Biafra: IPOB Disowns Southeast Governors Ohanaeze Over Meeting With Federal Government
November 27, 2015
Bianca Ojukwu, Fasheun, Major Al-Mustapha, others storm Owerri for 3rd anniversary of Ojukwu’s demise
By Chidi Nkwopara & Chimaobi Nwaiwu
Nigerian Vanguard
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, warned the South East governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to stop any meeting they were planning to hold with Federal Government in the name of representing and speaking for them as they did not represent IPOB.
This came as the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Unconditional release
One of IPOB’s spokesmen, Emma Powerful said “if the South East governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo are serious, they should be talking about getting unconditional release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is still incacerated for the past one month, that should be the starting point.
South East governors, whom we elected but stabbed us at the back, calling us all sorts of unprintable names with the enemies of Biafra and South East in general, and the people who call themselves Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that is in shambles, that has not taken Ndigbo forward after the leadership of Eze Ozobu and Nwabueze, be talking for us?
“The governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is in disarray and some disgruntled traditional rulers, whom we know for working for any government in power, and soliciting for and receiving contracts from governments, joined the enemies of Ndigbo,who betrayed us during the Nigerian Biafran Civil War, to call us name.
“And now they claim they want to go and negotiate for us, to collect money and contracts as usual, to sell us out like they have always done, when they have not even called us to a meeting to find out our grievances.
“We are rejecting the South East governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo and whatever proposals they are making with Nigerian Federal Government. They are not representing us, but themselves.
We, the IPOB members warn them to stop discussing IPOB because they are not representing us, they have roundly and consistently disappointed us, Ndigbo and Biafrans as a whole.
“We can only listen and support them if they are talking about unconditional release for Mr. Kanu and not to stop worldwide Biafra actualization agitation and peaceful protests, we will not stop until our leader is released unconditionally.”
Anniversary
Meanwhile, leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Uwazuruike made the appeal, yesterday, while addressing loyalists and friends of MASSOB, who stormed Owerri for the third anniversary of the exit of Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
Some dignitaries that honoured the event included, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was the Special Guest of Honour. He was also accompanied to the event by more than 70 persons.
Others included Alhaji Yerima Shetima, President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum; Prof. Alu Danladi, Ambassador John Fashanu, Alhaji Abdullahi Zaria, Alhaji Sale Hassan, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, Alhaji Zallari Bello and Alhaji Aminu Gwaru.
Continuing, the MASSOB leader said: “We are not operating from any foreign country. The so called Radio Biafra, London, was opened by MASSOB in London and Nnamdi Kanu appointed as the Director, after MASSOB had operated Voice of Biafra International in Washington DC for three years. The purpose of Radio Biafra London was to showcase the marginalization of Ndigbo,” Uwazuruike said.
He said his group knew the desires of Ndigbo, and how to achieve them, noting that those who were threatening fire and brimstone today, were once members of MASSOB before they were expelled due to violent related behaviours.
Blackmail
He was not particularly happy at the way Ndigbo “castigate, vilify and blackmail their leaders to impress other tribes,” pointing out that “Ndigbo takes delight in killing their leaders to emerge as the new champions.
“Ndigbo are now second class citizens in Nigeria. They will soon be relegated to the third class. Ndigbo blames the Hausa and the Yoruba for their misadventure. Unfortunately, Ndigbo do not see any reason to blame themselves.
“Today, Ndigbo in their usual character, want to decimate MASSOB. They believe that since MASSOB has not achieved Biafra through non-violence for 16 years that they would achieve it through violence.”
Fire and brimstone
Uwazuruike said that the those claiming to be champions in their little knowledge, forget that “Igboland is landlocked and that the five states of the South East contribute less than eight per cent of the economy of Nigeria.
“In their little knowledge, they do not know that Ndigbo need deep sea ports to bring in their arms and ammunition to be used to fight an established government of Nigeria.
There is no Sambisa forest connecting Igboland to other neighbouring countries, through which small arms could be smuggled in.”
Ondo council of Obas condemns Eze Ndigbo title in S-West
November 27, 2015
By Dayo Johnson
Akure—THE Council of Obas in Ondo State has said that the title of Eze Ndigbo in the South-West is a calculated attempt to embarrass the Yoruba traditional rulers and desecrate their traditional institution.
A communiqué issued by the council in Akure after its monthly meeting described the trend as “an affront on the state traditional rulers.”
They, therefore, stated that the title should be prohibited in the state and that there should not be any Ndigbo chieftaincy title for leaders of Igbo or other ethic group in the state.
It said that the use of titles such as Eze, Igwe, Obi or any other synonym is not acceptable in the state and that the only chieftaincy title that would be recognized is the one bestowed by the traditional ruler in the state on Igbo indigenes such as chairman or president or leader of Igbo indigenes.
The Communiqué noted that efforts had been made in the past by several Igbo leaders residing in the state to assume the Eze Ndigbo title but such moves have always been resisted.
The Obas declared: “The continued use of Eze Ndigbo chieftaincy title and flaunting of paraphernalia of Ndigbo traditional institution in Ondo State is a calculated attempt to embarrass the Yoruba traditional rulers.
“It is also meant to desecrate the Yoruba traditional institution. It is also an affront on Ondo State traditional rulers.”
The Obas said that the issue of Eze Ndigbo chieftaincy title in Ondo State, which is the title of traditional rulers in Igbo communities, is alien to Yoruba and tradition.
“It is a way of arrogating to the Igbo leaders the traditional power and equating themselves to Yoruba Obas.
They said that it is forbidden under the extant Chiefs Law for any person who is not a recognized Oba in Ondo State to wear a crown, costume or any other paraphernalia of an Oba.
“It is an infraction of the penal law and indeed the Chiefs Law in Ondo State for any person to parade himself as either a minor chief or recognized chief without the requisite approval of the prescribed authority or the State Executive Council as the case may be,’’ they said.
The Council therefore warned that; “Whoever wants to be a traditional ruler among the Igbos or any other ethnic groups should go to his domain for such dispensation.
BIAFRA: Kanu’s release’ll give room for dialogue — Nnabuike, Ohanaeze Youth Leader
November 27, 2015
OKWU Nnabuike, Secretary General of Ohaneze Youth Wing in this interview, wants the Federal Government to consider the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a matter of urgency. He believes that doing so would give room for dialogue, even as he wants the country restructured in accordance with the recommendations of the Confab.
By Charles Kumolu
As a youth leader of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, what is your impression about the ongoing protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB?
Looking at the protests in the context of the position of Ndi Igbo in the polity, you will know that we are marginalised. And it is difficult to beat someone and ask the person not to cry. Anyone, who does not feel comfortable about his plight, is naturally entitled to speak out.
The protests were triggered by Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest. Agitations by ethnic associations are not peculiar to IPOB alone. There are various forms of agitations in Nigeria. We the Ohaneze Youth Wing, wants the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu to pave way for dialogue.
Doing so will give us the opportunity of talking to the leadership of the IPOB. If he is released, there will be room for interface with the group.
The Federal government should listen to pleas by Nigerians to release Kanu. The Inspector General of Police recently pleaded that Ohaneze should plead with the youths to stop the protests. We are also appealing to the Federal Government to address the salient issues regarding the marginalisation of the South East. The restructuring of the country in line with the report of the Confab, would go a long way in assuaging the people.
There is an impression out there that the various leaders of Ndi Igbo, are finding it difficult to speak with one voice on the matter. What is your reaction to that?
That is not true. The Ohaneze Youth Wing is studying the situation. And Ndi Igbo are one of the most united tribes in this country. We are our brother’s keepers and thus take everything affecting the Igbo nation very serious.
Those ascribing such to Ndi Igbo are not being fair, even if there are areas of disagreements, would such be said to be peculiar to Ndi Igbo alone? Does the Yoruba, Hausa’s and other tribes speak with one voice on every issue? During the last general election, some Hausa and Yoruba people endorsed Goodluck Jonathan. Ndi Igbo also did same too, while others did not endorse him. The cry over Igbo marginalisation is real.
The detained leader of the IPOB is being accused for broadcasting hate messages against the state, but some also feel all he did was to bring to the fore, the alleged marginalisation of the South –East geopolitical zone. What is your take on that?
There is freedom of speech in this country and manners of doing so differ. His criticisms were not restricted to the Federal Government. He criticised Ohaneze, the British government and those he chose to lampoon. I have listened to Radio Biafra and heard his criticisms based on his beliefs. I am not a part of IPOB, but I want the federal government to handle the matter in a manner that it would not lead to damaging consequences.
Bianca Ojukwu, Fasheun, Major Al-Mustapha, others storm Owerri for 3rd anniversary of Ojukwu’s demise
By Chidi Nkwopara & Chimaobi Nwaiwu
Nigerian Vanguard
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, warned the South East governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to stop any meeting they were planning to hold with Federal Government in the name of representing and speaking for them as they did not represent IPOB.
This came as the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Unconditional release
One of IPOB’s spokesmen, Emma Powerful said “if the South East governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo are serious, they should be talking about getting unconditional release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is still incacerated for the past one month, that should be the starting point.
South East governors, whom we elected but stabbed us at the back, calling us all sorts of unprintable names with the enemies of Biafra and South East in general, and the people who call themselves Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that is in shambles, that has not taken Ndigbo forward after the leadership of Eze Ozobu and Nwabueze, be talking for us?
“The governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is in disarray and some disgruntled traditional rulers, whom we know for working for any government in power, and soliciting for and receiving contracts from governments, joined the enemies of Ndigbo,who betrayed us during the Nigerian Biafran Civil War, to call us name.
“And now they claim they want to go and negotiate for us, to collect money and contracts as usual, to sell us out like they have always done, when they have not even called us to a meeting to find out our grievances.
“We are rejecting the South East governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo and whatever proposals they are making with Nigerian Federal Government. They are not representing us, but themselves.
We, the IPOB members warn them to stop discussing IPOB because they are not representing us, they have roundly and consistently disappointed us, Ndigbo and Biafrans as a whole.
“We can only listen and support them if they are talking about unconditional release for Mr. Kanu and not to stop worldwide Biafra actualization agitation and peaceful protests, we will not stop until our leader is released unconditionally.”
Anniversary
Meanwhile, leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has appealed to the Federal Government to unconditionally release the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Uwazuruike made the appeal, yesterday, while addressing loyalists and friends of MASSOB, who stormed Owerri for the third anniversary of the exit of Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
Some dignitaries that honoured the event included, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who was the Special Guest of Honour. He was also accompanied to the event by more than 70 persons.
Others included Alhaji Yerima Shetima, President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum; Prof. Alu Danladi, Ambassador John Fashanu, Alhaji Abdullahi Zaria, Alhaji Sale Hassan, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, Alhaji Zallari Bello and Alhaji Aminu Gwaru.
Continuing, the MASSOB leader said: “We are not operating from any foreign country. The so called Radio Biafra, London, was opened by MASSOB in London and Nnamdi Kanu appointed as the Director, after MASSOB had operated Voice of Biafra International in Washington DC for three years. The purpose of Radio Biafra London was to showcase the marginalization of Ndigbo,” Uwazuruike said.
He said his group knew the desires of Ndigbo, and how to achieve them, noting that those who were threatening fire and brimstone today, were once members of MASSOB before they were expelled due to violent related behaviours.
Blackmail
He was not particularly happy at the way Ndigbo “castigate, vilify and blackmail their leaders to impress other tribes,” pointing out that “Ndigbo takes delight in killing their leaders to emerge as the new champions.
“Ndigbo are now second class citizens in Nigeria. They will soon be relegated to the third class. Ndigbo blames the Hausa and the Yoruba for their misadventure. Unfortunately, Ndigbo do not see any reason to blame themselves.
“Today, Ndigbo in their usual character, want to decimate MASSOB. They believe that since MASSOB has not achieved Biafra through non-violence for 16 years that they would achieve it through violence.”
Fire and brimstone
Uwazuruike said that the those claiming to be champions in their little knowledge, forget that “Igboland is landlocked and that the five states of the South East contribute less than eight per cent of the economy of Nigeria.
“In their little knowledge, they do not know that Ndigbo need deep sea ports to bring in their arms and ammunition to be used to fight an established government of Nigeria.
There is no Sambisa forest connecting Igboland to other neighbouring countries, through which small arms could be smuggled in.”
Ondo council of Obas condemns Eze Ndigbo title in S-West
November 27, 2015
By Dayo Johnson
Akure—THE Council of Obas in Ondo State has said that the title of Eze Ndigbo in the South-West is a calculated attempt to embarrass the Yoruba traditional rulers and desecrate their traditional institution.
A communiqué issued by the council in Akure after its monthly meeting described the trend as “an affront on the state traditional rulers.”
They, therefore, stated that the title should be prohibited in the state and that there should not be any Ndigbo chieftaincy title for leaders of Igbo or other ethic group in the state.
It said that the use of titles such as Eze, Igwe, Obi or any other synonym is not acceptable in the state and that the only chieftaincy title that would be recognized is the one bestowed by the traditional ruler in the state on Igbo indigenes such as chairman or president or leader of Igbo indigenes.
The Communiqué noted that efforts had been made in the past by several Igbo leaders residing in the state to assume the Eze Ndigbo title but such moves have always been resisted.
The Obas declared: “The continued use of Eze Ndigbo chieftaincy title and flaunting of paraphernalia of Ndigbo traditional institution in Ondo State is a calculated attempt to embarrass the Yoruba traditional rulers.
“It is also meant to desecrate the Yoruba traditional institution. It is also an affront on Ondo State traditional rulers.”
The Obas said that the issue of Eze Ndigbo chieftaincy title in Ondo State, which is the title of traditional rulers in Igbo communities, is alien to Yoruba and tradition.
“It is a way of arrogating to the Igbo leaders the traditional power and equating themselves to Yoruba Obas.
They said that it is forbidden under the extant Chiefs Law for any person who is not a recognized Oba in Ondo State to wear a crown, costume or any other paraphernalia of an Oba.
“It is an infraction of the penal law and indeed the Chiefs Law in Ondo State for any person to parade himself as either a minor chief or recognized chief without the requisite approval of the prescribed authority or the State Executive Council as the case may be,’’ they said.
The Council therefore warned that; “Whoever wants to be a traditional ruler among the Igbos or any other ethnic groups should go to his domain for such dispensation.
BIAFRA: Kanu’s release’ll give room for dialogue — Nnabuike, Ohanaeze Youth Leader
November 27, 2015
OKWU Nnabuike, Secretary General of Ohaneze Youth Wing in this interview, wants the Federal Government to consider the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a matter of urgency. He believes that doing so would give room for dialogue, even as he wants the country restructured in accordance with the recommendations of the Confab.
By Charles Kumolu
As a youth leader of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, what is your impression about the ongoing protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB?
Looking at the protests in the context of the position of Ndi Igbo in the polity, you will know that we are marginalised. And it is difficult to beat someone and ask the person not to cry. Anyone, who does not feel comfortable about his plight, is naturally entitled to speak out.
The protests were triggered by Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest. Agitations by ethnic associations are not peculiar to IPOB alone. There are various forms of agitations in Nigeria. We the Ohaneze Youth Wing, wants the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu to pave way for dialogue.
Doing so will give us the opportunity of talking to the leadership of the IPOB. If he is released, there will be room for interface with the group.
The Federal government should listen to pleas by Nigerians to release Kanu. The Inspector General of Police recently pleaded that Ohaneze should plead with the youths to stop the protests. We are also appealing to the Federal Government to address the salient issues regarding the marginalisation of the South East. The restructuring of the country in line with the report of the Confab, would go a long way in assuaging the people.
There is an impression out there that the various leaders of Ndi Igbo, are finding it difficult to speak with one voice on the matter. What is your reaction to that?
That is not true. The Ohaneze Youth Wing is studying the situation. And Ndi Igbo are one of the most united tribes in this country. We are our brother’s keepers and thus take everything affecting the Igbo nation very serious.
Those ascribing such to Ndi Igbo are not being fair, even if there are areas of disagreements, would such be said to be peculiar to Ndi Igbo alone? Does the Yoruba, Hausa’s and other tribes speak with one voice on every issue? During the last general election, some Hausa and Yoruba people endorsed Goodluck Jonathan. Ndi Igbo also did same too, while others did not endorse him. The cry over Igbo marginalisation is real.
The detained leader of the IPOB is being accused for broadcasting hate messages against the state, but some also feel all he did was to bring to the fore, the alleged marginalisation of the South –East geopolitical zone. What is your take on that?
There is freedom of speech in this country and manners of doing so differ. His criticisms were not restricted to the Federal Government. He criticised Ohaneze, the British government and those he chose to lampoon. I have listened to Radio Biafra and heard his criticisms based on his beliefs. I am not a part of IPOB, but I want the federal government to handle the matter in a manner that it would not lead to damaging consequences.
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