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Tag: IPOB

  • Biafra Day celebration: No group should force people to stay at home – Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, has advised that Biafra Day celebration as well as the sit-at-home order declared by some right groups in South-East for May 30 should be optional.

    The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra had called on citizens of South-East to stay at home on May 30 to observe their anniversary.

    Ekweremmadu gave the advice on Sunday at an Inter-denominational church service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki, to commemorate 2017 Democracy Day and Gov. David Umahi’s second year in office.

    He noted that while the agitation and concerns of the groups are genuine, they should not be pursued with force or other forms of armed struggle.

    “Individuals who operate private businesses and want to stay-at-home on that day should stay, while those who want to operate their businesses should be allowed to do so.

    “I believe that civil and public workers should be ready to go to work on that day as I appeal that no group should force people to stay at home against their wishes,” he added.

    The deputy senate president called on the agitators to embrace dialogue and constructive engagement in pursuing their agitation; not coercion or other forms of armed struggle.

    “The struggles and concerns are genuine but with the collaboration of all and constructive engagement, we will surely get to our destination no matter how long it takes.

    “Black Americans agitated for a long time before Barack Obama became president in 2008, likewise in India, it took constructive engagement for the people to actualise their agitation.

    “South Africa despite racial disturbances and black oppression, employed constructive engagement and intervention of the western world and African interests such as Nigeria’s, to dismantle apartheid,” he said.

    Ekweremadu congratulated the people of Ebonyi on the second year in office of their governor.

    He noted that the state had matured politically and socially, adding that any indigene could aspire for any political office in the state.

    In his remark, Umahi noted that no individual or group would force the citizens of the state to stay-at-home on May 30.

    “I have met the leadership of these groups on various occasions and discovered that most of their agitations are correct but the ways they seek to actualise them can be faulted.

    “I have also met the leadership of market unions in the state and we resolved that markets would be open on that day and no trader or any other individual will be molested,” he said.

    The governor said that the case of Ebonyi was different as the state had suffered untold marginalisation right from its days in old Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia states.

    “The deputy senate president is fighting marginalisation of the Igbos at the federal level; when this is addressed, we will start our own agitation of marginalisation as a state.

    “Ebonyi does not believe in regional government because we will continue suffering deprivation but believe in the restructuring of the country to address all imbalances,” he said.

    In his homily, Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali urged political and economic leaders in the state to build industries instead of embarking on ‘non-direct-impact’ projects such as hotels.
    “The governor should be supported in his desire to ensure that sachet water companies are constructed in the three senatorial zones of the state,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were said by officiating ministers of the Presbyterian Church for the unity of the country and peace in Ebonyi. (NAN)

  • IPOB: Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ugwuonye barred from legal practice in Nigeria

    Lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Emeka Ephraim Ugwuonye has been temporarily banned from legal practice in Nigeria.

    Ugwuonye recently joined the legal team of Nnamdi Kanu.

    The former United States-based Nigerian lawyer, who was disbarred in New York and Maryland for professional misconduct, was yesterday also disbarred in Nigeria, to which he had relocated, for the same offense.

    According to a report by Daily Post, Ugwuonye’s sanction was ordered by the Nigeria’s Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, of the Body of Benchers, a unit which punishes misconduct among lawyers.

    LPDC ordered Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to strike out Ugwuonye’s name.

    J.S. Okutepa (SAN) who is the Chief Prosecutor of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) at the LPDC found Ugwuonye liable for fraud and promised to give details of the direction of LPDC in due course.

  • [Video] ‘No shop must open in Nnewi on May 30’ – Nnamdi Kanu allegedly orders

    In celebration of fallen Biafran heroes, supporters gathered the Central Church Nnewi, asking that their members close their shops to join the celebration taking place on May 30.

    The order, according to the speaker in the video clip, is from Nnamdi Kanu.

  • Biafra: MASSOB disowns Uwuazurike’s group, distances self from 22 May celebration

    The leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) has distanced itself from the celebration slated for Monday, May 22.

    The group said it was not affiliated to any group called Biafra Independent Movement led by Chief Ralph Uwuazrurike.

    MASSOB in a statement by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu asked its teeming members to shun the May 22 celebration and brace up for the main event slated for May 30, which is Biafra Remembrance Day.

    He called on supporters of the movement not to give up as the birth of Biafra was already in sight.

    The statement reads in full.

    “We have reiterated our solemn oath taking for actualization and restoration of an independent Republic of Biafra, we reassure the people of Biafra that actualization and restoration of Biafra is sacrosanct and sacred.

    “Every aspect of Biafra struggle must abhor deceit, self glorification, tribal/religious sentiments and love for mundane things.

    “MASSOB declares full and total support for sit at home exercise for all Biafrans on 30th May, 2017 as a mark of respect and honour to our gallant Biafra soldiers and civilians that sacrificed their precious lives for establishment of Biafra during the bloody genocidal war against the people of Biafra in 1967–1970.

    “We must continue to remember, honour and celebrate the gallantry and braveness of Biafra soldiers whom the whole world was astonished for their military exploits during Nigeria Biafra war. Their bravery, military excellencies, consistency, technological exploits and intelligences can never be forgotten or silenced.

    “MASSOB wishes to inform the people of Biafra that we don’t have any Biafra anniversary program on 22 May, 2017. Our Biafra anniversary program is on 30th May, 2017 which is Biafra day.

    “The sit at home exercise calls for sober reflection on the way forward, it calls for individual and family prayers for speedy actualization and restoration of Biafra, it will also reflect on building synergy and cohesion among the Pro Biafra groups for the preparation for the coming referendum.

    “MASSOB also reiterates our earlier position that we are not attached to any group called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), MASSOB is not BIM, also the so called BIM can never be MASSOB. MASSOB collaborates and work with other genuine pro “Biafra groups like IPOB, Lower Niger Congress, Eastern Peoples Congress, Biafra Peoples National Council, Joint Revolutionary Council and AFRA Descendants. The people of Biafra should disregard the false information that MASSOB will observe Biafra day on May 22, 2017.

    “The golden jubilee celebration of Biafra declaration anniversary will be golden and superlative. It will be a moment of sober reflection among the Biafra agitators.

    “The commemoration of the anniversary celebration will bring more unifying forces of non violence for speedy actualization and restoration of Biafra. Different activities of all pro Biafra groups that will recharge the consciousness of Biafra must be channeled towards popular civil disobedience program that will immensely attract the attention of the international communities towards Biafra actualization and restoration.

    “We are aware that Nigeria security agents are not comfortable about the coming anniversary. MASSOB is also aware that security agents will exhibit their jittery and fears mostly the overzealous ones that love operating the trigger in a cowardice manner against non violence Biafra agitators. The threat and presence of Nigeria security agents will not deter us from exercising our fundamental indigenous right.

    “We the people of Biafra will never relent in promoting, projecting and upholding all the legacies of General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the supreme leader and Commander of Biafra Nation. Whatever measure or approach of security agents against the celebration of Biafra declaration anniversary day can never subdue or subject us from observing the independence declaration of Biafra by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

    “We’re not seeing the Federal government stopping or challenging the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Biafra declaration. The Federal government cannot stop what they didn’t established or instituted. Their duty is to watch and observe the sympathetic reactions of the international communities towards Biafra restoration.

    “Sit at home exercise has been a recycling program of civil disobedience that ultimately promotes and re echoed the consciousness of Biafra reality. No military or spiritual powers can stop the collective will of the people.”

  • VIDEO/PHOTOS: IPOB women protest military harassment in Abia, go topless

    VIDEO/PHOTOS: IPOB women protest military harassment in Abia, go topless

    Some women have taken to the streets topless to protest the alleged harassment and intimidation of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB by the military.

    The women were reportedly staging a conference in Abiriba, Abia State when some operatives of the Nigerian Army bashed in their midst and started harassing and subsequently arresting the women.

    A Facebook user Chukwuebuka Idoko, live streamed the protest.

    In the video, the women were seen unclad, chanting ‘disagreement songs’ in their indigenous language.

    See pictures from the protest:

    See video:

    https://www.facebook.com/punchnewspaper/videos/1445683722136452/

  • IPOB has no right to restrict movement, force people to sit at home – lawyer

    IPOB has no right to restrict movement, force people to sit at home – lawyer

    Respected Constitutional lawyer and an Abuja-based rights Activist, Osuagwu Ugochukwu has warned the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, against compelling to sit at home on May 30.

    The Activist, a warned the secessionist group against taking the Laws into their hands in their planned bid to force Ibos and Non-Igbos in staying at home on May 30 2017.

    Ugochukwu said it was totally wrong for the group to force people who do not believe in Biafra to stay at home and stop motorist from moving in and out of eastern part of the country on May 30.

    IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, had in a statement asked its members to observe the stay at home exercise on May 30 and remember their fallen heroes.

    Reacting however in a statement issued on Sunday, Ugochukwu warned the group against provoking the Nigerian government and the military; stressing that it would be better to fight for a course within the ambit of the law.

    He said, “Nobody is against your believe in Biafra and nobody is saying you should not exercise your rights in promoting your Biafra ideology. But in doing so you must not breach the laws of the Land .

    “The call by IPOB to all markets, transport companies, schools, banks, companies, civil servants, petrol stations, okada/tricycle unions, park management, artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Drivers Welfare in Biafraland, to shut down on that particular day in honour and remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines is unlawful. This is a threat to Sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Constitution.

    “The laws of the Land allow for freedom of movement and any attempt by any group including IPOB to force people from freely moving will be treated as treasonable , breach of public peace and confrontational which the Military and other security Agencies would not take lightly.

    “IPOB has no right to restrict movement of persons and vehicles on May 30 as it is against section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) which provides that Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.”

    The activist urged IPOB to follow the path of Igbo apex social cultural group, Ohaneze who have been agitating for better deal for Ndigbos within the ambit of the law.

  • Ignore IPOB’s May 30 sit at home order, MASSOB tells Ndigbo

    The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra has urged Ndigbo to ignore the order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that called for sit-at-home on May 30.

    MASSOB also accused IPOB of ignorance and lacking the knowledge of the circumstances and events of the struggle towards actualizing the independence of the state of Biafra.

    Addressing newsmen in Aba on Monday, Biafran Independence Movement/MASSOB‘s Director for Arts and Culture, Abia South zone, Reuben Ekpem, flanked by the Director, Conflict/ Reconciliation, Obed Chiedozie and Director of Information, George Ejiofor, stated that IPOB’s directive to Biafra people to sit at home on May 30, clearly suggests that the group is bent on inflicting more pains on Ndigbo and knows nothing about the struggle for the actualization.

    He said, “IPOB knows little or nothing about Biafra. Biafra day is May 22, not May 30. For IPOB to declare May 30, the day Biafra was declared by Ojukwu, as at home day for Biafra implies that they do not know the history of Biafra. We have been on the struggle till 1999 till date. IPOB should stop using propaganda and inquire from Uwazuruike about the details of the Biafra struggle. MASSOB encourages Biafra people to come out on May 22 to celebrate the new Biafra which Chief Ralph Uwazuruike launched in Aba on May 22, 2000. They should ignore IPOB’s sit at home order.

    “There will be no closure of markets, school or banks and other business centres. Unlike IPOB, we cannot be seen to be inflicting pains on the same people we seek to liberate. It is a day of independence, a day of joy; not sit at home. Biafra people are free to come out to celebrate and enjoy.

    ‘From 23rd to 29th May, it is celebration while 30th May will feature inter-zonal football matches. You have seen the programmes lined up, why will IPOB seek to confine our people to sit at home and mourn when they should be celebrating? IPOB is sabotaging Biafra.We urge Biafra people not to be deceived by IPOB’s propaganda.”

  • Biafra Day celebration: Buhari, security agents can’t stop Igbos on May 30 – IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has maintained that the Federal Government can’t stop its sit-at-home orders to Igbos on May 30 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 declaration of the Republic of Biafra.

    Spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful in a chat with Sunday Sun said the group was aware of the plot of governments both at the federal and state levels to stop the event, but vowed that no man can stop the celebration from holding.

    Consequently, Powerful appealed to people of the South East to obey the order in honor of Biafra fallen heroes.

    The IPOB spokesman said, “We are aware that the saboteurs in and outside Biafraland, even those who claimed to be fighting for Biafra freedom, the federal and state governments in the East and security agencies are planning to stop the remembrance of our heroes and heroines who died for our people to live today in Nigeria and to forestall the sit-at-home order issued by our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with IPOB leadership worldwide.

    “We want to use the Biafra Day celebration to prove to the entire world that we are ready for the referendum that will soon come for our people to decide whether they want to remain in Nigeria or not.

    “Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of Biafra must obey the sit-at-home order issued by our supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, no matter the threat from the Nigerian government and her security agencies. We are aware that the saboteurs, evil men and women, who want to deceive the people not to observe the sit-at-home order on that particular day will fail.

    “We are not deterred by any threat from any corner no matter the arsenal the security operatives might come with to harass people on that day. They will try but they cannot stop it because they don’t have the wherewithal to stop it because IPOB is rooted in every community and state in Biafraland and they cannot force people to come out on that particular day. We know their strategies and IPOB has its own strategies to make the sit-at-home order succeed.

    “Therefore, all markets, transport companies, schools, banks, companies, civil servants, petrol stations, okada/tricycle unions, park management, artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Drivers Welfare in Biafraland, must shut down on that particular day in honour and remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines.

    “This is not the first time in history IPOB indulged in this type of event with sit-at-home order and our people have always complied with their hearts in support of Biafra independence being championed by our leader.”

  • IPOB names Fayose honorary Governor of Biafra

    IPOB names Fayose honorary Governor of Biafra

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has named Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, as the honorary Governor of Biafra Republic.

    This was contained in a statement released on Sunday, where IPOB thanked Fayose for his solidarity towards Nnamdi Kanu.

    The statement was signed by the media and publicity secretary of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful.

    “We also acknowledge the immense contributions of the honorary Biafran Gov. Ayodele Fayose who did what no South East or South South governor had the courage to do,” it read.

    IPOB also commended former Aviation Ministers, Osita Chidoka and Femi Fani-Kayode, Professors Chukwuma Soludo and Pat Utomi, Senators Ike Ekweremadu and Enyinnaya Abaribe and others for their support in the release of Kanu.

  • Fayose did what other S/East, S/South Govs dare not – IPOB

    …names him honourary Governor of Biafra Republic

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday said Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was fearless and courageous in identifying with the struggles of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a feat it said governors from the South East, South South (who are more concerned) region did not have the audacity to do.

    It therefore named Fayose the honorary Governor of Biafra Republic.

    This was contained in a statement released on Sunday, where IPOB thanked Fayose for his solidarity towards Nnamdi Kanu.

    The statement was signed by the media and publicity secretary of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful.

    “We also acknowledge the immense contributions of the honorary Biafran Gov. Ayodele Fayose who did what no South East or South South governor had the courage to do,” it read.

    IPOB also commended former Aviation Ministers, Osita Chidoka and Femi Fani-Kayode, Professors Chukwuma Soludo and Pat Utomi, Senators Ike Ekweremadu and Enyinnaya Abaribe and others for their support in the release of Kanu.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Kanu regained his freedom on Friday after spending close to two years in detention by the Federal Government.

    He was driven out of the detention facility by former transportation minister Osita Chidoka after perfecting his bail conditions.