Only Justice, Equity Will End Biafra’s Agitation – Ikokwu

For 29 years after the 30-month Nigeria-Biafra  war that ended in January 1970, after claiming about three million lives, nobody pushed for or agitated for the resurrection of the defunct Biafran Republic.

Speaking on the issue, yesterday, Second Republic politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, who is also a lawyer, said arresting Kanu and other pro-Biafran crusaders would not end the agitation by the separatist groups, according to a report by Vanguard Newspaper.

According to him, the surest way out of the series of separatist agitations in the country is to ensure justice and equitable distribution of the resources of the country.

He disagreed with the treasonable charges slammed on Kanu and wondered what  government would do to social media tigers, who he said have done worse things. His words: "I don’t think Kanu should go in for treason. Technology has advanced so much that most people get their news from the social media. The issue at stake is that of civic rights. It is within the Constitution to say what you want to say without causing

Igbo Angry With Buhari

…..Over Appointments, Arrest of MASSOB Leaders

Apparently reacting to the latest arrest of MASSOB leaders in the country, Igbo leaders yesterday said that the 1999 Constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and “expression, manifested particularly in lawful protests, as a fundamental right,” according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

They further accused President Muhammadu Buhari of allegedly violating the constitution by ruling the country without ministers since May this year.

These were contained in a communique signed by the Chairman of the Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, after its meeting at MODOTEL Hotel in Enugu, yesterday.

It also noted that President Buhari’s one man rule had generated much tension and retardation as well as serious retardation of the economy, social dislocation, insecurity and polarization along ethnic and religious lines.

The communique entitled, “PLENARY MEETING OF THE IGBO LEADERS OF THOUGHT,” read, “The ILT met in a full session Thursday, October 22, 2015 and deliberated extensively on the state of the nation.

“The ILT noted that five months since he was sworn in President Buhari has not been able to form a government but has continued to rule alone.

“The ILT noted that the President Buhari has violated the Constitution of the country in so many ways including the appointments he has made so far.

“The ILT noted that President Buhari’s one man rule has generated much tension in the land, and has caused serious retardation of the economy, social dislocation, insecurity and polarization along ethnic and religious lines.

“The ILT supports the fight against corruption provided it is not selective and subject to constitutional limitations on power, especially limitations arising from our federal system and

Ibeto To Build US$386m Cement Plant In Enugu

*Dr. Cletus Ibeto

Ibeto Cement Company Limited has entered into an engineering, procurement and construction contract with China National Materials Company, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd for a 6000t/day clinker line and 45MW self-generation power plant in Enugu, South East Nigeria. The contract is worth US$386m.

According to globalcement.com, the contract covers the whole process,from the exploitation of limestone mines and the crushing of raw materials, to the packing and delivery of cement and a captive power plant and includes engineering design, supply of equipment, steelwork and materials, civil construction, installation, debugging and staff  training.

Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd is a Shanghai-listed company.

Ibeto Group commenced business in the cement sector in 1997 with the importation of ship-loads of bagged Portland cement through the Apapa ports.

Ibeto Cement was conceived in 2001 following the Federal Government ban on the importation of cement in bags and the institution of a new policy of bulk importation and local bagging.

Located in Bundu Ama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, it started producing bagged cement at its Bagging Terminal in June 2005. The Terminal is an ultra-modern bagging plant with a Flat-storage capacity of 50,000 metric tons and a production capacity of 1,500,000 tons per annum which translates to a production capacity of not less than 6,000 metric tons per day.

It has two production lines, each with a capacity of 2700 of 50kg bags per hour or designed

Okorocha Slams New Biafra Agitators

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, on Wednesday, distanced the people of the South East geo-political zone from the protest over the arrest of the director of Radio Biafra by security operatives saying that such a protest had no supporter or blessing of the governors and leaders form the zone, according to a Daily Times Newspaper report.

Okorocha who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri, regretted that the protest over Radio Biafra and arrest of its director would not add any value to development of the zone and life of the people in the area.

The governors and leaders of the South-East condemn the protests, especially for the manner they were carried out in the name of Biafra. If a section of the people in the South-East or even the whole people in the geo-political zone protest over the bad shape of the federal roads in the area or protest over the total negligence of the geo-political zone, every governor and leader in the area would support that.

“The South-East is an integral part of Nigeria and the governors and leaders from the area

Ikpeazu Scores Election Petition Tribunal High

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governorship, National and State House of Assembly election petition tribunal in the state, describing it as true reflection of justice to all parties concerned, writes The Union Newspaper.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu, who said this while addressing Journalists in Umuahia, the State capital, noted that Abia people are happy with the judg­ments delivered so far by the members of the tribunal, even though they are yet to complete their assignment.

He added that the people of the State are very much happy with the pain-staking efforts with which they have addressed all issues brought before them.

“Election cases are not quite easy but the tribunal has taken pains to address all the matters before them one after the other.

“Abia people are happy with all the judgment so far. We be­lieve that all the judgment are fair to all concerned and they have reflected the true taste of justice and the wheel of justice has been

My Ministerial Nomination Not Because I’m Okorocha’s In-law – Prof. Anwukah

Former Vice Chancellor and ministerial nominee from Imo State, Professor Anthony Anwukah, yesterday, said his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari was based on competence rather than his relationship with the state governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Vanguard Newspaper reports that Prof. Anwukah said the appointment was based on the president’s belief that he can deliver services to Nigeria contrary to reports that it was because he was the governor’s in-law.

Speaking yesterday, in Abuja, when he appeared before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions to defend petitions written against him by a group from the state, Prof. Anwukah insisted that he was not the candidate of the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha because he was an in-law of the governor.

The nominee, though admitted that he was indicted by a panel set up by the state government to probe his tenure between 2000 and 2005, he said the panel chairman, Professor Anyanwu was among the 25 candidates that contested to be vice chancellor with him, saying the alleged indictment

Akure Monarch Forbids Eze-Ndigbo From Wearing Crown

THE Deji of Akureland in Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi yesterday listed conditions for truce with the estranged Eze Ndigbo of Akure, Gregory Iloehike, according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

One of the conditions was that the Igbo leader is forbidden from wearing any form of crown henceforth.

Oba Aladelusi gave the conditions during a meeting Governor Olusegun Mimiko had with him and the Akure Council of Chiefs  in Akure on the lingering crisis.

The governor had earlier met with the Igbo leaders led by the embattled Eze Ndigbo, Iloehike at the governor’s office.

Ileohike was said to have denied disrespecting the Oba and pleaded with the governor to help resolve the over one-week crisis.

Other conditions include  that the  Eze Ndigbo must apologize for his unruly behaviour in at least three national dailies and on air.

“That the Igbo leader must write a letter of apology to  Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi and the Deji-in-Council.

“That the title ‘Eze Ndigbo’ must be reviewed and replaced with a non-controversial honorary title and that the Igbo Leader must comply with all the earlier directives of the palace.’’

Dr Mimiko, however, apologized to the Oba on behalf of  the Igbo Leader.

Ekweremadu Faults Buhari on Federal Character Principle

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari on the principle of federal character as contained in Section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, writes the Punch Newspaper.

Ekweremadu, who spoke during a lecture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Monday, insisted that Buhari violated that section of the constitution in his initial appointments in every ramification.

He said Federal Government’s appointments ought to reflect the diversity of the country.

According to him, a country that had undergone the trauma Nigeria had passed through should be careful to carry every section along.

He contended that the appointments made so far by the current administration were clearly lopsided because they have left the South-East totally empty-handed.

He said, “I think that in this country that is just recovering from a most divisive and bitter-fought presidential election; a country where a vicious civil war has been fought and the scars are still fresh; in a country where a presidential election believed to have been won by a part of the country was annulled; in a country which has deteriorated from one where citizens held high political and

Radio Biafra: Police Arrest Nnamdi Kanu Supporters

Scores of supporters of the embattled director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu were Tuesday arrested by the Anambra State police command at various points in Awka as they embarked on protests in the state capital, Vanguard Newspaper reports.

The protesters, including women, carried placards with various inscriptions, marched from Amawbia to the Government House, demanding that Kanu be left alone.

However, as they approached Government House, the police men stationed at the place fired sporadically in the air and threw teargas canisters to scare them.

Another group protesting at the Arroma junction was also picked by the police.

Anambra State coordinator of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Ikechukwu Okoye said their protest was not meant to cause any trouble, adding that they were only on the streets to prevail on security operatives to release Kanu.

According to him, the protesters were marching to the Government House to plead with Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene on the matter.

He said: “We are only agitators who obey the laws of the land. This is democracy and there is freedom of speech and freedom of movement.

“Why would anybody detain our leader and in the process be demanding bail fee of N2million. We have not come to fight anybody because we are peace makers”

Anmabra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, confirmed the arrest of

Nwabueze Calls For New Igbo Leadership

Former Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor Ben Nwabueze has said that there was need for young men and women to take over the leadership of the Igbo, saying that the old generation of leaders have literally expired.

Nwabueze spoke in Enugu yesterday evening at the 16th annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

The event was chaired by the former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, and attended by other Igbo leaders including the former Registrar of WAEC and now traditional ruler in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike;  former Ohanaeze Scribe, Chief Nduka Eya; Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwo, former Governor of Abia State and ministerial nominee, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, as well as the traditional ruler of Atani in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Azuka Ngoddy; Chief Chika Okpala aka Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo and John Ikechukwu Okafor among others.

However, looking towards the direction of Dr Ekweme, Nwabueze said, “our generation has

Radio Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Granted Bail

Director of  Radio Biafra and Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,  Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested at Golden Tulip Essential Hotel, Ikeja, on Saturday, has been granted bail.

Although, he was yet to fulfill his bail conditions as at the time of this report, according to reports by Vanguard Newspaper.

IPOB’s lawyer, Mr. Egechukwu Obetta lamented that Nnamdi Kanu was  put in the same cell with terrorists despite his life threatening health challenges.

He said Kanu is selective to delicacies, adding that he (Kanu) vowed never to eat any food served by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

However, midway into the chat with his lawyer, a call came in, indicating that Kanu has been granted bail in the sum of N2 million or with surety of N2 million with a civil servant of grade level 16.

Obetta further said that “Last week, the Afenifere threatened to secede but nobody was vilified. I am talking about the recent Olu Falae’s kidnap case. The militants in the Niger Delta has done same.”

Ekweremadu Accuses Detractors of Trying to Set Him Up

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has alleged that there is an orchestrated plan by some politicians to falsely indict him in order to force him out of office.

Ekweremadu, in a statement released by his media office on Thursday, alleged that the masterminds of the plot are planning to publish false and defamatory information against his person.

Thisday Newspaper is reporting that according to the Deputy Senate President, those after him are currently scrutinizing the accounts of the Senate and accounts of committees in which he had served with the aim of nailing him.
He vowed to resist all forms of intimidation and remain focused to the end.
“The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate wishes to bring to the knowledge of the public some clandestine efforts by desperate political elements to publish false and defamatory

Ministerial List: For Ndigbo, It’s Thanksgiving All The Way

By Clement Udegbe

SINCE President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB came to power, people have argued that Ndigbo should be punished for not voting massively for him. Some say it was a political miscalculation by the Igbos, that they put all their eggs in the basket of former President Goodluck Jonathan, they are politically naïve, and all that. Such people do not understand where Igbos are coming from. Igbos are very grateful to God for the turnout of events, because if it were not so, they would have been the victims of post elections violence in the north. Igbos have investments in almost every nook and corner of Nigeria, which would have been torched. Ndigbo are the ones who need a peaceful Nigeria more than any other tribe, because they have more at stake in the unity and stability of Nigeria. We simply continue to thank God for Nigeria, in spite of all.

But these men have continued to goad PMB to do all he can to punish Igbos for not voting for him, and his kitchen cabinet appointments, to the complete exclusion of  Ndigbo, confirms his position.

Newspaper reports carry a speculated list of PMB’s Ministers’ nominees, and out of 27, there are only three Igbo names, 10 percent, of which two of them, were major instruments in hacking down GEJ. In essence,and properly too,  Igbos have only one person on that list.

The South South has six names, 22 percent; The north has four names,15 percent, while the Yorubas, the owners of APC have 14 names, 52 percent of the list. Subject to Senate clearance, these plus the northern dominated kitchen cabinet will be the face of leadership under PMB for the next four years.

This list explains why all our fiery newspaper and television commentators could not see