Connect with us

Latest News

Blame Governors, Others, Not IPOB Over Sit-at-home Order – HURIWA

Published

on

Not IPOB

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Igbo to blame South East States’ governors and some rogue officers in the security forces for the continuous violence trailing the alleged enforcement of sit- at-home orders which the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has since denounced.

Besides, HURIWA says that it is becoming clearer that certain forces working against the economic advancement of the South East region are behind the continuous deployment of crude violence against innocent Igbo citizens under the guise of enforcement of the sit-at-home on Mondays.

According to a statement by the national coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the secret police, the DSS and the military have continued to accuse the IPOB of all sorts of atrocities but have failed to support their accusations with empirical evidence.

To the rights group, it is in the character of the security institutions to resort to self-help, subterfuge and blackmail such as the sponsorship of armed hoodlums so as to try to find any kind of support for their weird and phantom allegations against the already banned IPOB.

The group has therefore asked Nigerians to be vigilant and rational and never to be hoodwinked into accepting the lies bandied about by the security forces against IPOB.

HURIWA said: “We invite all rational thinking Nigerians and especially the over 60 million citizens of Igbo extraction to take special note that some members of the deep state embedded in some of the security forces are funded with stupendous budgets to continue to kill innocent Igbo citizens under the guise of enforcement of the so- called sit- at- home order which the authorities of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have through their recognized spokesperson has denied that IPOB is behind this economically strangulating and idiotic order.”

HURIWA lamented that because the political leadership of the South East is already infiltrated by fifth columnists working against the interets of the Igbo, the South East governors are bereft of any sort of collective bargaining measures to bring about lasting peace in the region.

READ ALSO: Abia Threatens To Seal Markets, Others Observing IPOB’s Sit-at-home Order

It said that “it is likely that one or two of the Southeast governors are actively conniving with the members of the deep state and the security forces to destabilise Igbo region so they can blame IPOB.

“HURIWA is therefore asking the Igbo citizens of Nigeria to unite and investigate their governors some of whom have displayed open hatred for the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and are well known to have procured policemen to kill at will alleged members of the peaceful Eastern Security Network.

“It is possible that officials of the Security Forces are behind the sabotage against the economy of the South East Nigeria by funding violent street urchins and hoodlums to unleash violence and bloodletting just so the security forces can find the justification to then blame IPOB or ESN for terrorism.”

HURIWA cited “the example of the Anambra State governor Mr. Willie Obiano who refused to fund these destabilization plots against IPOB and ESN and who has used official resources to successfully stop hoodlums from unleashing violence on Monday in the name of IPOB whereas it is clear that the violence is totally unrelated to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

“We are asking Ohanaeze Ndigbo headed by Professor George Obiazor and all credible Igbo groups to unite and set up independent and privately conducted forensic investigation so as to ascertain the undesirable elements causing havoc and chaos and blaming their devilish acts on IPOB which has since dissociated itself from the illegal sit-at-home order and the violence.”

HURIWA recalled that “for the umpteenth time the IPOB has denied involvement in the enforcement of a sit-at-home exercise in the South East, saying it will deal with those behind it.

READ ALSO: Buhari Has Treated Bandits Worse Than IPOB – Presidency

“The group in a press release by its publicity secretary, Emma Powerful said it had no hand in the enforcement of the exercise, saying it has long suspended it.

“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to reiterate once again, that we have no other sit-at-home order after 14th September.

“Any other purported sit-at-home including the suspended weekly sit-at-home on Mondays does not exist in the dairy of IPOB. In fact, after September 14, there is no other sit-at-home this week. Any contrary news or speculations to this effect should be ignored’, he said.

“He said anybody trying to enforce any sit-at-home order using the name of IPOB is a saboteur, and does so at his peril.

“If we catch anybody disturbing the peace of Biafrans or residents in Biafra land under the guise of enforcing non-existent sit-at-home order, such a person will regret his actions because he will receive the reward of traitors.

“IPOB is a responsible organization with reasoning and empathy. We cannot be part of the problem we are trying to solve. We cannot join the enemies to compound the woes of our people we are fighting to liberate,’ he added.

“It said the ‘every Monday’ sit-at-home was suspended because of the economic implications it has on the people, and that it listened to appeals by the people and reviewed their stance on the matter then.

“That was why we reduced the sit-at-home protests to the days our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be making appearances in court. That is enough for now and we stand by it. Anybody trying to impose another sit-at-home order on our people or enforce illegal or imaginary sit-at-home is not IPOB, and must be dealt with. Such a person(s) are working with the enemies to disrepute IPOB, and we won’t tolerate such stupidity.

“On this note, IPOB strongly condemned the barbaric act by hoodlums and mentally deranged fellows who disrupted a WAEC exam in a school in Imo State on Monday. What a stupid madness! Whoever was behind such barbarity must be made to pay for their actions.

“IPOB leadership is hereby promising to replace those motorbikes burnt in the school to their owners and rebuild school blocks burnt by hoodlums in the name of ESN and IPOB volunteers, this is not to portray or indicate that IPOB committed the heinous crimes against our people and promise to set up a task force to checkmate those parading themselves as IPOB volunteers and those committing this crime against humanity and our people,’ ” the group declared.

HURIWA therefore insists that IPOB is not behind the violence in the South East of Nigeria.

 

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Latest News

NUPENG Ex-chief Frank Kokori Is Dead

Published

on

Erstwhile NUPENG General Secretary Chief Frank Kokori

A former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori has died at the age of 80 years.

Chief Frank Kokori breathed his last at a kidney treatment hospital in Warri, Delta State, in the early hours of today, Thursday.

One of his aides, who confirmed the painful development said he would want the family to formally break the news to the media.

“He passed on this night. I would want the family to break the news formally to the media.

“I am his aide but at this moment I am not to speak on this until the family issues a statement,” he said.

Kokori’s health relapsed on Monday, and the veteran labour leader was placed on life support.

Kokori made a distress call over his failing health status last month.

He lamented that in spite of his key role in the growth of the nation’s democracy, he had been abandoned.

At the hospital last month, he said: “I came to this hospital when I was told there is a place like this in Warri.

“They have been doing their best. In the midnight, they put their generator off. But I begged them to run it that I will pay their bills.

“I came on Tuesday. After the dialysis, I have been here. I could have just died because of lack of diesel. So I had to beg them to run their generator so the air conditioner, AC, in the ward can function. I need it to be alive.

“It got to a stage that I could not take a flight, I could not walk . If it was when I was in NUPENG, I would have been flown out with air ambulance immediately.”

When the Military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 13, 1993 presidential election, Kokori was involved in mobilising the masses against the government.

He led NUPENG and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, in organising nationwide strikes that crippled the oil industry.

Also, Frank Kokori was actively involved in pro-democracy activities, organising and participating in rallies and demonstrations.

“If I wanted to compromise, the military (junta of late General Sani Abacha) was ready to give me anything but I stood for democracy, believing that democracy would usher in a better Nigeria.

“The refineries were working before I retired from NUPENG.

“I became the tribune of the country, heading the freedom fighters. Some of us were underground, disguised for 10 weeks fighting the military.

“The military sent presidential jet to pick me to compromise, but I refused.”

Continue Reading

Latest News

Ogun To Provide Shelter For Victims Of Gender Based Violence -Abiodun

Published

on

L-R: Commissioner for Women and Social ocial Development, Mrs. Adijat Oladipo Adeleye; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; Governor Dapo Abiodun; wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun and the wife of the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mrs. Victoria Oluomo, when members of the Ajose Foundation, led by the Governor's wife, embarked on a walk to the governor's office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, as part of the 16 Days activities against Gender Based Violence on Wednesday.

The Ogun State Government on Wednesday said it would provide a befitting accommodation for victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, when he received his wife and other women, who were on a road show as part of activities for the 16 days’ Activism Against Gender Based Violence in the state.

The governor, who acknowledged that gender violence has become pronounced among males and females in the country, assured that the state government would provide a befitting building to serve as a shelter for people that have  been sexually harassed or subjected to other forms of molestation in the state.

The shelter, he said, will save them from the stigma usually associated with the problem.

He added that the government would also work towards instituting a Gender Based Violence Trust Funds to finance the welfare of the victims.

“You want us to ensure that we have a befitting shelter and you made a case for that, and you emphasized the fact that people abused in the house or at home can not go back home. There are those who do not have anywhere else to go back to. There is a lot of stigma associated with those who are abused.

“I believe that we have identified somewhere previously, but I am told that it may not be befitting.

“By this, I am now instructing the Secretary to the State Government to work with the Ministry of Housing to identify a building; if they can’t find one, we identify a parcel of land and we will construct a befitting building to serve as the needed shelter for those persons who have been subjected to all kinds of sexual harassment,” he said.

On the call for a specialized court to try cases of gender based violence in the state, Governor Abiodun said: “Fortunately, our head of court in Ogun State is a woman. In fact, the two courts we have, the state High ourt and the Customary Court of Appeal, are both headed by women. I am sure that the Chief Judge will be more than happy to see what she can do to expedite the request.”

The state helmsman also assured stakeholders that his administration would support women at the executive level and at the judiciary to ensure that all that is required to reduce gender violence to the barest minimum in the state, is implemented.

Governor Abiodun also brought to the fore the need to look into violence against men.

He said: “I also want to bring to the fore that violence against persons is not only violence against women . Men also are being abused. But often times, nobody talks about that, and I want to be the advocate for men who are being abused.

“On the Gender Based Violence Trust Fund, I will do everything that I can to ensure that we sit down and plan on how to mobilize resources towards this noble cause.

“Once again, I want to assure you that I do identify with you and as your Governor, I will do everything within my power to ensure that we reduce this incidence of gender based violence to an absolute minimum in Ogun State.”

In her remarks, wife of the governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun noted that there was an increase in cases of rape and incest in the society, calling for the provision of a safe space for those who have been abused or harassed.

Earlier, an expert on gender based violence, Dr. Mojisola Akinsanya noted that there was an urgent need to relocate women who have experienced violence at home for them to have a peaceful place to stay.

Dr. Akinsanya, who advocated for a Gender Based Violence Trust Fund in the state, acknowledged poverty as the driving force for GBV, noting that once women are well empowered, they would adequately cater for themselves.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Mike Ozekhome Fined For ‘Demonising’ Supreme Court

Published

on

Mike Ozekhome (SAN)

For ‘demomising’ the Supreme Court, rights activist and Constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome has incurred a fine of N40 million .

This development occurred in a ruling by Justice Tijani Abubakar, who ordered the Senior lawyer to personally pay the N40 million fine to the four respondents he took to court in respect of the Imo governorship tussle decided since 2019.

Abubakar held in the ruling that the request was strange, frivolous, baseless, unwarranted, vexatious and irritating.

He further held that the motion was a calculated design to demonise the Supreme Court.

Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN called to the Nigerian Bar over 42 years ago was fined the huge amount for bringing a motion before the Apex Court seeking to revalidate the suit that removed Emeka Ihedioha as Governor of Imo State in 2019.

Those to be paid are the Action People’s Party, APP, Uche Nnadi, Uche Nwosu and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

In the motion considered to be frivolous by the court, Ozekhome had asked the Court for a consequential order to compel INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Ihedioha to enable him to spend a four- year tenure as Imo Governor.

His grouse was that the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma unlawfully spent the four years which Ihedioha ought to spend.

Among others, Ozekhome in the motion claimed that the All Progressives Congress APC had no candidate in the 2019 Imo governorship election, hence, Uzodinmma ought not to have been made governor on the platform of APC.

However, the apex court dismissed the motion on the ground that it had no jurisdiction to entertain such a motion.

Continue Reading

Top Stories