Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Biafra Nation VS Nigeria: Kanu Has Priced Arms He Wants To Buy- FG

MASSOB, IPOB resolve to halt demonstrations
.. task FG on commitment to dialogue
Court adjourns hearing on bail applications for 8 to Dec 17
Veterans warn Biafran youths against Buhari’s proposed Police, Army recruitment
By Jimitota Onoyume, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Francis Igata, Nwabueze Okonkwo
ENUGU—The peaceful protests staged by members of Movement for the

Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Indigenous People of Biafra,
IPOB, over the continued detention of the Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and
the demand for creation of Biafra state may be halted following the resolve of the
two pro-Biafra groups to give Federal Government room for dialogue.
Protesters in the South-East and parts of South-South geo-political zones had
vowed to continue demonstrations until they actualize Biafra, which prompted
governors from the region, under the aegis of South-East Governors Forum, SEGF,
to push for a dialogue to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, among other issues
of neglect and marginalzation of the people, at a meeting held at Enugu Government
House.
Resolution
A joint
resolution by Ugwuoke Ibem, National Secretary, MASSOB, and Emma Powerful,
spokesman for IPOB, read: ”We have decided to halt our demonstration, protest to
pave way for the much published dialogue on Nnamdi Kanu’s release. Our
withdrawal from the major cities of Biafraland is not out of cowardice, but to prove
maturity, professionalism as a decent self-determined group.
“We hereby issue an ultimatum to the Federal Government to prove their
seriousness and sincerity on the much published dialogue on the release of Nnamdi
Kanu. We shall continue with our non- violent self-determination on Biafra. MASSOB,
IPOB will never relent or backside on the agitation for Biafra actualization. We
condemn the stupidity, sabotage statement of Ralph Uwazuruike that IPOB,MASSOB
introduced violence to Biafra struggle.
“Uwazuruike is a drowning man, who is living on yesterday shadow. Uwazuruike has
lost grip on Biafra issues because of his deviation, compromise, open romance with
Nigeria Government which has grossly affected his personality. We warn Uwazuruike
and his group to stop dragging MASSOB,IPOB into a shameless, naked dance of
visionless, missionless, blind existence.”
Meanwhile, Association of veteran ex-soldiers under the aegis of Care First for the
Aged Welfare Development, CFAWD, has distanced itself and also condemned the
recent demonstration by group of persons agitating for creation of Biafra republic.
In a statement by its national chairman, Dr. Ubi Ikoi, CFAWD expressed displeasure
over what it called the unnecessary and uncalled demonstration.
Ubi made a solidarity support to the President Mohammadu Buhari administration
for steering the ship of the nation to an enviable height and frowned at the lacerant
attitude and unwholesome destruction of property, loss of lives as well as
disturbance of peace of the country by the agitators.
CFAWD boss remarked that there was need for every right thinking Nigerian to rally
round and support the President Buhari led government in its strive to turn things
around for better, rather than engage in causing confusion that will lead no one to
any good.
Investigations
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in
Abuja, why it was not in a hurry to release the detained leader of Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, claiming that its investigations revealed
that Kanu, who it identified as the brain behind recent clamour for the creation of
‘Biafra Republic’, had already received huge sums of money to purchase weapons.
Government in a counter-affidavit before the court, said that prior to his arrest, Kanu,
had already made enquiries about prices of all the weapons he intends to buy.
In the counter-affidavit by a senior officer with the Department of State Services,
DSS, Mr. Ayo Ibitoye, it insisted that it would be in the interest of justice, peace and
order, to allow the IPOB leader to remain in custody of the security agency.
It will be recalled Kanu who is also the Director of Radio Biafra and Television,
was on October 17, arrested in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived
Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
He was later arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja over allegation that
he engaged in criminal conspiracy, managed and belonged to an unlawful society.
But on
October 19, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the tune of
N2million.
The court further directed the defendant to produce a civil servant of Grade Level
16, to stand as his surety.
However, the accused person alleged that the Nigerian government refused to
release him from detention despite the fact that he had met the bail conditions.
FG had while the matter was pending before the Magistrate court, secured an order
from the high court to further detain Kanu for 90 days.
It was sequel to the order that government lawyer, Mr Moses Idakwo, asked
Magistrate Usman to step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks
the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.
Following an application by Kanu before the high court, seeking to enforcing his
fundamental right to freedom, government filed a counter-affidavit, explaining why he
will not been released, despite the clear orders of the court.
Adjournment
Also, Justice Hassan Quadri of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, yesterday, adjourned hearing in the bail application for eight pro-Biafra
protesters to December 17.
The court ordered that they be remanded in prison custody till the date for hearing
of their bail application.
Counsel to Onyema Obilor the 4th accused, Mr Princewill Mukoro told the court that
he filed application for bail about three weeks ago. Insisting that his client was
innocent, he said he was disturbed by his detention.
The accused who were brought to court were later driven back to prison custody.
The court premises was filled with many of their supporters.
Meanwhile, reacting to the recent directive by President Buhari for the recruitment of
an additional 10,000 policemen, nationwide, the Biafra Independent Movement, BIM,
former Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, in
conjunction with Biafra Veteran Soldiers in Anambra North Senatorial Zone,
yesterday, cautioned their Igbo kinsmen and their South South counterparts against
participating in the proposed recruitment into police and Army for now.
The Biafra veterans, who spoke against the backdrop of the current insecurity of
Ndigbo who are serving in the Federal Government armed forces and the police,
also condemned the siege laid by policemen and soldiers in some states of the
South East zone, including Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Eboyi and Rivers.
Recruitment
In a statement after a meeting at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra
State, which dwelt on internal security matters, in Anambra North senatorial zone,
leader of Biafran Veterans, General Robinson Nnanna said, intelligence report at his
disposal on the formula regarding the police recruitment exercise had revealed that
Igbo applicants upon their completion of intensive courses, either as cadet Assistant
Superintendent of Police (ASP), Inspectors or as recruit constables would be
posted to North East where they would be vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks while
their Northern police counterparts would be transferred to South East and parts of
South-South.
The statement by Deputy National Director for Information, of Biafra Independent
Movement, BIM, Mazi Chris Mocha, enjoined Igbo applicants, who have interest in
joining the Nigeria police or Army to wait until the terror war in Northeast was over.
At the zonal meeting attended by Lt. Col. Alex Ezenwaka, Col. Anthony Onyeesi,
Emelife Francis, among others, the Veterans frowned at the critics of the
emergence of pro-Biafra groups, saying there would have been no clamour for a
Biafra republic if the Igbo were not treated as second class citizens and seen as
inferior subjects rather than as equal owners of Nigeria.
They however, urged the Biafran leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike to keep up his good
work, without minding whose ox is gored.

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