Nnamdi Kanu and The Cry For Biafra: IPOB members protest in Japan, Cote d'Ivoire

More topics on this issue

• Kanu: IPOB members protest in Japan, Cote d'Ivoire
• THE ARREST AND DETENTION OF NNAMDI KANU
• Pro-Biafra agitators are miscreants – Obasanjo
• Obasanjo, ‘kettle calling pot black’, says Achuzia
• Nnamdi Kanu, the Biafra course and Vision 2023!
• Nnamdi Kanu has no criminal charge hanging on his neck – lawyer
• Obasanjo warns Nigerians of second Biafra war
• Biafra: FG charges Kanu, 2 others with treasonable felony
• Biafra Agitation Is Dead, Hopeless, Says Obasanjo

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Kanu: IPOB members protest in Japan, Cote d'Ivoire
Written by Eric Dumo, Tony Okafor, Ihuoma Chiedozie, Ogbonnaya Ikokwu and Ovie Okpare
~Punch Nigeria. Sunday, September 25, 2016. 

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

Mixed reactions on Friday greeted a directive by the Indigenous People of Biafra for sons and daughters of Igbo origin around the world to sit at home in protest of the continued detention of the leader of the movement, Nnamdi Kanu, and other pro-Biafra agitators.

According to the secessionist movement, the sit-at-home protest was initiated to "further compound Nigeria's economic misery".

In some parts of Anambra State especially Onitsha on Friday for example, commercial activities were completely paralysed as markets, banks and schools were shut while vehicular movement reduced drastically.

In the Awka and Nnewi parts of the state, however, there was partial compliance to the order.

In neighbouring Enugu State, many traders and shop owners opened for business even though later than usual, to attend to customers.

The slow start to activities for the day was initially as a result of apprehension on the minds of many people. But soon after residents realised there was no restriction in movement, they started pouring out on to the streets. Heavily-armed policemen and other law enforcement agents could be seen patrolling major parts of the city.

In Abia, the directive was also greeted with low compliance as people went about their normal daily activities without hitch.

Checks by Saturday PUNCH revealed that schools, banks, hospitals, markets as well as motor parks opened for business without any interference from members of IPOB.

A handful of private schools however closed down for the fear of the unknown, while some business owners refused to open their shops, fearing there could be trouble.

Nnanna’s 'Non-existent Igbo slaves in Bonny’

Written by Patrick Dele Cole
~Vanguard Nigeria. Tuesday, September 20, 2016. 

I AM somewhat surprised by Mr. Nnanna's rebuttal of my piece on the Origins of Nigerians. I normally expect criticism and even abuse to some of my views but his answer seems unfortunately to be something he wanted to say and was looking for an opportunity to do so.

It is a pity. He claims that there were "non-existent" "Igbo" "Slaves" in Bonny and other Ijaw city states; basing his conclusion on a belief that ethnical classification of "Igbo" and "Ijaw" was some white men's invention and curiously that an artifact from Abiriba was found by Professor Isichie in Bonny.

That many Abiriba have names like Ubani (presumably a corruption of Igbani) and that I confused trade and cultural relationship between the Igbo and Bonny as a relationship of master and slave. Finally that I somehow managed to damage Chief Ekwueme's chances of becoming President because working for my "mentor",

President Olusegun Obasanjo, I, in some inexplicable way, influenced Obasanjo's choice, thus climaxing a deep plan to sow confusion between various ethnic groups. What disturbed me most was that his piece left some idea that I, in cohort with others, hatched a plan to sow ethnic division in Nigerian. For him it is "just playing to the gallery, deployed by people with ulterior and unwholesome mindset to create divisions to get people fighting one another.... celebrating this fallacy". I reply solely to refute the insinuations littered throughout the piece about hidden strategy to deride and divide the Igbo and other Nigerians, thus preventing them from living peaceably with their neighbours.

As to the indictment of Obasanjo being my mentor and somehow making this affect Dr. Alex Ekwueme's chances of being the President, I am beyond surprise that a respected columnist as Mr. Nnanna, without a stirred of evidence could peddle such baseless accusation. What exactly did I do to harm Dr. Alex Ekwueme? Nevertheless, I am flattered that I was so powerful to be able to influence People Democratic Party, PDP, Obasanjo was never my mentor. He was my President and I was his Adviser and friend.

I have been on record celebrating the achievement of the Ibo. My parents spent over 40 years working among the Ibo in Enugu, Abakaliki, Enugu Ngwo, Udi, Aba and Onitsha. There is a Cole Street in Onitsha. I probably speak better Ibo than many Ibo people. My first language is Yoruba, the second Ibo, third Ijaw and fourth Hausa. I do not claim that I speak all equally well, but when both your parents are civil servants posted to all parts of Nigeria, you tend to pick up languages easily.

Imo outlaws female circumcision

Written by George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
~The SUN Nigeria. Tuesday, September 20, 2016. 

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha says the ancient practice of female circumcision has been outlawed in the state, warning that offenders risk jail terms without an option of fine.

Okorocha, who stated this yesterday, during the official launch of the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) disclosed that a bill to that effect would be passed into law by the state Assembly .

According to him, such barbaric culture, which is harmful and not beneficial to the people, ought to be abolished, noting that Imo was still one of the states in the South East where female circumcision was widely practiced.

" This harmful ancient practice has been outlawed in this state and a bill to put a permanent stop it will be passed into law very soon and let me warn those who are still indulging in this practice to be ready to go to jail if caught because there would no option of fine," he said.

Speaking earlier, the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, who initiated the campaign in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Agency (UNFPA), said women in the state have vowed to put an end to the barbaric practice which is not beneficial to the girl child.

Mrs. Okorocha further explained that the continual practice of Female Genital Mutilation must be stamped out in the state, especially in the rural areas, where the practice is prevalent and led to emotional trauma, broken homes and even death.

The Country Representative of UNFPA,Mrs Beatrice Mukta, disclosed that the organisation has been campaigning against the practice in most African Countries where the practice still subsist.

She commended wife of the governor for her relentless fight against FGM, noting that the battle against the ancient practice which is steeped in cultural myth may not be an easy one. she appealed to traditional institutions as well as women in the state to support the campaign.

Mrs. Okorocha had kick started the campaign against FGM/ Cutting with a protest match in which over 500 female students drawn from various schools in the state and women participated.

Restructuring Nigeria: How Nigeria was de-structured

Topics:

• How Nigeria was de-structured
• TRUE FEDERALISM THROUGH RESTRUCTURING IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR NIGERIA NOW
• Road to recovery: A case for restructuring Nigeria
• Restructuring and its benefits for all
• Restructuring: Let's go our ways in peace -Rufai Hanga
• IT IS TIME TO RESTRUCTURE NIGERIA
• RESTRUCTURING AND THE YORUBA AGENDA
• Restructuring: Who lopsided Nigeria in the first place?
• The clamour to restructure Nigeria
• Why Nigeria must be restructured
• Who's afraid of restructuring?
• The restructuring rhetoric
• Nigeria: Formed by negotiation, will forge by negotiation
• Osinbajo commits political apostasy

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How Nigeria was de-structured

By Omololu Olunloyo ex-gov, old Oyo State

• Says, Awolowo, Akintola played 'primitive politics'

• Igbo not yet fully integrated

• Abacha organised best confab

Written by Femi Adeoti

~The Sun Nigeria. Sunday, September 18, 2016.

I never booked any appointment with him and it was deliberate. I suspected the request could be easily turned down on phone. So? I fell back on the "crude" method I employed in 2009, the last time I interviewed him. I learnt the trick over the years of my interaction with him. And it has worked wonders.

So, that Wednesday afternoon, I just drove straight to Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo's sprawling Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State residence unannounced. It nearly paid off. Even at 81, he did not complain of being barged on. He is forever reporter-friendly. He was going through the dailies without a pair of reading glasses. My mission had to be aborted because of his state of health. Six days later, I repeated the visit. Still, he told me he was not in a good frame of mind for a long talk. I suggested a conversation if interview would not work. He agreed and a convenient balance was struck. These random jottings are the results.

Olunloyo is a man of many parts. A mathematician, physicist, engineer, educationist, administrator, elder statesman, etc,

As commissioner for economic development, Western Region in 1962 at 27, he was the youngest in the cabinet of Dr. Majekodunmi's seven-month administration. He was governor of the old Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983. Any encounter with Olunloyo is usually uunsual and full of wits. So also this "informal" chat that lasted four hours. Olunloyo spoke his mind. He talked forth and back. He would jump from one issue to another and he would go back to it in the middle of a new topic. It was really a random talk because he chose what he talked about. In the process, he revealed how Chief Obafemi Awolowo, first premier of Western Region and his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, played "primitive politics" in the crisis of 1962 that led to the "Wild, Wild, West."

He equally insisted that the Igbo were not yet fully integrated into Nigeria after the 30-month civil war. That was between August 1967 and January 1970. He also touched on the vexed issue of restructuring, the controversial 1962 census, held while he was a commissioner in Western Region, the 1983 coup and many more. Enjoy the chat.

The 1962 controversial census

Chief Samuel Olatunbosun Shonibare was the only Action Group (AG) member who asked me about the 1962 census I ran as a commissioner in the Western Region. There were fewer people in the North than in the South, so, they cancelled it. The most thickly populated areas in the South were Ekiti and Owerri.

June 12: Why prominent Yoruba leaders backed IBB -Filani

The SUN Nigeria. Sunday, September 18, 2016.

...says Abiola asked Kingibe, Jakande, Babatope to join Abacha's cabinet

Ishola Filani

Former National Vice Chairman Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Ishola Filani has given his own account of what happened during the June 12, 1993 imbroglio.

Speaking with SATURDAY SUN in Lagos, Filani who was also a former National Publicity Secretary of defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP explained why some Yoruba leaders betrayed the late MKO Abiola.

Filani, a former Chairman of WEMA Bank who turns 70 next Monday also spoke on other national issues including restructuring, annulment of June 12 election by IBB, relationship between MKO Abiola and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe among others in this interview with TUNDE THOMAS.

Can you recollect the genesis of your romance with politics?

I have always been an activist even right from student days at OAU, and I was a member of Student Union Government. I remember then that we used to invite radicals like late Gani Fawehinmi, late Kanmi Isola Osobu and Chief Ebenezer Babatope to the campus for one programme or the other, and I will say that they were initially my mentors, and I drew a lot of inspiration from them. I will also say that late Papa Obafemi Awolowo was another factor that propelled me to go into politics. I admired his vision, focus and welfarist programmes. He was a greet leader of men, brilliant and people-oriented.

But it was in 1989 that I formally entered politics during the era of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SdP and National Republican Convention, NRC.

Late General Shehu Yar'Adua invited me to join the defunct Peoples Front of Nigeria, PFN. He got me through Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe who is a good friend. The PFN later merged with PSP to form SDP.

In SDP, I was first elected an ex-officio member to represent the Southwest geo-political zone. I later became the National Publicity Secretary of SDP. But before then, when the military government then under General Babangida created new states in 1991, I was appointed Administrator of SDP in Edo and Delta states, and later I served in the same position in Imo and Abia states.

The 7th anniversary of the death of late Chief Gani Fawhinmi is being marked this year, having worked in his chamber for some years, what is your recollection of the man, Gani Fawehinmi?

In terms of bringing up somebody in life as it relates to our profession, Gani taught me law and what it takes to fight for the rights of human beings. He was very hardworking. Most of us that passed through his chambers learnt from him on how to be hardworking. I had a permanent relationship with him until his death, and I'm still very close to his family.

Why Ugbo people don't marry ladies fair in complexion -Oba Olugbo of Ugbo, Ondo State

~Punch Nigeria. Sunday, September 18, 2016.

Akinruntan

Oba Obateru Akinruntan is the monarch of Ugbo kingdom, Ondo State. He tells Ademola Olonilua in this interview how he emerged the king and the place of his kingdom in Yoruba history

Were you approached to become a monarch or was it a decision you took on your own?

We have one ruling house and four segments in all. To cut the long story short, the stool was monopolised by one of them for a long time without any plan to relinquish the post for others. So the other segments went to court and they won. After the judgement, I was invited to become the Oba. When they invited me, who am I to say no? I was invited.

What has kingship status changed about your life?

Before I became king, whenever I travelled and I saw roasted plantain and groundnuts, I normally stopped to buy them but I cannot do that now. When I was just a business man, I would stop to buy the roasted plantain and I could even sit down with the seller and eat it there but now, I cannot do it, I miss that a lot.

How did you feel when Forbes Magazine ranked you as the richest monarch in Nigeria and the second richest monarch in Africa?

The people that came out with that list know what they saw before they came out with the ranking, I don't know what they saw. I don't know the people that rated me; neither do I know how they came about the rating. Mine is to look at my purse to know whether I am being flattered or not. When you hear such a thing, you will be happy but I do not know the people that came out with the ratings.

But what is your net worth?

I don't know how much I am worth. I would not tell a lie but I do not know what I am worth in this country and in the world but I know that I am living well and I can afford my three square meals a day.

How do you relax?

When I wake up in the morning as early as 6am, I run round the house then I spend some time in the gym doing some exercises. After that, I have my bath and take breakfast. Sometimes I listen to music. I read a lot of books about the Yoruba race and I am very conversant with our ethnic history. I also read international journals.

Recently, you published an excerpt of your book referring to the Ugbo stool as the oldest in Yorubaland. This claim appears to be in contrast with the history of Yorubaland, can you shed some light on your claim?

If you read some of the articles which I wrote, I said it without any contradiction that I am the owner of the Yoruba nation. They claim that Oduduwa is the progenitor of the Yoruba race, yet he met my great-great grandfather, Oba Makin Osangangan, the son of Oraife in Ife. If you go to Ife today, they would testify to it because a lot of books have been written and they acknowledge this fact.