Biafra
Igbo presidency possible only under healthy democracy -Diwe
The Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) has been in the vanguard for galvanising the Igbo to speak in unison. Its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe said they would not look back until the Igbo begin to bring substantial part of their investment to the region. He also spoke on the call for observance of Biafra Day; 2023 Presidency and the incoming government in Imo State.
What’s your take on the call for May 30 to be set aside as Biafra or Igbo Day?
There is absolutely nothing wrong in setting aside 30th May and making it sacrosanct for all Igbo as Biafra Day. If you could recall, 30th May 1967 was the day Biafra was declared, to flag off the Nigerian-Biafra war and the rest is history. I prefer Biafra Day to Igbo Day for two basic reasons. The geographical area being referred to as Biafra, especially then, was beyond the geographical boundaries of Igbo land. So, it will not be fair for the Igbo alone to lay legitimate claim to Biafra.
Secondly and perhaps, more instructive and passionate is the fact that, increasingly, Biafra has grown to become an octopus phenomena especially in the minds of the beholders. The injustice and inequity that was the initial soul that ignited Biafra has over the years metamorphosed into unwarranted and inexplicable marginalisation which, this Buhari administration has taken to an unprecedented and unacceptable levels. So, as this obvious marginalisation continues to increase, the Biafra passion and sentiment continuous to grow proportionately. And to that extent, every true Igbo man is a Biafran. QED! Note that Biafra does not necessarily mean secession. Therefore, the extent to which the Igbo and those within the geographical area of Biafra feel marginalised to that extent will they be said to be Biafrans.
Thirdly and perhaps on a lighter note; what is wrong with one having a second baptismal name -Biafra and celebrating his birthday on 30th May, in any way he chooses without offending the laws? If I chose to ‘sit at’ my own ‘home’ to celebrate my birthday, what’s your business; busy body? Am I ‘sitting at home’ in your own ‘home’?
Town union leaders seem to have become targets of attack as shown by the recent killing of the president General of Nimo community in Anambra State; what’s your reaction to the killing?
It is very unfortunate that the town union leadership as the most credible leadership in Igbo land is paying the price of integrity and credibility with their lives. I have cried myself hoarse in the past in trying to point out the high risk of credible Presidents General as a result of the sensitivity in carrying out their legitimate, unremunerated statutory functions of maintaining peace and order in the communities. What am I saying and why was our colleague (Chief Igboka) murdered in cold blood? Because he identified a criminal; security risk of the community and insisted and chased him out of their community; point blank, probably after fruitless attempt to have him properly apprehended via the statutory government security apparatus. We learnt that the armed robber/kidnaper went and reorganised his gang came back and murdered the innocent, unarmed and defenceless president general in cold blood. That was the confessional statement interpretation of one of the arrested assailants.
How many of today’s ‘politician’ government security officials who ‘eat all the money’ will confront a criminal the way Chief Frank Igboka did; it takes only a clean and credible, incorrupt president general with the genuine mandate of his people to stand and call a criminal by his name and order him out of the community, if he cannot stop his criminal acts. Moral chastity on its own, more than executive authority carries enormous prerogative audacity. Most presidents general parade this uncompromising disposition towards criminality and evil. That is essentially why they were elected president general in the first place.
To really fight corruption and evil is not a tea party, because it will launch a counter attack. But your perseverance and God’s grace will subdue the evil. It happened to me when I was a serving president general of my community- Akpulu in Ideato North of Imo State to the extent that there was seeming government collaboration against the people’s wish. But the community standing on truth; stood their ground and eventually defeated evil by God’s grace. I would have also lost my life in the process. It’s a long story but God gave me back the life as jara. That’s why am using this jara life to insist that integrity is everything and preach the Gospel of the audacity of chastity and glorify God.
Would you support the call for the use of say the vigilance groups to establish internal security organs in parts of the country in the face of growing insecurity?
Yes, there is need for special security for Igbo communities. There is an existing security system in every community (the vigilance groups) which need to be refurbished and strengthened through training and provision of equipment. The advantage is that this security system is localised in the community where everybody knows everybody, which makes it easier to timely dictate and handle any security challenges especially by infiltrators. A quasi-funding collaboration is possible between the government and individual communities via their town union because of the varying sizes of security situations in different communities. However, the details of this are beyond the scope of this interview.
With the way the country is moving, not a few people believe that the Igbo should begin ‘Think-home’ while making investment. Have you given thought to that?
In fact, all my thought about Igbo progress and development has centred on this backward integration investment phenomenon of ‘Akuruo Ulo’; it is one thing the Igbo need more than restructuring and Igbo presidency. It is the ultimate; more ultimate than restructuring. In fact it is an irreversible restructuring, untouchable by a second or third party. As a community apologist, I am particularly excited with the dream, especially when I realise the inherent economic multiplying effect on community development. It is a self-actualising solution to this excruciating effect of marginalisation we face in Nigeria as people. The Igbo nation parades the highest number of wealthy single individuals in Nigeria. Reflect on the Igbo exclusive cultural peculiarities in: the regenerative apprentice or ‘Boy Boy’ trading system; the be your brother’s keeper syndrome, that quickly rehabilitated the Igbo immediately after the civil war; the pride and title related status symbol in being identified with exclusive project, as Onwa, Mmiri, Okpata ozuo oha etc. of their various communities; their genetic republicanism, all combined in various proportions to give the Igbo the advantage of inclusive and self-help rapid development.
In fact, in my address at different Igbo fora, I have thrown-up the challenge that if any Igbo man living outside his community donates just one per cent of his income to his own community’s development efforts annually (which is very painless to do), in ten years, there will be no attraction whatsoever to live outside your community and subsequently relocate your business accordingly. The blueprint, again, is beyond the scope of this interview.
Of the five South East states; Imo is the only one that produced a new governor. If you are to set agenda for the incoming government in the state, what are the things you will be looking at?
Setting agenda for incoming governor is like living his life for him. He already has his vision from the time he started nursing the ambition of becoming a governor. I can only contribute and proffer advice for the area or areas I feel most passionate about. And that is the human angle; the character and integrity profile of his chosen apostles. People seem to concentrate more on the policy formulation and blueprint, the professionalism and technocracy. We have always had all these in their various research banks. These policies will not run themselves. It is rather the application of human elements on the policies that makes for good or bad governance. No matter how good administrative blueprint and policies are, when you allow one with character deficiency to operate same, you already know the result. In fact, my take is that it is better to have half-baked personnel, but with integrity who could learn on the job, than having a professional who is criminal. His expertise will be negatively applied to professionally defraud you more. This was what we had in the outgoing administration of Rochas Okorocha which negative smartness is from the top.
So, Emeka Ihedioha should take his time and start with credible lieutenants as much as possible. They are available. If he takes his time, he will find them not just anyone that calls him ‘father-father’. People have different callings. There are good politicians; there are good technocrats, there are good administrators, there are credible and trusted associates and non-associates etc. Those used in winning the election, without prejudice, might not necessarily be that good in running the government. Sorting and matching these values, profiles and virtues accordingly is the most critical task of the incoming governor and his advisers.
Some persons in the North have asked the Igbo to forget the presidency in 2023 because they would not get it. How would you react to such statement?
I am not surprised at the statement. It is stating the obvious they have never meant to let go. However, Igbo presidency in 2023 is not our topmost priority if you ask me. Not by choice but by circumstances. Developing political realities on ground, projected up to 2023, unfortunately, make the dream of Igbo presidency in 2023 wishful thinking. Igbo presidency will only be possible under a healthy democracy. Nigerian politics has continued to deteriorate progressively. We need ‘de-marginalisation’, referendum, restructuring, justice and equity more than a president of Igbo extraction for now. Igbo presidency may not work under the present level of marginalisation and impunity.
Biafra
Tinubu Refused To Honour Our Agreement To Release Nnamdi Kanu After Election– Kanu’s Brother
Disclosing that the meeting had the blessing of the president, Emmanuel, however, lamented that Tinubu has refused to honour the pact by releasing his elder brother and the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS dungeon in Abuja, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has said they had an agreement with President Bola Tinubu for the release of his elder brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Emmanuel disclosed that he had the pact with Tinubu’s son, Seyi, in Abuja before the 2023 presidential election.
Disclosing that the meeting had the blessing of the president, Emmanuel, however, lamented that Tinubu has refused to honour the pact by releasing his elder brother and the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS dungeon in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to him, it was agreed that IPOB would not bycott the polls on the condition that Tinubu would release Kanu if elected President.
Prince Emmanuel expressed disappointment that nearly two years after the emergence of Tinubu as President, his brother (Kanu), has continued to languish in detention despite the fact that the presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, had since recused herself from the matter.
He said it was disappointing that those who claimed to be honourable, failed to keep their words.
The statement read:”Before the last election, I received a message from an ex-governor that Seyi the son of President Tinubu wanted to see me. I agreed to meet with him on the condition that the overriding priority and hence the fulcrum of our discussion will be the release of my brother. The meeting was held in Abuja in the presence of another individual whom I asked along to witness the deliberations and if need be provide independent verification should the need arise.
“Seyi confirmed to me that his father sanctioned the meeting and that I should consider any agreement we reach as binding on the then candidate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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“In good faith we agreed that I shall relay the outcome to my brother to reinforce the long held tradition of IPOB not interfering with the conduct of elections, either through boycott or any other form of civil disobedience. This understanding was duly communicated to my brother and he reaffirmed his commitment not to stop the elections or order any boycott.
“When President Tinubu as a candidate visited Owerri during his campaign, he too reiterated his commitment to facilitate the release of my brother if elected. We took his public statement as a tacit reaffirmation of the understanding I reached with his son Seyi.
“At the end, IPOB did not call for election boycott despite having the capacity to do so. IPOB also made sure that discordant voices urging election boycott were overcome because election boycotts would not reflect well on the reputation of a global movement that prides itself on adherence to democratic tenets.
“It therefore, defies logic that nearly two years after President Tinubu assumed the mantle of leadership in Nigeria, my brother is still in detention despite not having any charge against him. It’s been over three months now that Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the case yet no new judge has been assigned the case.
“This is on top of the fact that Appeal Court had earlier discharged him of the sham charges and ordered his release which the previous regime of Buhari declined to obey.
“Supreme Court determination that his bail ought not to have been revoked has been ignored by the courts and the government. The latest insult is that Abuja courts of all persuasion are no longer willing to determine the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on merit but are rather relying on ludicrous and inapplicable technicalities to stall the timely determination of his cases.
“The truth is that Nigerian courts cannot, will not and do not have both the substantive and procedural jurisdiction to try him. His detention is without the backing of any known law in Nigeria or elsewhere in the world.”
The recent 90th birthday tributes to the Nigeria’s Former Head of State, who led Nigeria to war in defence of its unity against the young Biafra Republic between 1967-1970, General Yakubu Gowon, have attracted various reactions, condemnations and affirmations across the country.
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi, was among other Nigerians who wrote glowing tributes to the Former Nigeria’s Head of State who presided over what is adjudged as the second worst genocide in world’s history, after the Hitler’s Holocaust against the Jews in Nazi Germany.
Below is the full read of Mr. Peter Obi’s tribute:
“I am privileged to join other Nigerians of goodwill to celebrate a highly respected leader and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday anniversary.
“In a time of hate, you stood for love. At a time of strife, you stood for peace. At a time of division, you stood for unity.
“Your life of service to our great nation, Nigeria, stand as one of sacrifice, leadership, and unity.
“Your steadfast commitment to preserving the peace and sovereignty of Nigeria during a challenging period in our history will forever be remembered and revered.
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“Your exemplary leadership and statesmanship remain an inspiration to younger and many generations of Nigerians.
“As we celebrate this milestone, I pray that God continues to grant you good health, wisdom, and the grace of true fruitfulness.
“May your legacy continue to guide us as we strive to build a more united, prosperous, and just Nigeria.
“Happy 90th birthday, Sir. -PO”
However, BARR Malcolm OMIRHOBO reacted in contrast to the glowing tributes accolades given to the Former military ruler, blaming the war of aggression led by Gowon against Biafra on his “poor and weak leadership style, youthful exuberance and immaturity.”
Barr. Malcolm accused Gen. Yakubu Gowon of “refusal, failure or negligence to stop the senseless killings of Igbos and their look alike throughout Nigeria, especially in the North, by civilians and members of the armed forces.”
The outspoken lawyer also accused Gen. Gowon of refusing the Aburi Accord without any good reason.
Full read of his reaction:
“It is not true that South-East desire to secede that led to the Nigeria/Biafra War but rather it was Gowon’s poor and weak leadership style, colonial mentality, youthful exuberance and immaturity that led to the Nigerian /Biafran war.
“Gowon refused , failed and/or neglected to stop the senseless killing of the Igbos and their look alikes through out Nigeria especially in the North by civilians and members of the armed forces .
“He refused to provide funds to the Eastern Region Government to cater for the injured and displaced Igbos that ran to their home land for safety from all parts of Nigeria .
*Gowon without any good reason refused the Aburi Accord .
“For the records the Igbo fought in self defence.”
In response to Mr. Peter Obi’s tribute to General Yakubu Gowon, DR. MO (MOSES PAUL) wrote this:
“As usual, I called Mr. Peter Obi after seeing some of the responses to the tweet on Daddy Gowon, and I said, “Some people are not happy, Sir.”
“Mr. @PeterObi responded, “Mo, I have always told you, never to dwell on yesterday, to agonize over it, or remain unforgiving. We cannot be trapped by the events of the past. Instead, we must be grateful to God for today and look forward to tomorrow with hope.”
“I understand the negative comments, and I deeply regret the painful history that took place over 50 years ago, though I know little firsthand, only what I have been told. It is a sad chapter for many, including my own family. My father, unfortunately, lost his thriving business during that period and passed away, which remains a deep personal loss for me.”
“My comment today, however, was about General Gowon’s removal from office and the grace with which he has handled those difficult events. It wasn’t about the war itself. The focus was on the life he has led since his removal, and his remarkable ability to remain prayerful and steadfast in his commitment to Nigeria.”
“When I was governor, he visited my state, and we spoke as father and son. He even led a national prayer for Nigeria in my state. Our discussions were never about the war—we spoke about the future of Nigeria, and his concern was always for the country’s progress, not his past or the people who removed him from office.”
“PO Mr @PeterObi has always shared with me his deep respect and personal closeness to ‘Ikemba’ Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He regarded Ojukwu as a true hero, someone whose leadership and vision he admired greatly. @PeterObi’s loyalty to Ojukwu was resolute until his last days, and he took it upon himself to ensure that Ojukwu received a befitting burial, one that remains unmatched to this day, honoring his legacy with the dignity it deserved.”
“Mr. @PeterObi’s commitment goes beyond personal ties; he is determined to see a future that works for everyone. His vision for Nigeria is one of unity and progress, where the mistakes of the past do not hold us back or divide us. Instead, he believes in learning from history and building a better and greater future for generations to come.”
“Mo, tell me, is there any nation today that hasn’t faced civil war? From America to Great Britain, many have painful histories of war, yet they are not trapped by the past. Instead, they have forgiven, not forgotten, and used that healing to build successful futures.”
“People need to be closer to PO to truly understand how forgiving and loving he is. He is always looking ahead, desperately focused on building a better and greater future for all Nigerians irespective or tribe and religion and most importantly for the generations to come.”
-DrMo
Biafra
Uchechi Okwu-Kanu Showers Praises On Herself, Reveals What She Told Her Husband
“I constantly told my husband that anyone who spews hate on your children and wife hates you. Period!”
The wife of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mrs. Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, has showered praises on herself, expressing her qualities as she wrote on Facebook, highlighting challenges and what she told her husband, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Uchechi, who was referencing a post made by someone “about protecting ‘me'” (her), stated that she doesn’t blow her trumpets “even in competition.”
Her choice of words and written expressions reveals deeper sense of hurt in the heart, outright self validation and defense, hopes of victory and taunting of the perceived foes of her family amongst others.
She described herself as a “one-man squad, “Virgo” a “Full Moon Virgo” and “one of the most powerful “Empaths you will ever encounter.”
Uchechi, whose husband, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is still being incarcerated in the DSS Headquarters in Abuja following his extra-ordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021, said that she is a “warrior” despite the fact that her husband is not “helping out in the family front.”
She pointed out that she had constantly told her husband (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) that “those who spew hate on his children and wife” hates him.
Mrs. Okwu-Kanu emphatically said that she warned her husband of “these workers of iniquity but hey, we are where we are now.”
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Below is the full read:
“I just saw a post yesterday about protecting me but it eluded me before I could re-post it.
I am not vain, I do not blow my trumpets even in competitions!
“I just move in my aura of grace.
I am a #Virgo, a #FullMoonVirgo, and one of the powerful #Empaths you will ever encounter. I am that woman who walks into a room and every unconscious mind becomes conscious.
“The unconscious morons should study on the above hashtags first. Then I will go ahead to outline what my ‘personalities’ are about and who I am. They will write a full book on just one personality.
“My academic background and what I have achieved in my career journey over the years is not for show off.
“The things I do in my day to day life despite the challenges of not having my husband helping out in the family front, is what makes me a #Warrior.
“I work hard so I can look after widows and helpless children. I run an educational charity in the Sub-Sahara Africa for pupils from Nursery 1 – Primary 6 from my light-weight personal purse.
Everyday, I lift one or two people out from a place of pain, oppression, darkness and confusion through coaching and guidance. People learn consciousness and #ArtofLiving from me, everyday.
“Thank you my brother for that post and thank you all for standing by me. That’s the love you have for #NnamdiKanu.
“All my life, I’ve always fought for the oppressed & for myself.
“I am what ‘you know as one man squad’ – physically, psychologically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
“I fight for the oppressed women, men, and children especially. And all my life, no individual has ever fought me without gathering a group.
“Some would bring their cousins, their ancestors, even their own enemies to fight me yet, Uchechigeme Anyanwụụtụtụ Okwu-Kanu has always stood tall in the presence of her enemies!
Ọkara mádu , ọkara nmuo! She who is of the waters, the Earth, the Sun and feeds off the Air. She who understands the rythym of the spirit dance called Sụrụgedé; she who understands the connotations of the 4 cardinal points of the earth, firmed within the 4 elements of the universe and the 4 market days of her Indigenous existence!
“I warned my husband of all these workers of iniquities but hey, we are where we are now!
But one thing they must understand is that their tittle-tattle is the absolute projection of their inadequacies, what they truly are and represent.
“I have a pending topic on the spiritual, psychological and emotional damage/impact of a mother’s adultery on their children and individual life of promiscuity – the reason these muppets are these damaged!
“I constantly told my husband that anyone who spews hate on your children and wife hates you. Period!
“I have never written about myself as this phase is not about me. At least, not yet.
“Those who sounded just like them in 2014 – 2017 eventually returned to the gutters where they came from. Some went into TV productions and talk shows. Ndị uchu!
“I am busy, fighting for the release of my husband #FreeNnamdiKanu and have no time to pay mind to these imbeciles who came from the lowest strata of the gutters. The lowest of the lows.
“People who are lower than the belly of a snake!
I am an Eagle, I soar high above mediocrity, pugnacity, impetuosity, impertinence and carnality. That is why none of you can keep your pained frustrations to yourselves.
“But like the snake you are, I will never come down to your harmattan taunted postern. I can never play in the mud with pigs because I abhor dirt.
“Rather, I will swoop down like the Eagle and take you to my realm. Swirl you 7 times and release you from the Air.
“My name is, Aha m bụ – Uchechigeme Anyanwụụtụtụ Okwu-Kanu.
“I speak ‘consciousness’, for that, is the #ArtofLiving.
Esemplastic
Eclecticist
LivingIsAnArt Life Coach.
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