South East
FG Accused Of Destabilising S’East
Movement for the
Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday accused the Federal Government of trying to create instability in the former Eastern Region through alleged killing of pro-Biafran protesters to provoke the people into another civil war.
The group threatened to drag the government to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, at the Hague, Netherlands over perceived incessant killings of pro Biafran protesters.
MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, told newsmen that the alleged killings of pro Biafran protesters by security agents had become unbearable, and the group had decided to take necessary steps to tackle the situation.
According to him, “MASSOB is worried at the rate at which defenceless pro Biafran agitators are being killed. It is unheard of to have soldiers shoot people who were gathered for prayers. We believe it is a strategy to incite the people of the South East and South-South to war. These are antics we know too well. We refuse to be deceived.
“The people of the former Eastern region have been thoroughly provoked. MASSOB will not keep quiet at these senseless killings and have decided to let the international community know about the atrocities being committed by Nigerian security agents.
“MASSOB has concluded plans to take our case to the International Court of Justice, Hague. We have compiled our evidences on the killings and the dramatis personae. Our group will not keep quiet on these acts of killings of innocent citizens.”
Okereafor, berated political leaders, particularly the governors of the South East zone for allegedly failing to speak against the killing of defenceless agitators in their states, describing it as an act of cowardice.
Meanwhile, the group has described government efforts at dialoguing with its members as insincere, hypocritical and deceptive.
In a statement to newsmen in Enugu, MASSOB Leader, Uchenna Madu said, “Federal Government through her several agents had clamoured for a peaceful dialogue to effect the release of Nnamdi Kanu whose arrest and detention has exposed and battered the deteriorated image of Nigeria before the International community since October 2015.
“Though many groups and persons which claim to represent the Biafran agitators in the dialogue have failed because of their selfish and group interest, why have they not met the real leadership of Biafran agitators on December 22, 2015 in Enugu in the house of a prominent and respected Igbo leader with representatives of Federal Government with the Directorate of Military Intelligence Abuja and other Igbo Leaders who are genuinely rooted in Igbo course.?
“The FG representatives assured us that based on their findings, observations, interactions, feelings and grievances of Ndigbo during the weeklong tour which climaxed with meeting of the leadership of the Biafran agitators; they assured that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would be released to an Igbo leader of our choice after their report and intimate meeting with the presidency.”
The statement added, “MASSOB has hailed Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State for his staunch support and defence of Nnamdi Kanu and non-violent Biafran agitators. Governor Fayose’s sympathy on Biafra and outburst against Buhari-led administration which exhibited religious, ethnic and personal hatred has proved him as a true nationalist who has the interest of the people at heart.
“MASSOB also condemned the silence on Igbo Governors and Senators on the plight of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafran Agitators. Some Igbo Governors and senators are stooges and cowards. We doubt if Igbo blood of braveness and eloquence run in their veins.
“The northern and western Governors/senators openly and secretly collaborate and work with Boko-Haram and Odua People’s Congress, OPC, respectively for the interest of their ethnic blocks but their Igbo counterparts are always shying away as cowards.”
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.
