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Akinyemi: The average northerner believes in Buhari — not Atiku or IBB

Chikezie OMEJE
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Akinyemi: The average northerner believes in Buhari — not Atiku or IBB

Bolaji Akinyemi, a professor of political science and former Minister of External Affairs, says an average person on the northern streets believes in Buhari in the way that they don’t believe in Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President or Ibrahim Babangida, former military ruler.

In an interview with the Punch, Akinyemi said the present political system in Nigeria is skewed in favour of the North and it should be restructured to save the country from disintegration.

Akinyemi said Nigeria is driving down the road to becoming a failed state but there is still a window of opportunity to rescue it from reaching the point of a failed state through proactive restructuring of the federation to meet the desires and yearnings of different ethnic groups in the country.

He suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari is holding the key to ending the current agitations and restructuring the country.

“Apart from being the president, he [Buhari] probably right now, is the only Nigerian that can ensure that we don’t end up in a ditch; in spite of what he says at times, he is the only Nigerian. Not that he stands the chance; he is the only person. Whether he will do it or not, is a different kettle of fish,” he said.

He said Buhari has a critical role to play in averting the oncoming tragedy in the country by leading the way in arriving at the kind of federalism that will be acceptable to all.

Akinyemi said the north is foot dragging on restructuring because the current system is in its favour, but he urged Buhari to use his influence to sell the idea of restructuring to northerners who oppose it.

“The present system that we have is skewed in favour of the north and the way forward will have to be the surrender of issues from the 1999 Constitution controlled by the Federal Government to the states,” he said.

“Some issues on the exclusive list should be moved to the concurrent list and possibly, there should be a creation of the reserved list. So, it is the North that needs to make the concession.

“But if you’re going to be rational in your approach, the north has to be persuaded that it is not being asked to commit political or economic suicide and the only person right now that the north truly trusts and believes will not play politics with their interests is Muhammadu Buhari. He stands now in the kind of position that the [late] Sardauna stood in the sixties.

“An average person on the northern streets believes in Buhari in the way that they don’t believe in (former Vice President) Atiku (Abubakar) or my former boss, IBB, because those are the people who have spoken out forcefully calling for restructuring. The northern streets will conclude that these persons are playing with their interests.

“But Buhari stands in that position of trust in the estimation of the northern streets that ‘if he should say that we need to give up these issues, he’s not selling us.’”

Akinyemi declared full support for Nigeria to return to the 1963 Constitutions, which is line with the position of the south-west as recently articulated in the Ibadan conference for the Yoruba to take a stand on the restructuring of Nigeria.”

Speaking on the current agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), he said there had been few cases where separation was achieved through peaceful means but in most cases, it is through war.

“I believe that we can still peacefully resolve the issue of the Nigerian question at this stage, provided we address the twin issue of fears of domination and marginalisation,” he said.

“We must address that. We must admit that there is something wrong with the Nigerian federal system as it is. We must look at the system that we operated, using the 1960 and 1963 constitutions with the necessary amendments.

“There has to be less arrogance and intolerance shown towards constituent elements of the Nigerian nation. You cannot use the temporary acquisition of power to impose a system on others, thinking everybody will be happy about it.

“Most of the problems in the world have come about through miscalculations – not deliberate [actions]. Many wars fought in the world were as a result of miscalculations with various parties, underestimating how far-reaching their actions would be.”

Akinyemi warned that there would be dire consequences if war breaks out in Nigeria as a result of the Biafra agitation.

“All I’m saying is that, I hope those who are in control of the Federal Government will not become complacent by ignoring the fact that other people are feeling hurt and are dissatisfied with the system that we have now,” he added.

“We shouldn’t, because doing so will be a calamitous mistake. Who will win the confrontation, I don’t know. But what I know is that all parties will pay a heavy price – it will not be like the 1966/1967 [coup] all over again.

“It will not be like the 1967 to 1970 Civil War all over again. Right now, there is a proliferation of weapons all over the country and the diffusion of grievances will create war fronts. The Nigerian military is stretched thin with all the challenges it’s currently coping with internally.

“I don’t think you want to put more pressure on it. We must seek a non-violent way. We must engage in dialogue. There must be, on the part of the Federal Government, the readiness to adopt a more sophisticated approach in promoting the dialogue and a preparedness to change the country.”

Police arrest nine men who specialise in ‘raping women during night vigils’

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Police arrest nine men who specialise in ‘raping women during night vigils’

The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested nine suspected rapists who usually attack women during night vigils in churches in various areas of the state.

NAN quoted Ebere Amaraizu, the police Public Relations Officer in the State, as making this known in a statement released on Sunday.

Amaraizu said that the suspects were arrested during a night vigil in a church located at Akpasha community in Nkanu West Local Government Area, following a “well-coordinated intelligence information”.

According to Amaraizu, the suspects usually pretended to be worshippers in the church only to be monitoring  any female worshipper going out to ease herself, and then attack her.

“This nefarious act is done while service in the church is going on, and after the rape, they run away,” he said.

He said the suspects are currently helping the police, as further investigations continue on the matter.

‘Big men came to purchase human parts’ — lady recounts experience after 11 days in kidnappers’ den

Chikezie OMEJE
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‘Big men came to purchase human parts’ — lady recounts experience after 11 days in kidnappers’ den

Mary Olaniyan, an 18-year-old student of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, who spent 11 days in a thick forest with kidnappers, has narrated how “big men in expensive cars” patronised her captors for “human flesh”.

“I saw strange men come in big vehicles to collect some things in cellophane bags. I knew it had to be human flesh,” she told the Punch after she escaped from the kidnappers’ den.

She was kidnapped on September 1, 2017 in a taxi she boarded in front of her school gate.

Olaniyan, who lived off campus, was going home when she boarded the kidnappers’ vehicle at about 6.30pm outside the main gate of the college, along the Ondo-Ore highway.

She said she boarded the taxi alongside a lady at the same location and two other men who were going to Yaba in Ondo town.

“As soon as I boarded the vehicle I became unconscious” she said. “And by the time I regained my consciousness, I found myself in a building located inside a thick forest. I didn’t know the exact town where the forest is located but it is a very thick forest.

“I discovered that there were two guys and three ladies that had already been kidnapped and kept inside the building in the forest. The three men that kidnapped us were there  too.”

Olaniyan looked emaciated and frail, having spent 11 days in the forest without food a,s the kidnappers gave them only water.

“The men did not give us food for the time we were there, they were giving us only water,” she said.

However, her abductors were not just kidnappers but men who dealt in selling human body parts.

Olaniyan said her abductors killed their victims and sold their body parts to “big men”, many of whom she saw visit the camp in expensive cars.

She described her escape as divine, saying she and other victims ran away when the abductors began fighting each other.

“Fight broke out among the kidnappers over money. The money was given to them by one of their customers, who came and left with something they put in a cellophane bag too,” she said

“They did not watch us as they fought. That was when we used the opportunity to run out of the building in the forest.”

After escaping from the kidnappers, she trekked three days in the forest until she got to Ile-Oluji-Ipetu Ijesa Road, where she met a lady who gave her directions to Ondo town.

Since the abduction of Olaniyan, two other students of the college – Blessing Oladepo and Mary Oluwasemilore – have been declared missing after they were suspected to have been kidnapped.

A  few days ago, some of the kidnappers, who were arrested by the men of the Ondo State Police Command, confessed to be behind abduction of the female students of the institution.

Nnamdi Kanu on the run as arrested IPOB members face arson charge

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Nnamdi Kanu on the run as arrested IPOB members face arson charge

Following the designation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation by the defence headquarters on Friday, and the subsequent proscription of the group by the South East Governors’ forum, events have taken a dramatic turn for the Nnamdi Kanu-led secessionist group.

Kanu and some of his top members are currently nowhere to be found as security personnel make frantic efforts to take him into custody.

Some members of the IPOB who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said Kanu and the other leaders of the group were advised to go underground for the time being since “soldiers bent on killing him”.

“We have to apply wisdom to whatever we are doing,” the sources said. “We have realised that there is a grand conspiracy against Kanu and other top leaders of our group.

“Just imagine barely few hours after the Nigerian military declared members of IPOB and other pro-Biafran groups as terrorists, our own governors came up with their own outright ban of our activities.

“This definitely will give the soldiers and other security agencies the opportunity to arrest our leader and mount a deadly clampdown on all IPOB members. So, it is better to operate from a hideout for now.”

Kanu’s younger brother, simply identified as “Fine Boy”, said he would not reveal his brother’s whereabouts, adding that the IPOB has petitioned the United Nations and the European Union over the recent attack by Nigerian soldiers on their house.

“Only my brother can tell Nigerians where he is, I can’t,” Fine Boy said.

“I don’t know why the Army should call IPOB a terrorist organisation,” he complained.

“It is out of their desperation to arrest Nnamdi and frustrate the Biafran struggle. We have petitioned the United Nations and the European Union.

“The world knows that IPOB is a non-violent organisation; we don’t carry arms, we don’t kill, and we believe violence can never solve any problem.

“Nnamdi will soon disclose his current location and IPOB will also react to the proscription of the group by the South-East governors’ forum.”

Meanwhile, Anthony Ogbizi, the Abia State Police Commissioner, has said that recently-arrested members of the IPOB would be charged with murder and arson.

Parading the seven arrested suspects at the Ariaria police station, he added that anybody who is found in possession of any Biafran material would be arrested and prosecuted under the terrorism act.

He narrated how IPOB members attacked the Ariaria police station on September 10 and 14 respectively, burning down the station and injuring some of the policemen on duty.

Ogbizi said the attackers gained entrance into the station using petrol bombs and took three pump action rifles.

“Even some policemen were seriously injured. In fact as I am talking to you, one of the injured police officer is dead. Doctors tried in vain to save his life,” he said.

“Now we have lost a soul and you know what it takes to train a police officer. You know the vacuum that creates. It takes a minimum of one year to train a police officer.”

Similarly, Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, has said that there will be no mercy for anybody arrested in connection to the Biafran agitation.

According to a statement issued by Tony Nnacheta, the State’s Commissioner for Information, Obiano said he aligned completely with the decision of the South East Governors that IPOB is an unlawful organisation, and that he would continue to do his best in ensuring that lives and property of the people of the state are protected.

Hypocrisy, politics and El-Rufai

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Hypocrisy, politics and El-Rufai

 

By Sikiru Akinola

In Nigeria, my enemy’s enemy is my friend. That is what is currently the case in Nigeria as regards ‎recent political events, especially within the camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. People always want to say and write what would please the listeners and readers, rather than say things exactly the way they are. People want to impress those in power with fake support.

If President Muhammadu Buhari is to succeed, he needs to caution or do away with people like the diminutive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai. Whenever anything happens, he is always quick to react, without having a second thought, as if he is the spokesperson. And this breeds discontent among party men. APC is still young.‎ Anytime el-Rufai lends his voice to national issues, it reinforces the belief by many that there are cabals within Buhari government. And Buhari seems to be helpless as he has been unable to keep these men where they truly belong.

Recently, when an audio recording of Aisha Alhasan’s endorsement of former President Atiku Abubakar as her preferred presidential candidate for 2019 got leaked to the press, it was the el-Rufai who was first to react. But I was not surprised. Why? I have known him for that, long time ago. In fact, reading his most popular book, The Accidental Public Servant, will reveal the inconsistency in the quantity surveyor turned politician.

‎As if we don’t know el-Rufai’s plans, especially when Buhari was on medical vacation outside the country. Let us thank God Buhari arrived safely. On many occasions, ‎this same man kept quiet, especially when his voice should have been useful. When Aminu Tambuwal (now governor of Sokoto), Rotimi Amaechi (now minister) were assaulting their former party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, it was okay to el-Rufai as it was boosting the chances of the then newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC. Two years after, what went around came around; Nigeria’s women affairs’ minister, Alhassan, was caught on tape, endorsing his godfather — Atiku. Expectedly, mixed reactions have continued to trail Alhassan’s action. But el-Rufai forgets things easily. APC was hurriedly formed by many. Where was the short man when Sen. President Bukola Saraki and his gang defied party orders? Hypocrisy will kill el-Rufai.

Apart from these, this same el-Rufai who struggled to provide reasonable ‎answers as to what happened in Southern Kaduna will always come forward whenever bigger issues surface. This is when he has yet to solve his home-grown problem. He is not in good terms with many of the national assembly members from the state. He is one of the cabals in Aso-rock. His frequent trips to Abuja makes me wonder if he still thinks he is a minister of federal capital territory. Only recently, while we were blaming Nigeria’s youngest governor, Kogi’s Yahaya Bello, for declaring a public holiday to celebrate Buhari’s return from medical vacation, el-Rufai did the unthinkable; he has held a rally to welcome the president. If we conclude that a 41-year old Bello is suffering from youthful exuberance, what of el-Rufai? Or is it because they are alumni of the same prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria?

In fact, there is no Nigerian leader that el-Rufai has not lambasted. And this is for nothing than to curry favour. And each time, his hypocrisy is always exposed. Just recently‎ he attacked those calling for a restructured Nigeria. This was after he had supported it few years ago. Just like a columnist posited recently, Nigerians, especially politicians are suffering from unending capacity for deception. We tell ourselves so much lies, ‎get so used to it and willingly substitute it for the truth. Added to this is our failure and refusal to learn from mistakes.

‎If el-Rufai thinks he can always attack everybody, he should be fully prepared because only God knows what those who have been ‘sidelined’ in the scheme of things are cooking. Well, he and his advisers would understand better by the time 2019 election is concluded. It is time el-Rufai learned from the silence of not only the National Working Committee of the party but key members like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Why are they yet to condemn Alhassan? Is it because they don’t know what to say? Is el-Rufai not bothered about the silence of the chief initiator of APC, Tinubu? Was it not when Tinubu made the party popular that el-Rufai and other decided to join? We don’t learn from the past and that is politically suicidal.

And this is similar to what led to the ouster of PDP from Abuja. Yes, it is the decision of some of its ‎bigwigs not to be honest that cost them victory. Truth be told, all is not well with the ruling party. In most of the states where its men govern, it is one day, one trouble.  And there is nobody to settle it.

El-Rufai may be right with his claim that Alhassan didn’t vote for Buhari during the primaries but he goofed. Many people who are part of the incumbent government did not also support Buhari at the primaries. Is el-Rufai telling us that the likes of Rochas Okorocha‎ and Rabiu Kwankwaso supported Buhari during the primaries? No! Buhari understands this and he was benevolent with his appointment. In fact, if not for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, somebody like me would not have seen reason to support the former military head of states. Tinubu, we would recall, did not only mobilise human and financial resources, he brought the convention that produced Buhari as APC candidate to Lagos.‎‎ In the process, he would have offended some people. So el-Rufai should stop telling us what we know.

Sikiru Akinola, a political analyst, is of www.insideoyo.com. He can be reached via ‎kenyatta4pen@gmail.com.

SPOTTED: Military violated Terrorism Act 2013 by declaring IPOB ‘terrorist group’

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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SPOTTED: Military violated Terrorism Act 2013 by declaring IPOB ‘terrorist group’

 

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters acted outside the law when it unilaterally declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a “militant terrorist organisation” on Friday.

The Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011, which was amended in 2013, is clear on the steps to be taken before a group may be proscribed as a terrorist group and the military has no part to play in it at all.

Section 2 of the act provides that the power to make such declaration belongs to a judge at the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Security Adviser or the Inspector General of Police.

Here is what the section says:

2.      Proscribed Organisation.

(1).    Where two or more persons associate for the purpose of or wherean organization engages in—

(a)     Participating or collaborating in an act of terrorism;

(b)     promoting, encouraging or exhorting others to commit an act of terrorism; or

(c)     setting up or pursuing acts of terrorism, the judge in Chambers may on an application made by the Attorney General, National Security Adviser or Inspector General of Police on the approval of the President; declare any entity to be a proscribed organization and the notice should be published in official gazette.

(2) An order made under sub-section (1) of this section shall be published in the official gazette, in two National newspapers and at such other places as the judge in Chambers may determine.

The act also provides that “a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation commits an offence under this Act and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a maximum term of 20 years”.

Binta Nyako, Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who is presiding over Nnamdi Kanu’s treason case, had struck out six of the 11 count charges against the IPOB leader and his co-accused persons.

The charges, which were struck out on March 1, include allegations that Kanu belongs to an unlawful organisation, among others.

Justice Nyako held that the the federal government provided no evidence whatsoever to sustain the charges.

While there may be arguments to support the claim that some of the activities of the IPOB in recent times were bordering on acts of terrorism, as defined by the Terrorism Act, the military overreached itself by making a pronouncement that it was not authorised by law to make.

10 Nigerians ‘sail to Lebanon’ — on the bill of the Wole Soyinka Foundation

Chikezie OMEJE
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10 Nigerians ‘sail to Lebanon’ — on the bill of the Wole Soyinka Foundation

 

Ten Nigerians have arrived Lebanon to begin a 10-day intensive study on history and culture at Cedars Institute, Notre Dame University (NDU) on the Wole Soyinka Foundation’s Study Abroad in Lebanon (SAIL) programme.

The beneficiaries are Mary Aboekwe, a reverend sister from the Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, and Adenle Ademola, a budding writer.

Others are Oladele Faji, Khalid Imam, Salamatu Sule, Kassima Okani, Wole Adedoyin, Blessing Christopher, Temi Soyinka and Christian Nyamali.

Speaking at a press briefing to unveil the candidates before their departure, Folake Soyinka, Executive Director of Wole Soyinka Foundation (WSF), said majority of the beneficiaries are young writers from the Ebedi Writers Residency in Oyo State, an Architecture student and a Nigerian student of Mechanical Engineering in England.

She appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to support the programme to increase the number of the beneficiaries.

She said increased financial support will enable WSF to achieve other objective of the programme by bringing students from Lebanon to Nigeria.

Habib Jafaar of Apple and Pears, who is the facilitator of the project, said the programme is an initiative of the Benedict XVI Chair of the NDU to promote educational and cultural exchange project between Nigeria and Lebanon.

Jafaar said the programme started last year with four students, adding that WSF had been a credible partner in ensuring the success of the programme.

“We have very good report from the candidates and the host in Lebanon, and we are encouraged to expand the number from four last year to 10 this year… it may be more next year,” Jafaar said

“The SAIL programme has many different chapters; the Russian chapter, where the Russian students come. They have the Brazilian chapter, the Ukrainian chapter, the Indian chapter and the Nigerian chapter. And we are very happy that this is the second one.

“It is a very intensive 10-day course taught by at least six faculty professors very conversant in their fields and it is complemented by lectures at the Unesco Heritage Centre sites.”

In 2016, the four participants of the programme were Damilare Justice (PGD Environmental Geology, student University of Jos), Zubairu Bambale (M.Phil student, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), Ibrahim Jimba (BA student, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State) and Olumuyiwa Ajayi (PhD student Covenant University Ota, Ogun State).

Jimba described the experience as “pleasing” and a “blessing”.

“A big ‘thank you’ to the Cedars Institute in collaboration with the BenedictXIV chair of religious, cultural and philosophical studies for the initiative; the Wole Soyinka Foundation under whose auspices I was able to go; my great institute (KWASU) under whose platform I was chosen to participate,” he said.

“I consider the programme an intellectual and cultural tourism. It was a really fascinating and knowledge-filled experience as we (the participants) were able walk through, and live History in a distinct way.

“In addition, we saw world history through the eyes of Lebanon. The enthusiasm of our tutors was really admirable and intriguing. My perception about the Lebanese community and the Lebanese-Nigerian relations have positively changed.”

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LAUNCHED: A web-based platform for victims to report sexual violence

Chikezie OMEJE
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LAUNCHED: A web-based platform for victims to report sexual violence

 ‘Salvus’, a web-based platform providing an opportunity for victims of sexual violence to report and get justice, has been launched.

The initiative is being undertaken by Hacey Health Initiative, with support from the Stars Foundation Girl Award and EMpower as well as Access Bank Plc.

Salvus, which means “safe”, was launched earlier this week at a symposium in Lagos with the theme, ‘Building conversations around preventing and responding to sexual violence’.

The Salvus platform hosts a database of sexual violence support service providers that victims can connect to and receive the support they need.

Rhoda Rhobinson, Director of Gender Development Programme at HACEY, described the initiative as a dream come true after several brainstorming sessions on how to prevent sexual violence.

“Sexual violence is a broad issue in our society that needs all hands to be on deck in order to be called to order,” Rhobinson said

“This is not just about us at HACEY; we have worked with different civil society and government agencies to ensure that this solution doesn’t just combat sexual violence today, but remains sustainable to ensure this is not just a one-time solution.”

She said Salvus would enable victims and survivors of sexual violence get access to medical and psychological help.

Rhobinson, who also condemned all forms of sexual violence in conflict situations, urged the government to improve justice system to help end rape and sexual violence in the society.

In addition to serving as platform to report and get help, Salvus will support community dialogue and social services to ensuring the acceptance and full integration of victims and survivors.

FLASHBACK: In 2013, Lai criticised Jonathan for designating Boko Haram a ‘terrorist group’

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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FLASHBACK: In 2013, Lai criticised Jonathan for designating Boko Haram a ‘terrorist group’

The former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which eventually merged with three other parties to form the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned former President Goodluck Jonathan for proscribing and designating Boko Haram a terrorist group in 2013.

On Friday, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters designated the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation in what has been described by many legal experts as a rather hasty and unconstitutional decision.

In a statement issued on June 9, 2013, Lai Mohammed, the then National Publicity Secretary of ACN, now Minister of Information, said that the proscription of Boko Haram and Ansaru violates the Constitution and tampers with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

“Let us be clear that we do not condone the activities of these sects that have killed and maimed innocent Nigerians and turned a section of the country into a battle field,” he said four years ago.

“But we believe that whatever action government takes – even in an emergency – must pass the Constitutional test, especially since the relevant sections of the Constitution have not been suspended.”

Jonathan formally approved Boko Haram’s designation as a terrorist group and authorized the gazetting of an order declaring the group’s activities as acts of terrorism on June 4, 2013.

A statement to that regard, issued by Reuben Abati, then Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said that “participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the collective intentions of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act”.

But the ACN, in its statement, said it found parts of the statement offensive, especially section 5 (1), which prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years “for any person who knowingly, in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group”.

The ACN said “support”, as defined by the Order, includes “incitement to commit a terrorist act through the Internet, or any electronic means or through the use of printed materials or through the dissemination of terrorist information”.

“Is this subsection not in conflict with Chapter II Section 22 of the Nigeria constitution, which says ‘The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media, shall AT ALL TIMES BE FREE (emphasis ours) to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people?,” Mohammed asked in the statement.

“By stifling the press, is the Order not abridging a part of the fundamental human rights guaranteed every citizen under Chapter Four of the Nigerian Constitution in Section 39 (1), which states thus: ‘Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference?’(emphasis ours).

“Can journalists escape being sentenced to 20-year jail terms for publishing statements issued by the sects? Can they freely report on videos periodically posted on YouTube by Boko Haram leader Shekau?

“Can the media freely report the kind of massacre that took place in Baga in April without being held liable for ‘supporting’ terrorism? Can radio and television stations organise talk shows on terrorism without the discussants being held liable for ‘supporting’ terrorism?

“Does this Order cover the satellite broadcast channels that can be accessed in many homes across the country? Who determines when this Order has been breached? These are some of the questions that arise under the proscription Order.”

 

As of Saturday, Mohammed hadn’t commented on the military’s ‘terrorist group’ tag on IPOB, despite that the process followed the path of the very  concerns he raised in 2013.

Time for Council of State to intervene in IPOB crisis, says Jonathan

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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0
Time for Council of State to intervene in IPOB crisis, says Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan, immediate past President, wants President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a meeting of the Council of State to brainstorm on the best way to deal with the ongoing Biafran agitation in the south-east.

Jonathan made this known in a message he posted on his verified Facebook page, adding that the current tension in the country is avoidable.

“The reports I have received about recent developments in the country lead me to appeal to all men of goodwill to use whatever influence they have to push for peaceful coexistence and restraint on all sides,” he wrote.

“Perhaps it is time for the Council of State to intervene and offer its wise counsel. Irrespective of whatever provocation, Nigerians must never turn on one another.

“Even in the face of difficult circumstances, we must have faith that God in His infinite wisdom will guide us to finding a way out that is fair and just to all concerned.

“Inasmuch as there may be the need to enforce order, there is a greater need to reinforce our humanity and treat Nigerian citizens humanely whether they are from the north or south.

“Nothing justifies the desecration and destruction of religious places of worship or a police station. But even more so, nothing justifies the endangering of human life.

“Let us exchange ideas instead of exchanging insults and threats.”

The Council of State is made up of former presidents/heads of state, serving governors, the chief justice of Nigeria and a few other prominent citizens.

Earlier, Olusegun Obasanjo encouraged Buhari to personally meet with Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying: “I would want to meet Kanu myself and talk to people like him, people of his age, [and ask:] ‘What are your worries?’ Not only from the southeast but from all parts of Nigeria.”

“Those who fought in the war in Biafra will not want to fight any other war. I have fought one war too many in Nigeria; I don’t want to see another.”

 

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