo, the unspeakable treatment of Ndigbo that have driven many of our young people to despair and despondency. That is why IPOB was born.
“Unfortunately their methods are horrible, not defensible, unacceptable and they are not passing on whatever it is they want to pass in the right way. So, when you talk to a typical young person in Igboland, they feel like there is no hope for them in the entity called Nigeria and that is why some of them are so determined to the point of giving their lives to have independence and to become free from this shackle that Nigeria has placed on Ndigbo.
“I have always believed in one strong, virile country called Nigeria. Together we are stronger, we are better, we are more massive and we can turn the lots of the country around and in so doing, turn the cause of the black man around. The dismemberment of Nigeria is not in the best interest of the black race. In order to prevent that dismemberment, Ndigbo must be given a pride of place again in this country. And that pride of place must come from an Igbo man mounting the saddle of presidency in Nigeria. I think this is very important because if it does not happen, more and more people will become restive and it is becoming obvious.
“For instance, right now, one of the most neglected geopolitical zones in this country is the South-East. If you think in terms of infrastructural development, it is like the Federal Government sometimes forgets that there is a place called the southeastern part of Nigeria with regard to the distribution of amenities and infrastructure.”
He explained that part of the reasons the North was afraid of the South-East producing a president, “is that they believe they have so marginalised and abused the South-East that if a southeasterner becomes a president there will be revenge.”
He added, “They don’t understand that our culture is not that way. We do not revenge. You will see an Igbo president who will make sure that no part of Nigeria is left behind.”
Nebo warned that for Nigeria to survive, something urgent must be done, saying, “The political elites in Nigeria are the most selfish and unpatriotic. If they really believe in one Nigeria, they will want the masses to benefit rather than filling their pockets and those of their cronies and supporters.”
Meanwhile, on the recent Imo Killings, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, has accused a former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, of levelling accusations against the group over recent attacks in the South-East.
Nwodo was quoted to have told IPoB to stop unleashing mayhem on Igbo people, but the group, in its response, asked him to show any proof that it had hands in all the killings in Anambra and Imo states.
IPOB alleged that Chief Nwodo has lost relevance in the affairs of Ndigbo and Nigeria since his exit as the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPoB urged the former Ohanaeze boss to explain if it was IPOB that killed Dr Chike Akunyili and also attacked the convoy of Chris Azubogu, the lawmaker representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The statement reads: “We are the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Our attention has been drawn to the fallacious statements from Chief John Nnia Nwodo, asking IPOB to stop killing our people.
“We see this statement as that of a drowning man who wants to grab anything to stay afloat. Nnia Nwodo is only seeking relevance and feels the only way to get relevance, is to make statements and attack IPOB.
“He has come again. Nwodo should not forget what he did against IPOB when he was President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’’.
But the group have retracted its words against Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
Emma Powerful, retracted the attacks on Nwodo, saying they were erroneously attributed.
“We wish to apologise to Chief John Nnia Nwodo for erroneously attributing the garbage from Okwesilieze Nwodo to him. This erroneous mix up was unintended and is hereby retracted,” it said.
The pro-Biafran group warned against linking it with the insecurity in the Southeast, particularly in Anambra and Imo states, maintaining that it had no hand in the ugly trend.
IPOB insists on removal of Nigerian flags in S/East, commends churches, others for complying
Also, the IPOB, has insisted on the removal of all Nigerian flags from the southeast. IPOB made the remark while commending churches and institutions that complied with its earlier directive.
The group had ordered banks and other organizations across the region to remove all Nigerian flags from October 1. IPOB also ordered a sit-at-home in protest of Nigeria’s independence.
However, Emma Powerful on Saturday vowed to dismantle Nigerian flags still hoisted in the region.
He warned institutions in the region against failure to comply with the directive by removing Nigerian flags within their domain.
Powerful also commended those who complied with the sit-at-home order on the 1st.
According to Powerful: “We wish to thank all those that complied with our directive to sit-at-home today, 1st October, 2021.
“We thank you all for your compliance, and for rejecting Nigeria and her tribalalistic Fulani-controlled government in Abuja.
“We equally appreciate and commend those institutions and churches including companies who, on their own, dismantled Nigeria flags in their premises. IPOB will never relent in our resolve to restore Biafra.
“Any institution, company, hotel, etc that is yet to comply with this directive should stop waiting for us to remove the flags for them. They should simply do the needful because disobedience is not a good option.”
Some institutions across the southeast were reported to have removed Nigerian flags hoisted within their premises, following the directive.
Checks within Abia State revealed that the Nigerian flags at Okpara Auditorium and some government offices along Library Avenue in Umuahia were still standing at the time of filing the report.
There was total compliance as markets including popular Ariaria International Market, Eziukwu, Cemetery, Shopping Center, among others were deserted by traders.
A few commercial tricycle operators were seen on the road. Many people trekked to their locations after waiting endlessly for taxis and commercial tricycles to convey them to their destinations.
Filling stations in the state did not open for business as many that had needs for fuel resorted to black market sellers, causing some motorists to hike fares.
The story was not different in Enugu State as markets, fuel stations, departmental shops and eateries did not open for business.
In Imo State, arsonists on Friday attacked the house of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former leader of Orlu Legislative Council, Hon. Nwagba Gozie, in Orlu.
Hoodlums on Thursday equally set ablaze the palace of HRH Eze Obi Ralph Ekezie, the traditional ruler of Obor Autonomous Community in Orlu Local Government Area. .
No life was lost in the incident which occurred at about 4pm as the monarch and his family members were in Owerri, the state capital when his palace was engulfed by the inferno.
An eyewitness, who spoke to newsmen in confidence, said the arson caused some damages to the monarch’s property and two other buildings around his community, a neighboring community to Omuma, Governor Hope Uzodimma’s hometown.
He also said the fire was later put out by the combined efforts of good-spirited individuals in the community.
The monarch, who spoke to newsmen on the phone, confirmed the incident but blamed those he called enemies of progress in his community for the burning of his palace.
The monarch further said he was monitoring the development from his abode in Owerri. He expressed sadness, saying “the level of damage can’t be ascertained now but when he gets home tomorrow.”
Residents in the state stayed at home on Friday to observe the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in their demand for a Biafra nation.
The situation virtually paralysed both economic and social activities in the entire state. All the markets, shops, and motor parks remained closed. Even artisans did not go out as usual for their daily business activities.
There were no vehicular movements in different parts of the state including Mbaise, Okigwe, Wethedral, Duglas, Port Harcourt, Onitsha and Aba Road. Streets in Owerri were practically empty as motorists and commercial vehicles were nowhere to be found to convey few stranded passengers on the roads to their destinations.
The situation at the premises of hotels, filling stations, eateries, motor parks, commercial institutions, business centres in Owerri was the same as their gates were also locked up.
A bus driver yet to be identified was burnt alive inside the bus at Mbaise area of the state by gunmen. Also set ablaze by the gunmen at the same Mbaise was a truck heading to Owerri.
It was learnt that the bus loaded with passengers was coming from Owerri before it was attacked and set ablaze at Oboma Nguru Mbaise, while the truck heading to Owerri was equally burnt at Ahiara junction.
Contacted, the Police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam confirmed the burning of the traditional ruler’s palace, saying “it is true.”
Attack in Igboland: IPOB should redeem self by disbanding ESN – Ohanaeze Youth wing
Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Youth wing, has called on the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to redeem itself from the reports of the attacks in the Igboland by disbanding the Eastern Security Network, ESN, an armed group of the IPOB.
The acting National Leader of the Ohanaeze Youth wing, Jones Onwuasonya, made this call in Owerri on Friday, regarding the level of violence recorded since the formation of the group.
He said despite the denial by IPOB, of not being involved in the killings that “The situation leaves no doubt that the leadership of the IPOB has either lost control of the situation or some fifth columnists have hijacked the initiative and are now hiding under its the Biafran agitation to wreak havoc across the Southeast.”
To start to address the issue, the Ohanaeze urged IPOB to order their genuine members to be recruited to the official security outfit of the South East, the Ebubeagu.
Ohanaeze said: “Going by ongoing security breaches and undeniable cases of terrorist acts in the Southeast, it has become unavoidable to make the following observations and demands;
“Even though the perpetrators of these terrorist acts on Southeast soil have variously and unabashedly made it clear that they are advancing the ideologies and programs, which were initially championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra, the leadership of IPOB has vehemently denied authorizing any of the recent killings, arsons, destructions, economic sabotage and glaring terrorist activities being perpetrated across the Southeast.
“This situation leaves no doubt that the leadership of the IPOB has either lost control of the situation or some fifth columnists have hijacked the initiative and are now hiding under its the Biafran agitation to wreak havoc across the Southeast. It, therefore, becomes pertinent to invite the IPOB leadership to take steps towards quickly redeeming herself.
“By disbanding the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as it remains an illegal militant and armed group. Encourage all members and volunteers who are genuinely interested in the security and safety of the Southeast to make themselves available to be recruited into the official Southeast Security Network, the Ebubeagu.”
“It is disheartening that more than five months since the idea was first mooted by Southeast governors, it is only in Ebonyi State that one could confirm the presence of Ebubeagu, the other four Southeast governors have either reneged from the agreement to set up this regional security outfit or are reluctant to release the funds and logistics necessary for the effective takeoff of the outfit.
“Let me, therefore, advise the governors that steps should be taken immediately to empower, recruit and equip personnel for Ebubeagu, as the continued delay in getting the outfit running is emboldening criminals to continue to wreak havoc in the region,” Ohanaeze said.
[PUNCH, DailyPost, Vanguard, TheNation]
