Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi has said the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 election has brought relative peace to the South-East.
In a statement he posted on his Facebook page, the cleric said the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB’s support for Obi has indicated that the Biafra agitation is political.
Linking the current security crisis in the country to lack of representation, he said the Oduduwa agitation has also slowed down following the hope that the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu would emerge president.
The statement reads partly, “The IPOB rhetoric and loud voice of Biafra agitations have muffled out with the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labor Party presidential candidate. To them, Igbos have a platform. It’s clear now that the entire IPOB outcry was a political gimmick to get power.
“The Oduduwa clamors have abated also since Tinubu has clinched the APC ticket never to resurface again until probably if he didn’t win the race.
“Northern Ultra conservatives too have no mouth to speak of marginalization or suppression of representation, the NNPP Kwankwaso has satisfied that segment of the society. No more claims of candidate suppression and manipulation.”
According to him, the major problem of the country now is whether the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, “will conduct free, fair, and transparent elections” in 2023.
Biafra: Buhari govt not ready to release Nnamdi Kanu – Ohanaeze
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is not ready to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The apex socio-cultural Igbo group was reacting refusal of the Abuja High court to grant the leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu bail.
Reacting, the National Vice Chairman of the group, Damian Okeke Ogene, said it has now become very clear to them that President Muhammadu Buhari meant all he had said about his unwillingness to release Kanu. Ogene, who warned against the consequences of refusal to release Kanu, recalled that in different public fora, Buhari had uttered negative statements concerning the release of Kanu as if he had committed heinous crimes against God and humanity.
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called for the immediate disbanding of the EbubeAgu Security outfit in Imo State over what it called an atrocious murder committed by them under the watch of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
While condemning the killing of 14 defenseless youths from Otulu town who were returning from traditional marriage, MASSOB said the Ebube Agu operatives had not engaged marauding terrorists and herdsmen who had sacked so many villages and settlements but they were instead killing innocent youths.
MASSOB in a statement issued by Uchenna Madu, on Tuesday, said the killings in Otulu community were one of the several secret killings of “our people by Governor Hope Uzodinma-backed Ebubeagu.”
The statement partly read, “They are primarily established as a witch-hunting outfit to fight political enemies and non-violent pro-Biafra agitators. MASSOB described Ebubeagu security outfit as a Dracula evil and agents of death established by the Imo State Government.
“MASSOB warns Governor Hope Uzodinma to immediately disband his Ebubeagu security outfit now or we shall see their activities in Biafra land as a declaration of internal war. The so-called Ebubeagu security outfit must cease their operation in Imo State now.”
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called for the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, for the peace process in the country to be taken seriously.
Governor Ortom made the call when a group under the aegis of American Veterans of Igbo origin paid him a courtesy visit in Washington DC, USA on July 13th 2022.
He stated that Nnamdi Kanu’s issue is a socio-political challenge that must be dealt with politically.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, Rev. Peter Ichull from Washington, D.C. says the governor argued that even members of Boko Haram who pose a greater threat to the country’s unity have often been freed, resettled and some integrated into the armed forces.
Governor Ortom maintained that the South East of Nigeria must be given a sense of belonging to erase the impression of persecution of a section of the country.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the trial of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu till November 14.
Kanu is currently facing terrorism charges before court. Kanu is, however, to remain in the custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, till the date since the shift in trial was at his instance.
The trial was put on hold by Justice Binta Nyako following the appeal instituted against the high court order upholding seven count charges against Kanu.
Justice Nyako had dismissed 8 out of 15 count charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government and ordered his trial in the remaining 7 counts.
In a short ruling, Justice Nyako upheld the arguments of Ozekhome and shifted further trial till November 14 to await the outcome of the Court of Appeal decision.
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has commended the Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom over his call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Governor Ortom had during a meeting with a group under the aegis of American Veterans of Igbo origin in Washington DC, USA on Wednesday, called for the release of the secessionist.
Reacting, the coalition of Igbo youth groups, said Ortom’s call has shown that “he is a man of justice and fairness who always stands firmly on the side of truth at all times even when it is not convenient to do so”.
A statement issued on Friday by the President General of the coalition, Goodluck Ibem said, “Ortom has been the lone voice in the wilderness, standing firmly in defense of the downtrodden and the voiceless masses of Nigeria.
“Governor Ortom has over the years proven to be a different Governor whose primary purpose of being in governance is to work for his people and defend them including other Nigerians who are not from his state.
“Ortom is truly patriotic and his stand on national issues is because he wants to see his country be on its feet again.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said the days of unknown gunmen terrorizing the Southeast are numbered.
He stated this during his routine meeting with his legal team led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor at the facility of the Department of State Services, DSS, on Thursday and was contained in a statement he signed.
Kanu said the unknown gunmen have no connections with IPOB, adding that they are criminals.
The statement by Ejiofor reads: “We seized the opportunity offered by the visit to brief Onyendu (Nnamdi Kanu) of the barbaric act of the criminal gangs who kidnapped my aunty a week ago, and her subsequent release.
“It is pertinent to note that the criminal gangs, who engaged in this sacrilegious act, in active connivance with some locals have nothing to do with IPOB.
“They are purely criminals who would soon be apprehended. To this end, Onyendu declared that the days of these monsters are numbered.”
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a fresh application the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
Kanu, who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally challenge the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.
He specifically urged the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.
The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he said he fled for his life after his hometown at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.
Contending that he was denied a fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu, attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Isreal after he fled from the country.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, ruled out bail for the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
He said Kanu, who is currently on trial, was being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things said against Nigeria while he was in Britain.”
This was as he reiterated his commitment to leave the office for the next administration in May 2023.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said this at a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
The statement was titled ‘Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well.’
80-year-old Mrs. Ukamaka Ejezie popularly known as Mama Biafra who is allegedly in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, is currently battling severe heart infection and breathing difficulty according to a statement issued by IPOB leader’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
The Octogenarian was reportedly arrested during Kanu’s court appearance in Abuja on May 18, the IPOB boss, Ejezie had been acting as his mother since his parents died in 2020.
Ejiofor, according to the statement on Tuesday said he learned about the new development during his routine visit to Kanu at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Monday and called on the international community to prevail on the federal government to release the old woman.
“We were reliably informed during this visit, that Mrs. Ukamaka Ejezie, Onyendu’s 80-year-old adopted mother, who is still in the captivity of the DSS, is presently down with severe heart infection and could rarely breathe. Hence, we are calling on the World to prevail on the Nigerian Government, to ensure the immediate release of the octogenarian Great grandmother, who committed no offense by merely coming to court in solidarity with her adopted son, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, during his last Court appearance,” the statement reads in parts.
Alexander Madeibo, the former Chief of Army Staff of Biafra passed away at 90.
His death was announced on Friday by a member of his family who expressed sadness over his loss.
The statement read, “We are sad to announce the passing of General Alexander Madiebo, Chief of Staff of the Biafran Army and the last of the 3 titans. He was 90.”
“For condolence call please contact Chuka Madiebo (281)258-6731, Uchenna Madiebo 2348033434338, Nwora Madiebo 2348033012184, Obi Nweke (281)701-6486”.
General Alexander Madiebo (retd.) was a commander in the Biafran Army and fought in the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.
He had his military training at the Regular Officers’ Special Training School in Teshie, Gold Coast, now Ghana.
Kanunta, a brother of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has revealed why Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State failed to win Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential ticket.
According to him, the IPOB and those killed during the massacre of Obigbo were responsible for Wike’s loss at the PDP primaries.
In a tweet, Kanunta dismissed claims that Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto betrayed Wike.
According to Kanunta: “Neither the North, nor Tambuwal betrayed #Wike. Nor was it any Southern disunity.
“It was KARMA that nailed him. The Karma of #Obigbo. The #IPOB was also a factor.
A former chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie on Wednesday said that frustrations by those who hijacked the party from him forced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to join Radio Biafra.
Okorie, who rejoined APGA under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku in Enugu from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosed that under him as the national chairman of APGA, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Uche Mefor, Egemba, among others were the party leaders in the diaspora.
He said when he left the party to found the United Progressive Party(UPP) in 2012, Kanu and others quit politics to join Radio Biafra.
Okorie stated that he did not abandon APGA but was forced out after several attempts to reconcile both parties were rejected by one party
Streets and roads in Enugu metropolis were, yesterday, completely deserted as economic and social activities were grounded to mark the Biafra heroes and heroines’ day in the South East. The report is the same in Imo, Anambra, and Ebonyi states.
The celebration is marked by pro-groups on May 30 every year, to pray for those who died during the 1960s Biafra-Nigeria civil war.
This year, it coincided with the Monday sit-at-home, which the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared in the fourth quarter of 2021, to put pressure on the Nigerian government to release their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Enugu, especially around T-Junction Flyover, Timber shed Market, National Open University, Trans Ekulu, Enugu, Roman Store Road, Nowas-Trans Ekulu Road, Abakpa Flyover, and T-Junction Road, among others, reported that those roads were completely deserted.
The Indigenous People of Biafra has denied any involvement in the killing of a pregnant woman and her four children in Anambra State.
The group said it strongly condemned the ‘abominable” act, saying that “in Igboland, it is an abomination to kill a pregnant woman. The perpetrators of the heinous crime are certainly not IPOB and could never have been”.
The pregnant woman from Adamawa State, Harira Jubril, with her four kids, was killed when unknown gunmen opened fire on the Isulo community in Orumba North Local Government Area last Sunday.
The gunmen visited two other communities on the same day and killed about five other persons.
The Orumba North LGA is among the communities that the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has imposed a 6 pm to 6 am curfew on during a live broadcast on Wednesday.
Soludo described the killings as “barbaric” and “unacceptable” and vowed to fish out the perpetrators and deal with them in accordance with the law.
But the IPOB through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Friday, said, “We have always said it that the terrorists were imported into Biafra land to commit the ongoing atrocities all in an attempt to discredit our struggle, demonize IPOB and proscribe it, then lobby and bribe Britain to tag us a terror group with the hope to stop our match to freedom.”
Powerful said those involved in the “barbarity” of killing the Hausa woman and children should wait for the repercussions of the evil they committed against the innocent woman and her children.
He insisted that the criminal elements behind the killing were not IPOB and that they should be prepared to pay for their heinous crime.
He accused the military of harboring Fulani terrorists in their barracks and giving them ID cards for identification, adding that the terrorists were transferred into the southeast territory.
The statement read in part, “IPOB has severally said that these criminal elements are not part of us and they should allow Hausa do their legitimate business in our land because Hausa too suffer the same fate we are facing in the hands of Fulani terrorists claiming they are herdsmen in Nigeria.
The Indigenous People of Biafra says it has canceled the May 26 sit-at-home it earlier announced. The group said the move follows the postponement of the court case of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, earlier scheduled to come up on Thursday.
In a statement on Wednesday, IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, urged the people
to maintain restraint and “keep their eyes on the ball”.
Powerful said the announcement became necessary in order to notify their members both home and abroad that Kanu’s court case in Abuja on May 26, has been postponed to June 28.
It said that IPOB was informed by the Federal High Court’s registrar, through its legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, that the case was postponed because Justice Binta Nyako was indisposed.
The statement read in part, “IPOB has been informed why and what caused the sudden change of date and we accepted it, we just received the communication from the Federal High Court’s Registrar, through our legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, notifying us that the court will no longer be sitting tomorrow, May 26, 2022, on our leader’s case.
“Therefore, there will be no sit-at-home in regard to tomorrow’s case instead sit-at-home will hold on June 28, 2022
Troops of 34 Brigade, Nigerian Army(NA) have captured a cache of arms and ammunition belonging to elements of the dissident group,
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network(ESN), after a gun battle at Amaifeke-Akkatta Road in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state.
The firearms and ammunition were recovered during troops’ operations to clear separatists’ hideouts in the general area of Amaifeke – Akkatta road.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, who confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri, said “the Command’s Tactical Teams, on 18/5/2022 at about 0600 hours hastily mobilized when it received credible information that the native doctor who prepares charms for fortifications against bullets and knives for the group has returned after fleeing the community.”
Narrating how the Police raided the camps, the police said, “with the positive revelations made in course of interrogating the suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killing, the team was able to locate the criminal hideout in Ubah Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo State and immediately cordoned off the area and tactically went into the den.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cautioned General Superintendent of Deeper life Ministry Pastor William Kumuyi against the planned crusade in Aba, Abia State.
The group advised him not to go ahead with the crusade in view of the security situation in the Southeast.
In a statement from its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB explained criminals, operating as gunmen, could infiltrate the crusade with the government turning around to blame it on the group.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to advise Pastor Kumuyi of Deeper life Ministry to take note of the security situation in the South East as he comes to Aba for his gospel crusade.
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