Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 5th July 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 05/07/21
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WikkiTimes Insists Its Story On Ex-House Of Representatives’ Speaker, Dogara, UBEC Mismanagement of Constituency Projects Is True
An online news platform, WikkiTimes has insisted that its story on how the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara allegedly connived with the Universal Basic Education Commission to embezzle N1 billion meant for a school project is true, accurate, and credible.
WikkiTimes’ investigation had revealed how N1 billion constituency projects nominated by the former Speaker to build model schools in Bauchi South Federal Constituency were mismanaged.
The publisher, Haruna Mohammed Salisu, said, “We have come across viral publications suggesting that WikkiTimes had published a ‘libellous’ report against the former Speaker. Although we are not officially served any letter by any purported law chamber, I feel we need to put the records straights. We stand by our story.
“It’s within his prerogative to go court if he feels our story is a misrepresentation of facts. But let me also reiterate that before our story was published, we contacted Yakubu Dogara and gave him enough time to respond but he ignored numerous calls and text.”
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Investigation: How Yakubu Dogara, UBEC Squandered N1 Billion Model School Projects
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Salisu further stated that WikkiTimes would not retract the story as demanded by Dogara “because it’s indeed very laughable for a credible medium such as WikkiTimes to retract a painstaking investigation backed by facts.
“We know that Dogara nominated the N1 billion school projects and there is open and available evidence in the public domain that can justify this for any reasonable person to see. We equally know that it was based on Mr. Dogara’s consent that the contracts were awarded. Therefore, he ought to supervise the projects and ensure they were diligently executed.”
Haruna said that “he cannot cry wolf when it’s apparent that he’s categorically failed to do his work. Our story remains, and we will be happy to meet Mr. Dogara in court.”
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Ex-Nigerian House Of Representatives’ Speaker, Dogara Denies Conniving With UBEC To Squander N1Billion Contract Fund
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Lagos Governor, Sanwo-Olu Orders Investigation Into Killing Of 14-Year-Old Girl During Yoruba Nation Rally
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered an investigation into the killing of a 14-year-old girl in Ojota during the Oodua Republic Mega Rally on Sunday.
SaharaReporters had reported how a stray bullet from the police reportedly hit the girl who was selling drinks in a shop, leading to her immediate death.
The police, however, denied the killing of the girl, claiming that she died at a far distance away from the scene of the incident.
In a statement on Sunday by Moyosore Onigbanjo, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the deceased’s family.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Ojota during the Oodua Republic Mega Rally on Saturday, 3rd of July, 2021.
“We commiserate with the family of the deceased. The Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered a thorough investigation of the death. A Coroner’s Inquest has immediately been requested in line with sections 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
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Yoruba Nation Rally: 14-year-old Girl Killed By Stray Bullet In Lagos
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“By Section 14(1) (d) of the Coroners’ System Law of the State: ‘A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the Coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was: violent, unnatural or suspicious.’ “Section 15(1) and (9) further enjoins the Coroner to hold an inquest whenever he or she is informed that the death of the deceased person was in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation or believes an inquest is desirable following the report of a reportable death. “As a government, the security and well-being of citizens are of utmost importance to us. The state assures the public that everything will be done to ensure that the cause of death is known. The findings of this investigation will be made public in due course and appropriate sanctions meted out to anyone found culpable.”
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Biafran Government Says It Is Monitoring Nnamdi Kanu’s Trials In Nigeria
The De-facto customary government of Biafra has warned the Nigerian government to ensure the trial of its citizen, Nnamdi Kanu is within the standard of the conventional rule of law.
The government stated this in reaction to the arrest and continued detention of Kanu, who is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
In a press release sent to SaharaReporters, the government identified Kanu as its citizen, stating that it is monitoring the situation.The statement read, “Our official reliable source has it that citizen Nnamdi Kanu has been arraigned by the Nigerian authorities. The circumstances are yet to be clarified.
“The Government of Biafra reiterates that clarity, certainty and labelling of offences in the Nigerian criminal justice system remains an open question; hence must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Therefore, the Government of Biafra is keenly monitoring the trends of this incident within the standard of the conventional rule of law.
“The Government of Biafra distinguishes her immense contribution to fundamental human rights and present-day restoration struggle from any action of unnecessary recklessness and abetting of crimes by internal or external individuals, state agencies or groups.
“Rule of law and justice of which much has been given with the blood of Biafrans must prevail.”Since his re-arrest and extradition to Nigeria, Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services and was only recently granted access to his lawyers.
The IPOB leader is facing 11 counts of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others. The case has been adjourned till July 26 and July 27.
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ISWAP-Boko Haram Reshuffles ‘Cabinet’, Imposes Levies On Agricultural, Trade Activities In Nigerian Communities
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Interim Council of the Islamic State West African Province-Boko Haram terrorists’ group, headed by one Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawiy, has introduced mobile courts and policies overseeing insurgents activities and groups under the leadership of the Islamic State Of Iraq and Syria.
The Council had also established two Wilaya’s (Caliphates) at Lake Chad and Sambisa forest to sustain its war against countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, an investigation by PR Nigeria reveals.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The terrorist group was said to have lifted the ban imposed on fishing and farming activities in the Lake Chad area, three years after chasing people out of Marte, Abadam, Kukawa and Guzamala, for allegedly spying for Nigerian troops.
It nevertheless, imposed new taxes and levies in the areas controlled by ISWAP-Boko Haram, to regulate trades and agricultural activities.
Traders and farmers in the areas will be paying N5,000 monthly, while the fishermen will pay N2,000 per bag of fish to the terrorist sect, among other levies.
The report by PRNigeria also stated that several fishermen, farmers and merchants have returned to the Lake-Chad area to engage in socio-economic activities, under the arrangement of the new ISWAP-Boko Haram leadership.
The terrorist group reshuffled its leadership and structures, after the death of some of the leaders.
It was gathered that the leadership ‘restructuring’ is in line with a directive from ISIS Headquarters in Iraq, following the recent losses of some of ISWAP-Boko Haram commanders to military offensives, and the realignment of forces by the hitherto separate insurgents’ groups.
After the killing of some prominent terrorists’ commanders, the Interim Council held an emergency meeting which was attended by Wali (Leaders), Qa’ids (Chiefs), Commanders and all other structures of both ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Abbah Gana aka Ba-Lawan was reappointed as the new Leader of ISWAP, six months after his removal by the ISWAP Shura Council for losing the confidence of most of his loyalists and top commanders.
With the death of Abubakar Shekau and the realignment of various factions, the Al-Barnawiy-led Committee reinstated Ba-Lawan to lead what they termed as ISIS Islamic Caliphate of Africa (Wilaya of Africa), covering parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Malam Bako was appointed Deputy (Na’ib) to Command the ISIS Caliphate Command of Nigeria, (Wilaya of Nigeria), recently established at Tumbuktu Triangle in Southern Borno.
Other new appointments include Abba-Kaka as Governor of Tumbumma, Commanding Marte, Abadam, Kukawa, Magumeri and other parts of the Lake Chad; and Abubakar Dan-Buduma as the Operation Commander, Timbuktu Triangle.
Baba Isa who was in charge of Taxation and Revenue on Fishing activities was posted to Kangar in Abadam to relieve Abu Abdallah.
Ibn Umar is now Chief Prosecutor, Abu Umama becomes Amir of Tudun Wulgo, while Muhammed Maina is the Commander of Sabon Tumbu, among others.
However, an intelligence officer with Operation Hadin Kai noted that the appointment of new leadership and structures by the terrorists will not change the ongoing military operation.
He said: “As you are aware, despite the alleged reunion of Boko Haram and ISWAP factions, coordinated multiple airstrikes by NAF aircraft have been sustained in the destruction of their strongholds.
“The intelligence inspired operations were targeted at various terrorists’ camps in Sabon Tumbu, Jibularam, Kwalaram, Timbuktu Triangle and Parisu and other targets in the Lake Chad region.
“Similarly, the ground troops also engaged terrorists after air bombardments at Lamboa forest, Bula Yobe, Jabullam, Yauma Wango, Mainok and Dikwa axes where ISWAP fighters and commanders were eliminated, including Umar Tela, Modu Sulum and One-Eye ISWAP Commander, and Modu Kennami.
“Don’t also forget several escapees from terrorists’ camps have surrendered to own troops just as we have captured some notorious Informants who leaked information on security movements and formations.”
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Three Officers Injured As Gunmen Attack Police Station In Uyo
File photo used to illustrate story.
Some unknown gunmen on Saturday attacked a divisional police station in the Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, leaving three police officers injured.
According to Punch, the hoodlums stormed the police station in a vehicle and opened fire on the unsuspecting officers.
File photo used to illustrate story.
It was stated that the three officers sustained serious injuries from gunshots as they attempted to repel the attack.
“Unknown gunmen shot sporadically last night at the police divisional headquarters, Udung Uko.
“The gallant police officers on duty tried to repel the attack but three policemen sustained serious degrees of injuries from the attack,” a source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident however said no life was lost during the attack.
Macdon said the hoodlums came into the police station in a Toyota Sienna car and opened fire.
He, however, lauded the officers for their vigilance in repelling the attack.
He said, “An attempt was made at our facility in Udung Uko local government area of Akwa Ibom state but our men repelled that attack. There was no casualty. The vigilance of our men on duty led to the foiling of the attack.
“Armed men came into the station in a Sienna Toyota car with an unknown number and opened fire and our men replied them and they zoomed off. The place has been fortified and investigation is ongoing.”
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Lagos Rally: Mother Of 14-Year-Old Victim Says Police Threatened To Shoot Her When She Demanded Daughter’s Corpse
Ifeoluwa Oyeleke, the mother of the 14-year-old girl, Jumoke Monsurat, who was killed during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on Saturday, has alleged that the police threatened to shoot at her when she demanded the corpse of her child.
Jumoke was said to have been hit by a stray bullet shortly after policemen opened fire to disperse those at the rally who were agitating for self-determination of South-West states.
However, the police denied its involvement in Jumoke’s death, saying she was stabbed and that the blood found around her corpse was dry and that it was an indication that the body was not fresh.Oyeleke, in an interview with Punch, narrated how she had visited the police station in company with her brother, but the policemen on duty threatened to shoot them in the leg if they didn’t leave immediately.
She also said the policemen also threatened to fire a teargas canister at them but she did not state which police station they had visited.
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Lagos Rally: Mother Of 14-Year-Old Victim Says Police Threatened To Shoot Her When She Demanded Daughter’s Corpse
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The distraught mother-of-four also disclosed that the victim was her first child.
Ifeoluwa was quoted as saying, “I got a call while I was in Ikeja where I had gone to work.
“When I asked to know what it was about, I was told that there was no issue but that my presence was needed at home.
“It was when I got home that I learnt of what had happened. I was told that the bullet shot by the police killed my daughter.”
Ifeoluwa stated that she had yet to see the corpse of her daughter since she got the news of her death yesterday.
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Yoruba Nation Rally: 14-year-old Girl Killed By Stray Bullet In Lagos
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“They’ve not released her corpse to us. My brother and I, in last night’s rain, got there, but we were not allowed in. We heard them saying that if we stayed too long, they would shoot our legs and fire a teargas canister at us.
“After a while, my brother discussed with them and they allowed us in to see their Area Commander who said he heard that shots were fired but that he didn’t know which station the officers behind it came from.
“He said this could be determined when the extracted bullet is examined.”
When asked if the police had told her anything about her daughter’s corpse, she said no, adding that she didn’t know where they took it to.
She stated that she would love to have a lawyer who would help her seek justice concerning the death of her daughter.
Speaking further, Ifeoluwa revealed that Jumoke was an apprentice at an ice cream shop and had just concluded Junior Secondary School education.
“She usually sat in the shop and never hawked.
“She had three siblings who are all girls. Her dad is dead,” she said; adding, “Jumoke was a good girl who hardly got annoyed; she was hard-working.
“Anyone who can rise to our defence should please do,” she pleaded.
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Gunmen Kidnap Babies, Health Workers From Tuberculosis And Leprocy Hospital In Kaduna
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted babies from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.
It was gathered that five staff members of the hospital, including female nurses, were also abducted.
The bandits, who were said to have stormed the place in large numbers, engaged officers from a nearby police station in a gun battle, Daily Trust reports.
A worker in the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust there was a heavy shootout during the operation.
According to the source, the principal security guard on duty at the hospital was among the people abducted.
“Those kidnapped were our staff members living at the staff quarters, some were abducted alongside their children. So about ten people were takenaway so far,” he said.
Also, confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer of the Medical and Health Union of the Centre, Maryam Abdulrazaq, said she compiled the names of six abducted.
She said the latest incident made it the third time their staff members were abducted by bandits.
“So far, I have six names of the people abducted but I will try to get the remaining four names by Monday God willing. The principal security guard on duty, two nurses –Joy Yakubu and Odor and her baby, Lab technician Christiana, Kasim from Auditorium office were among those kidnapped,” she said.
When a correspondent from the newspaper visited the police division and the centre, bullet holes were visible on the fence.
The attackers were said to have blocked the bridge linking the village with Zaria town, to stop any reinforcement by the police.
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident, saying efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims.
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Father-in-Law Of Pastor Enenche Arraigned For Alleged N24.6Million Fraud In Benue Varsity Teaching Hospital
The Chairman of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Professor John Ibu, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N24.6 million fraud, has been identified as the father of Pastor Becky Enenche, wife of Dr Paul Enenche, founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.
Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that Becky, who was formerly known as Rebecca Inyangbe Ibu before marriage, was born into the family of Ibu on October 23, 1970.
On June 28, the EFCC announced that its Makurdi Zonal Office arraigned Becky’s father alongside one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman and his company, ADB Motors Venters Nigeria Limited before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
They were arraigned on charges of conspiracy and obtaining N24, 650,000 (Twenty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) by false pretences.
The EFCC alleged that the duo obtained the said sum from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital under the guise of purchasing a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model which was never bought.
The anti-corruption agency noted that the offence is contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, you Chief Abukenchi Suleiman, being the Managing Director ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd and you, ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves and obtained the sum of N24,650,000 (Twenty Four Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Board for the purchase of a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model under false pretences that you have the capacity to supply which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Count two reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage to yourself by collecting a bribe, to the tune of N10, 900,000 (Ten Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira only), from one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman of ADB Motors Ventures Nig. Ltd, on behalf of Atirogo & Sons Enterprises, paid into Access Bank account Number 0049185884, a company you’re the Managing Director and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.”
But the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, George Chia-Yakua asked for a trial date and that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, counsel for the Ibu, S. O. Vekuwu, moved a motion for the bail of his client on self-recognizance. He informed the court that his client had been on administrative bail offered by the EFCC.
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E2%80%94pastor-tunde Igboho Met With Prominent Yoruba People, Kings, Chiefs Over Secession Agitation—Pastor Tunde Bakare
Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Citadel Global Community Church has said calls for self-determination in Nigeria were caused by the failure of the country’s leaders.
Bakare noted that if everything was well with the country, none of the agitations for the Oodua Republic or the Biafra Republic would be taken seriously.
He stated this in an interview with BBC Yoruba on Saturday while speaking on the state of the nation.
“I and Sunday Igboho haven’t seen one another for once. The time he was supposed to come and see me, he couldn’t but he has seen other prominent people in Yoruba land, he has seen kings, chiefs and others but if things are truly going on well in the country, everyone is living fine, has food to eat, has water to drink…
“There was no one demanding what Sunday Igboho requested for before this time but I know when things turn around for good and those at the top see that things have become bad and start making a change… all these agitations, the Yoruba elders will call them because the elders have not asked them to go out and demand the Oduduwa Republic.
“When I was birthed and up until I was three, I couldn’t walk, I was crawling on my butt but my mother never left me, she didn’t kill me, she didn’t leave me to go to another man. She stayed in my father’s house and she stood by me till I became someone who was staggering to walk.
“God that has helped my mother not to leave me to go elsewhere, we won’t leave this country for another. My children went abroad to study, before they left, we all signed a document that when they graduate, they will come back to Nigeria because this is their home.
”If we don’t make Nigeria better and we flee to other countries, we are simply going to the countries of those who have made their countries better.
”You can only be ‘B’ citizens over there, you can never be ‘A’ citizens. Let’s all calm down and see how we can make Nigeria great. These politicians are not more than us, it is just that we do not have one voice. Once we have one voice, we will leave the forest and make a way.
”What will help stop the agitations is to make Nigeria better.
”I can see the leaders have come out to say they are doing amendments here and there. I was part of the 2014 Confab. God helped me and some other persons to do great things there. There was a memo that I, by the grace of God submitted there and it was accepted widely.
“Nigeria, by the grace of God will work. When we make the country better, it will be for the good of all but if we cannot move forward, let us return to where we have come from. There was a plan our forefathers from the North, South had on how to govern the country before the military came.
”Someone stood up in May 1966, declaring there will no longer be a federation. The declaration aligns with the military system because for them, it is an issue of obey the last order but since then, things have gone awry. If we can’t go forward, let’s return to where we have come from but for Igboho, IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) and the rest, when they see that things are becoming better, they will stop agitating.”
Bakare, a former presidential aspirant noted that Nigeria’s politicians have become very corrupt.
He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari enjoyed wide support in the 2015 presidential election because many people thought he would weed out corrupt politicians. He, however, added that this has not been the case.
Bakare also said the security architecture of the country had gone awry under the Buhari administration and that no one can sleep well.
He said, “Corruption brought them here, not politics.
“In my father’s house, I can’t remember if we have a key to lock doors but things have gone awry. They say the older generations have destroyed the nation, it started from the youth because those who took over power and started killing one another in the military, we have those who are in their 20s, in their 30s, they brought us here. Now they are old, they don’t want to leave the government.
“If the military gets to a country, they ensure they ruin such country, they ensure they cart away all valuables. Of course, there are good professionals among the military men, but there are also bad eggs.
“Our politicians are not practising politics but corruption, what if the military destroyed everything since 1999 that it got to the democratic government.
“We know some of the politicians were formerly military men who dropped the uniform to wear the Agbada, you don’t know whether they are soldiers or politicians, things have gone sour except we cry out so those who are more powerful than us can help us.
”I was in my house when I got a call. I started the Save Nigeria Group so that Nigeria will not be ruined. I don’t have a personal relationship with (Goodluck) Jonathan or (Umaru) Yar’Adua, God showed me a vision then I started coming out to say things must be done right then people like Prof Wole Soyinka, General Akinrinade joined me and other prominent people joined us.
”We came out because we wanted to save Nigeria from denigrating, to look for those who are better than us abroad and even here in Nigeria so we can sit and have deliberations as to how it would get better.
“That’s what I was doing, then Buhari saw me and said this man walking the streets seeking a means to make this country better with lots of support, must be someone we can embrace.
”We also wanted to know the plans he had for Nigeria and you know we had supporters and we didn’t want him to go astray, we met in Kaduna. I had planned to do a lot of good things for Nigeria but when (Obafemi) Awolowo led the first time and couldn’t succeed the second time and some people said the good person will not win, I left them to continue their politics, God has called me to my own ministry.
“Now, everyone felt that someone who was once a senior officer in the military, once he gets there, the corrupt politicians will disappear but rather than that, it became worse.
“The country’s security architecture even worsened (such) that we cannot sleep with two eyes closed. It’s so bad but God is not asleep. Some of my friends do criticise me that I was one of Buhari’s supporters and I had to tell them that I openly supported this man in 2011 but I am not saying I’m not seeing him again. He is someone that I visit sometimes and advise him on what to do and he will listen but once I leave, there is nothing to show for it.
”Later, I started staying back in my house but I have time to pray and plead for mercy. God himself led Prophet Samuel to anoint Saul, he didn’t go to meet Saul himself, God told him that Saul was chosen and when Saul disobeyed, God took the position from him.
“No one has ever seen the end of the world. It seems this government has gone overboard, we can only pray for it. May God have mercy on us.”
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Ndi Igbo stand For One Nigeria, By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
The vocal minority will always have their say, but the silent majority will have their way. Nevertheless, it is capricious to let the pesky minority govern and dominate the narrative. A solitary story by a negligible decimal could be held as the belief and view of the bulk. This is why the silent Igbo majority who are opposed to the secessioning of the south-east from Nigeria need to speak up.
We cannot discount the perils, ills and concomitants of the civil war. But it has been 51 years since the end of the war, and the Igbo have built back better and stronger. We people every corner of Nigeria and have made where we settled our home. It is customary to find an Igbo native who can speak Hausa and Yoruba fluently – even much better than their indigenous tongue.
Fredrick Nwabufo
A united Nigeria remains a viable emporium for the enterprising Igbo.
With enduring resilience we have made magic out of the ordinary and turned dust into gold in the places we have settled. Whether in the north or in the south, we dominate commerce. We have forged bonds and made families with host communities. We have crossed bloodlines and have nourished our gene-pool with the rich ancestry of other peoples of Nigeria. We have become aboriginal Nigerians.
It gladdened me when the Igbo Delegate Assembly said in June they are opposed to the breakaway of the south-east from Nigeria. The Igbo leaders from the 19 northern states declared that there is a new tribe – The Northern Igbo. This melange of Igbo whose histories have become intertwined and many others with roots in the south-east and even resident there are in the majority.
Really, there is a new and only tribe – the aboriginal Nigerian; a cross-genetic breed.
Those crusading for the secession of the south-east today are deficient students of history and sociology. Even the late Odumegwu Ojukwu, the captain of the secessionist struggle during the war, regretted that devastating episode in our history. Ojukwu said: ‘’I don’t think the second war is necessary. We should have learnt from the first one.”
There is no victory in war; only pain, blood and death. Nobody should provoke another war in Igbo land. Ndi Igbo must not let the vocal minority drown them out. They must speak up and be heard.
At the weekend, I had a robust conversation on Nigeria and the south-east with some friends. It jogged something in me. While the claims of marginalisation by Ndi Igbo cannot be brushed off, Nigeria has not been all grim for the Igbo. The Igbo are perhaps the most financially fortunate of all groups in Nigeria. I recall, under the Jonathan administration, the Igbo ruled the commanding heights of the economy. They peopled strategic places in the government. In fact, the Jonathan administration was passed off as an Igbo government, and rightly so. What we did with that opportunity will be discussed in subsequent columns. But Nigeria has not been all ash and sackcloth for Ndi Igbo.
And who says we cannot seek justice and fairness within Nigeria? Operating in a democracy affords us several vehicles to realise whatever we seek – within the orbit of the constitution. But our pursuit of equity must not come with bloodshed. It must not be at the cost of precious human lives.
So, in our discussion, we idealised the possibility of a movement to drive the quiet thoughts of the silent Igbo majority. That is, a non-partisan and strictly ideological platform to mobilise Igbo voices and consciences for a united Nigeria and to counter secessionist narratives. We came up with the concept of ‘Ndi Igbo for One Nigeria’. Yes, Ndi Igbo stand for One Nigeria. Our voices should be louder than those who seek to divide us.
I believe many are reluctant to speak up for fear of violence. I have been threatened many times for my views, but my belief in a united Nigeria is stronger than my fear. Should we remain reticent by fit of fear and watch our years of hard work tumble down? Do we keep our hands suspended in the air while our kith and kin are slaughtered in avoidable violence?
The silent Igbo majority need to speak up. It is an existential struggle for us and our children. We need to rise and take a stand. Nigeria belongs to us and every other Nigerian. We must hold the fort.
‘Ndi Igbo for One Nigeria’ berths and our voices against secessionist agitations just got louder.
By Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ NwabufoTwitter @FredrickNwabufo
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