Biafra: We are one – Ikpeazu says as he receives northern colleagues

Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State on Monday received five of his colleagues from the northern part of the country. While addressing them inside the executive chamber of the government house, Umuahia, Ikpeazu said, “we won’t allow an infinitesimal few to separate us”. He said when the crisis started, he asked himself, “in my shoes, what will my brother Tambuwal do?” Ikpeazu expressed gratitude to the northern delegation for coming to show solidarity with the people of Abia. The governors, who visited the state were Kashim Shettima (Borno), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi). Earlier, Shettima, who is chairman of the northern governors’ forum, said the delegation had earlier met Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers. He appealed to the people of the south-east zone to have faith in a united and indivisible Nigeria. “On behalf of northern governors’ forum, we are here to commend Governor Ikpeazu on his high-quality leadership in handling the crisis in Abia. “He rose to the occasion and declared a curfew in Aba just as Governor Lalong also declared a curfew in Jos to avert a reprisal attack on the Igbo. “We are here to show solidarity. We have a moral obligation to ensure that Nigeria remains one. Nigeria is the largest conglomeration of black people in Africa and we cannot afford to separate. “If the nation disintegrates, where will we go? North is the Sahara desert and Chad cannot contain us. If we go south, it is the Atlantic Ocean. South is too small for us and the mountains of East Africa with their so many challenges cannot accommodate us,” he said. Shettima said Nigeria had come a long way as a nation with rich diversities, hence, the need to sustain the country’s unity. He said it was in the interest of all Nigerians to stay together and work to build a strong united nation. “We are here to remind Nigerians that we are better as one. We are here to also invite our south-east colleagues to also come to the flashpoints of the north to speak to NdiIgbo living in the north,” he said.

Biafra: Nigerian Army didn’t declare IPOB terrorist organization – Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, on Monday evening denied that the Defence Headquarters declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organization. Speaking during the official launch of Operation Python Dance II in Abakaliki, Buratai insisted that what the Defence Headquarters did was a pronouncement on IPOB. The Army Chief added that the statement of the military gave room for the right steps to be taken on the matter. According to Buratai, the action of the Federal government concerning IPOB was right and that the military did not over step its bound towards the protection of lives and properties in the country. “You have to get it very clear. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make pronouncement. It wasn’t a declaration per se. But this has given room for the right step to be taken. I think the government is doing the right thing. “It is not that we are overstepping our bounds. We are still within the limits. And I ensure you that what the military said was to set the ball rolling and to bring the awareness to the public that this is what this organization is all about. I’m happy that the government has done the right thing right now,” he said.

BREAKING: ASUU suspends strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced a conditional suspension of its nationwide strike. This comes after a series of meetings between top government officials and members of the union. ASUU has now directed its members to return to classrooms with immediate effect. President of the Union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, addressed a news conference at about 9.30 pm Monday night, after another round of meeting with the government delegation, led by the Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige. Ogunyemi explained that they decided to conditionally suspend the strike action, in view of the timeline of October 2017 for the implementation of the signed agreement. ASUU had declared a nationwide strike on August 14, over the failure of the federal government to implement the 2009 agreement. Last week, Ogunyemi stated that the industrial action had not ended, because ASUU was still ironing out some grey areas in the agreement with the FG .

Biafra: What will happen to anyone associating with Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB – Abia Police Commissioner

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, has ordered the arrest of those financing, encouraging and associating with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Ogbizi while issuing the order also warned that anybody found with Biafra emblem will be arrested and charged to court. The Commissioner of Police noted that with the proscription of the group by the South East governors, IPOB has become an illegal group and anyone who adorn Biafra emblems will be arrested and prosecuted. Ogbizi while visiting the burnt down Ariaria Police station in company of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Operations, Force headquarters, Taiwo Lakanu, accused the pro-Biafra group of using agitation for Biafra to cause violence and propaganda. He said, “Nnamdi Kanu and his brother, engages in photo-shopping. They thrive through propaganda. “They say IPOB is an armless group doing protests, but you have seen it yourself that the group is violent. They set bonfires on the road and attack with offensive weapons. “IPOB destroyed the Ariaria Police, they were armed with petrol bombs which they used to destroy Police and exhibit vehicles. “They also carted three pump action rifles and threw a petrol bomb on a patrol vehicle conveying MOPOL men. You can see the destruction of commercial vehicles. “IPOB coordinated these attacks from Nnamdi Kanu’s house. IPOB members confronted the military at Isiala Ngwa. “Look at the attack on the bank, we don’t know the motive. IPOB going to this extent cannot be said to be a non violent organization. Anybody that abets, finances, encourages or associates with IPOB will be arrested.”

Biafra: Orji Kalu reveals what will end agitation in South East

Former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has revealed what will end the needless agitations in the south eastern part of the country. According to Kalu, creation of an additional state in the South-east zone, would put it at par with the other zones in the country. Kalu made this submission when he spoke with newsmen during annual youth summit of Junior Chamber International, Ikoyi, hosted by the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation at Camp Neya, his country home in Igbere, Bende LGA. He said the decision of the government to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) remained the only option that would guarantee stability which he said the country needs desperately at a time like this . “I think a lot of hate speech had engulfed the country, and the matter escalated because the IPOB leader refused to abide by the terms of his bail. If he had agreed, and probably appealed against the conditions, the situation wouldn’t have gotten to this point. When two people are fighting and the court says, don’t fight, you obey the court. The court decision was not a personal decision of Justice Binta Nyako but the decision of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Kalu explained. “Some of you know what Ojukwu said here when he was alive, one day it will be made public. If we say we are marginalised, everyone is marginalised. We are marginalised because our people refuse to work. As soon as one becomes a governor or minister he buys houses in Ikoyi and abroad and the people will celebrate him. “Remember when I was governor, the army and police used to do joint patrol. We should not box ourselves into a corner because my conscience will not allow me to do what is evil,” he said. “The demography of this country shows that if you go to Kontagora, after the aborigines the next is the Igbo. The same with Jos, Kano, the West, name it, so we need the peace and unity of the country more than anyone else,” he said. The former governor and chieftain of APC, however, appealed to the Federal Government to take the issue of restructuring seriously, saying, “We have gone past going to Abuja to share money every month.” He pleaded with the federal government to go back to the 2014 confab report, “The South East zone should have one more state,” Kalu said, lamenting that rather than discuss the interest of the zone, “some Igbo leaders go to the president with the CV of their wives and children, but I go to him to tell him the problem of the people.” “We need peace everywhere, we condemn hate speeches,” Kalu said.

Biafra: Umuahia youths give Ikpeazu 24 hours to dethrone Nnamdi Kanu’s father

A group, Umuahia Youth Movement, has given Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, 24 hours to dethrone His Royal Majesty, Israel Okwu Kanu, the paramount ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu in Umuahia, and father of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. The youths on Sunday said failure to do so will force them to take the law into their own hands. In a letter by Ifeanyi Okwudili, President; Kasarachi Ubani, Vice President and Anayo Ofor, Secretary, the youths said for failing to rein in his son, which led to their businesses being paralyzed, the royal father was not fit to continue in office. The memo also copied President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Service, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and South East Governors Forum. It reads: “With tears and sorrow, the Umuahia Youth Movement respectfully write to request the dethronement of Nnamdi Kanu’s father as a traditional ruler of our clan. “It beats our imagination that a man who calls himself a Royal father and an Elder could not call his son to order but rather encourage him in his madness that have plunged Umuahia city to a great crisis today. “Sir, recall that Umuahia have been the most peaceful capital city in Nigeria to live and do business but just because of one man, we are today facing the wrath of the Federal government of Nigeria. “Our shops, markets, schools, churches and all banks have been shut down. For the past three days we have been indoors for fear of been attacked by the military just because of one man whose father is our traditional ruler. “Based on the above, we hereby request the he be dethroned within 24 hours or we will take the laws into our hands and dethrone him and even strip him unclad and raze his house. “We appeal to every well meaning Nigerian as well to prevail on Governor Ikpeazu to as a matter of urgency dethrone Nnamdi Kanu’s father. “We also request the Operation Python Dance should remain in all streets of Umuahia as any attempt to withdraw will make the IPOB criminals rob our shops and houses. “Sir, we assure you that we remain one Nigeria and will join hands with you to make our country Nigeria and state Abia the best among all the countries of the world. “Please accept the assurances of our esteemed regards.” Hide quoted text Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army declared that its ongoing operation in the Southeast will continue.

Biafra: Why Buhari is determined to kill all Igbos – MASSOB

MASSOB National Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, made the claim while insisting that Buhari harbours hatred for people of the South East. The pro-Biafra group also claimed that the Buhari-led government wants to use the exercise to kill the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu. In an interview with the Punch, Edeson said: “Operation Python Dance, also known as ‘Egwu Eke,’ is a ploy by the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani man, to wipe out the Igbo from the face of the earth. “It is simply a means for him to express his hatred for the Igbo. All the while, we have been complaining that Buhari hates Ndigbo. Now, the hatred is clear for everyone to see. It is glaring to everybody now. Before he came up with Operation Python Dance, there was no crisis in the South-East. The region was peaceful. “It is unfortunate that he sent soldiers to the South-East without the approval or consent of the National Assembly. Ordinarily, that is an impeachable offence. But Buhari did it because he wants to kill our people. “Even at that, when you say you are launching Operation Python Dance, why did they go to Nnamdi Kanu’s house? ” Since they say it is ‘python dance’, they should be dancing in the streets; and whoever gets close to them, they will have a reason to engage that person. Operation Python Dance is nothing other than a well-planned arrangement to eliminate the Igbo. Edeson insisted that the action of Soldiers in the South East was premeditated and not as a result of provocation from IPOB members. “There is nothing like a provocation. The soldiers’ actions were premeditated. They acted according to instructions. When you are engaged in ‘python dance’, you don’t have to take your dance to somebody’s house; you dance on the streets. “The python is not supposed to dance in somebody’s house. The soldiers have no business invading Kanu’s house. In Igbo land, we don’t live together with pythons because pythons are harmful. “Unfortunately, in this case, we don’t have the capacity to kill them but the Almighty God in heaven will come to our aid. We can’t live with pythons. Human beings and pythons can’t live together. They should leave us alone.”

Why Buhari met with three Governors before leaving for US

President Muhammadu Buhari received security briefings from three Northern Governors, before he left for the US on Sunday. They are Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state; Abdullahi Ganduje, his Kano counterpart and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto. The briefing took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Tambuwal’s media aide, Imam Imam, posted image of the leaders on his Facebook page. It is understood that the meeting centered on national issues, including the security situation in the three states. Buhari has since left for the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Spokesman of the president, Femi Adesina, said his principal would transit through London on his way back to the country. However, Buhari was said to have issued a matching order to the Nigeri​an military to weaken Nnamdi Kanu and his group, the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) before he returns from the trip.