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Tag: southeast

  • ‘Why Davido’s traditional wedding was not held in the Southeast’

    ‘Why Davido’s traditional wedding was not held in the Southeast’

    Joe Igbokwe, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, has attributed the insecurity in the South-East as the reason the wedding of Afrobeats sensation, Davido, was not held in the region.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that Davido’s wedding held at the Eko Hotel and Suites with attendence of dignitaries from all walks of life present at the event.

    In the Igbo culture, traditional marriages are held in the woman’s hometown with family members and friends present.

    However, due to the increasing insecurity in the South East region, the traditional marriage of the music star, Davido, and his wife, Chioma, a native of Imo State, was held in Lagos.

    Reacting, Igbokwe via his Facebook page on Wednesday morning blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and unknown gunmen for the heightened insecurity in the region.

    He noted that the beautiful and colourful wedding would have held in Imo, had it been the region was peaceful.

    He wrote: “As beautiful and colourful CHIVIDO’s wedding is, i regret the obvious and painful truth that the event did not take place in the South East. Thank you IPOB, ESN and KGM(Known Gunmen) Jisienuu Ike ooooo.”

  • Nwabueze’s burial committee inaugurated as family rolls out programme

    Nwabueze’s burial committee inaugurated as family rolls out programme

    Preparations for the burial of late legal luminary and statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, got underway on Tuesday, December 12, with the inauguration of the national burial committee co-chaired by former Commonwealth Secretary-General and chairman of The Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
     
    Prof Nwabueze, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and pioneer Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, died on Sunday, October 29, in his Lagos home at the age of 91.
     
    The Nwabueze family had earlier announced members of the burial committee to include Anyaoku and Iwuanyanwu (co-chairmen), Senator Ben Ndi Obi (vice-chairman), Ambassador Okey Emuchay and Mr. Olawale Okunniyi (co-secretaries), Mr. Damien Obiefule (Assistant Secretary), Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Barrister Chijioke Okoli (SAN) and Mr. Ikechukwu Amaechi.
     
    Others include Mr. Arinze Oduah, Chief Ben Egonu, Professor Ikenna Alumona, Chief Chukka Ifejika, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, Hon. Somto Udeze, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, Nnenna Okwuosa, Mr. Jenkins Alumona, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Pascal Aniegbuna.
     
    A statement by Ikechukwu Amaechi, chairman of the media and publicity sub-committee, on Tuesday, said the burial programme of the revered constitutional lawyer will take place from February 23 to March 5, 2024; commencing with a court session in his honour on Friday, February 23.
     
    This will be followed by Day of Tributes in Lagos on Saturday, February 24 and on Monday, February 26, the Eminent National leaders of Nigeria, popularly known as The Patriots, will organize a colloquium in Lagos.
     
    Thereafter, the burial activities will shift to the Southeast where Ohanaeze Ndigbo will organize a Day of Tributes on Tuesday, February 27, in Enugu.
     
    Mr. Jenkins Alumona who spoke on behalf of the family said the remains of Prof Nwabueze, the Oduah Afo-na-Isagba of Atani, will be interred in his Atani country home in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State in what will be a traditional private ceremony.
     
    The reception and celebration of the worthy life of Prof. Nwabueze, former Minister of Education, will take place in Atani on Saturday, March 2. This will be followed by a three-day traditional burial rites from March 3 to March 5.
          
    The inaugural meeting which took place at the FRA Williams Chambers, Ilupeju, and chaired by Chief Anyaoku, also had in attendance Ikechukwu Amaechi, Wale Okuniyi, Senator Obi, Jenkins Alumona, Arinze Oduah, Chijioke Okoli, Damian Obiefule, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah and Nnenna Okwuosa. Other members joined virtually.
     
    Prominent members of The Patriot including Prof. Anya O. Anya, Senator Bassey Henshaw, Chief Ralph Obioha, General Ike Nwachukwu, Prof Remi Sonaiya and Prof. Anthony Kila were also present at the inauguration.
     
    Chief Anyaoku, in his opening remarks, enjoined all to work towards giving the late Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) awardee, who became a SAN in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works, a befitting burial.

  • October 1st: IPOB warns Igbos against celebrating Independence day

    October 1st: IPOB warns Igbos against celebrating Independence day

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has banned any form of celebrations on Nigeria’s independence day across all southeastern states in the country.

    Nigeria gained independence on October 1st 1960 and will be marking its 63 anniversary on Monday October 2nd as the D-day falls on a Sunday.

    However, Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman called on all Igbos in the country to shun the Independence Day celebration in the region.

    According to powerful, the Nigerian state detests Igbos and has rejected all efforts to treat people of the Southeast equally.

    Powerful made this known via a statement on Friday in Enugu.

    He urged state governors and political leaders to shun the October 1st independence day celebration across the Southeast.

    The statement reads in part: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the Supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU hereby call on Biafrans both home and in diaspora to shun participation in the Nigeria Independent day celebration on 1st October 2023.

    “Every sensible Biafra citizen must understand that Nigeria detests Biafrans, particularly Ndigbo. Nigeria has rejected all our efforts to be treated as equal citizens. Nigeria has marginalized Biafrans politically and economically. Since Nigeria has rejected us, we have also rejected Nigeria and her celebrations.

    “The Nigeria Government and Nigeria citizens have time after time demonstrated that we are not part of them, and therefore, we must do everything possible to liberate ourselves from the bondage of Nigeria. Even a fool would have come to the realization that Nigeria is not for Ndigbo and Biafrans after the shenanigan that they called 2023 elections.

    “As Nigeria’s government plans to celebrate her flag Independence from Britain, we advise Eastern Region Governors and Political leaders to shun the October 1st Independence celebration in our region. Moreso, we advise Biafrans not to attend any Independence celebration anywhere within Biafra territory or outside of it.

    “Hence, IPOB has banned the Independence Day celebration and flying of Nigeria flags in any part of Biafraland on October 1st, 2023.”

  • Sit -at -home: Kanu accuses FG of financing Simon Ekpa to cause crisis in Southeast

    Sit -at -home: Kanu accuses FG of financing Simon Ekpa to cause crisis in Southeast

    The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Nigerian government of bankrolling the Finland-based Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.

    According to Kanu, the Nigerian government was bankrolling Ekpa to cause crisis across the Southeast.

    He added that  the sit-at-home order was working for the government to “destroy our once peaceful land.”

    Kanu’s remark was disclosed by his lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, after his routine legal visit to the Department of State Services, DSS.

    According to the statement: “Onyendu used the opportunity provided by the visit, to remind our people and all Ezigbo Umuchineke to note that whoever still goes about to observe any unauthorized sit-at-home directive, should know that he or she is working for the Nigerian Government to destroy our once peaceful land.

    “Onyendu was very emphatic that Simon Ekpa is procured and fully bankrolled by the Nigerian Government to cause unrest in our region.

    “Other far-reaching directives Onyendu handed down today on how to nip the activities of Ekpa and his criminal cohorts in the bud, shall remain private.”

  • Troops destroy more IPOB/ESN camps in Anambra, Imo

    Troops destroy more IPOB/ESN camps in Anambra, Imo

    Combined troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, sister Services, Nigeria Police, and other security agencies have successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to the IPOB/ESN in Orsumoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo States.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Nwachukwu said the raid was in continuation of ongoing operations to deter enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the South East.

    He said the raid operation was carried out on Monday when troops were alerted of the violent activities of the irredentist group enforcing the illegal two weeks sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as at New Market in Enugu state.

    He said the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsumoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents during the operations.

    According to him, troops came in contact with the group’s armed fighters, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), also known as Ogbunigwe, and fired using locally-fabricated mortar tube.

    Nwachukwu said the valiant troops overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, compelling them to abandon their position and fled with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes.

    “Further cordon and search of the hideouts by the troops, led to the arrest of five fleeing members of the group and recovery of one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and two detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.

    “Sadly, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.

    “The Nigerian Army encourages all law-abiding citizens of the South East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the unlawful two-week sit-at-home order by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.

    “The Nigerian army, in synergy with sister services and security agencies, will undauntedly continue to protect and safeguard lives and property of the good and enterprising people of South East Nigeria, within the ambit of the law and the rules of engagement,” he said.

  • Ohanaeze slams $500,000 bounty on Ekpa, declares him wanted

    Ohanaeze slams $500,000 bounty on Ekpa, declares him wanted

    The Igbo socio -cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has slammed a whopping, $500, 000 bounty on Finland based factional leader, Simon Ekpa of declaring a second Biafra war in the Southeast.

    Ohanaeze made the allegations  on Thursdsay while announcing a $500, 000 bounty on the Biafra Agitator.

    The group’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro made this known via a statement signed and released by him to pressmen.

    The group appealed to president Tinubu to deploy soldiers to mount road block at every corner of the Southeast.

    The statement reads partly: “We are telling Tinubu that the second Biafra war has begun and he should deploy soldiers to all the nooks and crannies of the Southeast.

    “The Southeast governors need help and Ohanaeze is asking the Southeast governors to defend themselves from external enemies.

    “At this point in time, we can’t allow somebody in far-away Finland to dictate the pace.

    “The government of Ebonyi State and the Southeast must ensure that the terrorist activities of Ekpa are solved in his homeland.

    “What we are saying is that Ekpa has declared a second civil war in the Southeast and anybody with useful information will be given $500, 000.

    ”This is a self-help to ensure that our people get a secure environment.

    “The Southeast governors appear to be weak and they are using the wrong approach in dealing with Ekpa. Our suspicion has been confirmed that what Ekpa is doing is to destroy the economy of the Southeast.”

    Ekpa has been at the centre of the renewed crisis across the Southeast following the sit-at-home he declared.

    The latest sit-at-home had crippled the economy of the Southeast.

    There were reports that some Biafra agitators stormed a market place in Ebonyi on Monday and shot sporadically into the air to scare people away from the market in a bid to enforce the sit at home order.

  • 10th NASS: Umahi speaks on compensation for Southeast

    10th NASS: Umahi speaks on compensation for Southeast

    Ebonyi state Governor, Dave Umahi has assured the Southeast that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu will compensate the region for missing out on the Senate Presidency.

    According to Umahi, Tinubu would compensate the Southeast with other tangible positions for sacrificing the Senate Presidency seat.

    The Ebonyi state politician said that while addressing pressmen at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State.

    According to Umahi: “Let it not be as if we are in opposition all the time.

    “Politics is all about dialogue; give and take. Since we did not get that, we will get something else that is very tangible”.

    Umahi also disclosed that most Senators-elect are behind Godswill Akpabio emerging as the next Senate President.

    “I am not yet a senator, but if you say senators-elect, the majority of them I know are with Akpabio, and I am Akpabio’s campaign coordinator,” he added.

    Recall that Umahi had stepped down for Akpabio as the race for the Senate President heats up.

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, in an attempt to pave the way for Akpabio zoned the Senate Presidency to the South-south.

  • ‘Release Nnamdi Kanu to end insecurity in Southeast’ – Amaechi advises Buhari

    The first Republic Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, for peace to reign in the Southeast.

    According to Amaechi, Kanu’s release would end the spate of insecurity in the Southeast.

    He noted that most criminals claiming to be agitating for Kanu would go into hiding if the IPOB leader is released.

    “There is only one key to the solution to killings in Igbo land now, and that is the release of Nnamdi Kanu. If that young man is released, you will see all these criminals who spring up claiming to be agitating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu while their real intention is to rob innocent and unsuspecting people, will go into hiding because they will have nothing as a reason to come out.

    “IPOB has disowned them and has even taken measures to apprehend them but as you know, criminals will have their ways of operating and claiming one fake thing or the other, but they are simple criminals operating one way or the other,” Amaechi spoke to journalists yesterday as part of events to mark his 94th birthday.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Kanu, who earlier spoke from detention, revealed how he was arrested in Kenya.

    First Republic Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi

    The leader of the pro-Biafra group was brought back to Nigeria to face a treason trial.

    Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Kanu, asserted that the IPOB leader told him that “the people that abducted him said that they were told by their sponsors that Kanu was a Nigerian terrorist linked to the Islamic terrorists in Kenya, presumably Al-Shabab.

    “But after several days when they discovered his true identity, they tended to treat him less badly. Despite that, they told him they felt committed to hand him over to those that hired them,” Ejimakor said.

    Al-Shabab, a terrorist, jihadist group based in East Africa and Yemen, for decades has been carrying out deadly attacks in Kenya.

    The Nigerian government must have contracted a third party, probably outside the knowledge and involvement of the Kenyan government, for the “interception” of Kanu, going by the revelations from the IPOB leader.

    Kanu said he was held incommunicado and chained to a bare floor for eight days in a nondescript private facility in Kenya.

    He said no warrant of arrest was shown to him or even mentioned to him, according to Ejimakor.

    “Kanu was in point of fact tortured and subjected to untold cruel and inhuman treatment in Kenya. He said his abductors disclosed to him that they abducted him at the behest of the Nigerian government,” the lawyer said.

    “He was blindfolded and driven to the tarmac very close to the plane without passing through the airport immigration. The plane departed Nairobi at about 12 p.m. and arrived in Abuja in the evening.

    “Kanu was flown to Abuja in the private jet on Sunday 27th June 2021 from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi and he was the lone passenger,” he added.

    Ejimakor said Kanu was interviewed for the first time by three SSS officers, in his presence.

    “The interview was revealing as it contained certain new allegations that were never heard of before. But all the questions relate directly or indirectly to his status as the leader of IPOB.

    “I observed that despite what he has passed through, he was in high spirits and looked forward to overcoming the extraordinary rendition that brought him to Nigeria,” the lawyer said.

    “In my assessment of how the case now stands, I wager that before any court can subject Kanu to trial for any offenses, it has to first conduct a trial within a trial on the grievous incident that forced him to leave Nigeria and the equally grievous incident that forced him back to Nigeria. No court of law, conscience and equity will overlook those two supervening incidents and proceed to trial,” Ejimakor stated.

    The Nigerian authorities have accused Kanu of ‘orchestrating’ the killings of about 60 people, including security officials in the country’s Southeast region.

    IPOB, which had been proscribed by the Nigerian government, has denied being responsible for the killings.

    Kanu, a British-Nigerian citizen, is known to have been residing in the UK after he jumped bail and fled Nigeria in 2017 during his trial for treasonable felony.

    His country home, in the South-east, had earlier been raided by Nigerian security forces before he fled the country.

  • 2023: IPOB warns Wike to desist from visiting Southeast to canvass for votes

    2023: IPOB warns Wike to desist from visiting Southeast to canvass for votes

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has issued a note of warning to the governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike not to associate with Igbos because of 2023 elections.

    IPOB said Wike always denied having any kind of links with the Southeast in the past,asking why is the Rivers Governor now forming affinity now?

    The spokesman of IPOB Emma Powerful, condemned Wike’s recent visit to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe.

    IPOB has vowed to go all out against anybody who hosts governor Wike in the Southeast.

    Powerful berated Wike one of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential aspirants saying he should be ashamed of himself for begging the Igbos he denied in the past for votes.

    Powerful reiterated that in the past Wike denied being an Igboman; hence visiting the Southeast may consume him.

    He said: “We, the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU condemn the recent visit by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Achebe in Anambra State. The visit is part of the reasons the youths are not happy with Igbo leaders.

    “IPOB will not take it lightly on any person who intends to host Nyesom Wike in the hinterland after the genocide he committed in #Obigbo, and he declared that he is not an Igboman. Wike is a genocidist and should not be forgiven. His father took over Igbo property in the name of abandoned property and he trained Wike with the money he accumulated from abandoned property he collected from Igbo people in Igweocha after the war of genocide against the Igbo people in 1970, which moved Wike to hate anything associated with Igbo but he should not come for Igbo vote. We are warning him.

    “Gov, Nyesom Wike committed genocide against the people in his state claiming he is not Igbo man and today he became an Igbo man because of political interest and votes he needs from Igbo land, Wike refused to understand that a time like this will come in his life. Wike should be ashamed of himself because he could openly beg Igbo people for one vote in the election.”

    The separatist group stressed that Wike’s visit to the Southeast is highly provocative.

    IPOB added: “Is Wike coming to urinate on the graves of the Igbo youths he slaughtered in Obigbo during the #EndSARS protests? His visits to any Igbo state is highly provocative because some of the Igbo youths taken into several security cells in the Northern states are yet to return. Wike and his advisers should stop daring IPOB and Igbo youths. Wike’s family, friends and associates should advise him to stay off any state in Igbo land because it may consume him, anybody who knows him should let him know that.

    “We are equally warning any traditional ruler, PG, Chief, elder, Governor or anybody who will invite Wike in any part of Igbo land to tread with caution because that amounts to challenging Igbo youths and IPOB members.

    “Those hosting Wike now, where were they when Wike was ordering the killing of Igbo youths at Obigbo? They all maintained criminal silence then. Are they now rewarding him for killing Igbo youths? Love for money has enslaved elders and traditional rulers who should know better but we won’t tolerate that anymore. Wike cannot be going about celebrating in Igbo states which he denied having any links with after ordering the execution of Igbo youths and suspected IPOB members. This is iniquity against the innocent victims of his wicked actions.

    “Wike said he was not Igbo and we have taken him by his words that he is not Igbo and can never become Igbo man because he hates Igbo with passion.

    “We respect Igwe Achebe because he is a respected traditional ruler in Igbo land but we want him and others to keep a distance from Wike because Wike hates Igbo if they don’t know and if they don’t retrace their steps let the public never blame us.

    “Those Wike arrested and handed over to Fulani controlled federal government in Abuja are still there till today languishing in different security detentions. We managed to release more than a thousand (1000) innocent citizens both men and women most of whom were raped at these security detentions and dungeons.

    “Considering all his wickedness to the Igbo youths at Obigbo in Rivers State, we declare that Wike has no moral ground to even contemplate not of the temerity to want to visit any part of Igbo land. He is, therefore, not welcome to any Igbo State. Wike cannot be coming to Igbo land to spit and dance on the graves of those he unjustly slaughtered and we all know that he is a demented fellow.”

    Recall that recently, Ohaneze endorsed the candidacy of former Rivers Govenor Rotimi Amaechi and current Governor Nyesom Wike saying that they are from Ikwerre parts of Rivers state and have roots in Igboland.

  • Lawmaker urges Vice President Osinbajo, Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for Southeast

    Lawmaker urges Vice President Osinbajo, Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for Southeast

    An Anambra lawmaker, Dr. Timothy Ifedioranma (APC-Njikoka – I) has advised Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for the Southeast, describing it the path of justice, equity and fair.

     

    Ifedioranma told newsmen in Awka, on Friday, that Southeast has not had its turn of being the president of this country and it has sacrificed by supporting the North, the Southwest and the South-South.

     

    He said, “Both Tinubu and Vice-President Osinbajo are citizens of this country and they are qualified to contest and occupy that position in this election.

     

    “But I urge them as elder statesmen to toe the path of justice, equity and fairness by giving up that position for a South easterner to emerge.

     

    “When it was the turn of the Southwest after the annulment of the 1993 election and the death of Chief MKO Abiola, we supported them.

     

    In his words: “They had their fair share of being the president for eight years and vice-president for another eight years. Why is it a problem for them to support the Southeast?”

     

    The lawmaker urged political parties to give their tickets to the Southeast and allow the electorate to decide the best candidate to occupy the position of the president.

     

    Ifedioranma said that electing an Igbo as president in 2023 would quell the agitations for separation in the country.

     

    “Our people are angry that they are being marginalized and treated as second-class citizens in a nation to which we belong and are part.

     

    “When there were agitations in the South-South, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was thrown up as vice-president and the agitations stopped.

     

    “When the military annulled Chief MKO Abiola’s election in 1993 and he died in incarceration, it became clear that there was the need to make amends and pacify the Southwest, and we all supported it by electing Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

     

    “For fairness, equity and justice, we need to deal with the structural problem by throwing up an Igbo man and all these agitations, demand for separation and insecurity will stop, and peace will be restored to Nigeria,’’ Ifedioranma stressed.

     

    Tinubu and Osinbajo, who are both of Southwest extraction, already declared their interests to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC.