Fulani herdsmen threaten to sue Fayose over comments on Buhari

Fulani herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association on Monday threatened to institute legal action against the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, for making disparaging and uncomplimentary statements on President Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Coordinator of the body, Alhaji Garus, who disclosed this at a news conference in Makurdi, Benue State, said Fayose must apologize to Nigerians and Buhari over the comments on the President’s health.

Gololo said Fayose abandoned his constitutional duty of providing good governance to his people and opted to attack Buhari.

”We MACBA have met at our level here and resolved that the Ekiti State governor should publicly apologize to the President whom he had mocked and made several comments he is not morally and professionally supposed to make.

”We know that while other Nigerians were praying for President Buhari’s quick recovery,  Fayose was praying for Mr. President to die.  He even asked people to start addressing him as next President of Nigeria while Buhari is still alive, but thank God Buhari did not die.”

”So, our President is back to the country to continue with the governance of Nigeria. It is now our turn to ask Fayose to apologize or we will go after him legally,” Gololo said.

Source: The Nation 

You can now commit suicide – Ekiti APC tells Fayose

The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti State and the coalition of civil society groups, on Monday trooped to the streets of Ado Ekiti,
the state capital to celebrate return of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigeria after 104 days in London for medical vacation.
The coalition blasted Governor Ayodele Fayose over the statement credited to him that President Buhari, who left the country on May 7
had been placed on life support since June 6, when his sickness relapsed in a London hospital.

The mammoth crowd , which comprised party supporters , civil society groups , artisans and Okada riders , marched from the Oke Iyinmi to
the party Secretariat, chanting various songs to deride Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

The placard-carrying coalition caused a traffic gridlock between Ijigbo and Ajilosun area, making commuters to wait for several minutes before having a right of way.

Addressing the rally, the APC Acting Chairman in the State, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, said God has shamed those wishing the President death, saying Buhari’s return will rekindle the war against corruption, insurgency and secession .

Olaleye appealed to Fayose to make good his threat that he would commit suicide if President Buhari returns to Nigeria hale and hearty.

She used the opportunity to allayed fear that the APC primary in preparations for the 2018 governorship poll will be manipulated, assuring that the candidate will emerge through the unanimous voice of the party members.

“Mr Fayose has turned himself to propaganda-in-chief , but we are happy that God has shamed those who thought President Buhari won’t return alive. With this rally, the end has come to Governor Fayose’s reign in Ekiti.

“The good people of this state are not in support of Fayose’s action , because we are cultured and compassionate people.

“ Look at the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, he went to Abuja to welcome the president back to Nigeria. That was a show of maturity, why was our governor not learning from this?

“We are solidly behind President Buhari even beyond 2019. And we are pleading with Nigerians to discountenance whatever Fayose has been saying against the president. He was not speaking for us, he only spoke for himself”, she said.

Olaleye added that Ekiti was tired of one day, one trouble under Fayose, saying the next poll will mark the end for the governor’s dominance in the state.

A governorship hopeful under APC, Mr Kola Alabi, has declared that the return of President Muhammadu Buhai has dashed the hope of corrupt Nigerians , who thought they will escape the hammer of justice.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti , on Monday, Alabi described Buhari’s return from London after 104 days of medical vacation as a testimony that only God can decide the life expectancy of human beings and not any mortal.

Alabi rejoiced with Nigerians, particularly members of the APC across the nation, describing President Buhari’s return as a victory of light over the forces of evil.

He bemoaned how some top opposition politicians , who were regarded as the nation’s leaders were making inflammatory and incendiary comments over Buhari’s health, urging them to always put the interest of the Nigerian populace above parochial considerations.

Alabi said Buhari’s welcome speech against hate speech and insurgency, had rekindled our hope that he was determined to take Nigeria to a pedestal where religion and ethnicity will play no role in deciding the fate of any citizen .

“Mr President had again proved that he is a real leader that is above board by his assertion that Nigerians can live and do businesses wherever they like in any part of this country.

“It takes a leader with valour and candour to speak out against his own people. Some northern youths had earlier ordered the Igbos to
leave the North on or before October 1.
“But President Buhari’s stern warning against those who gave the quit notice had foreclosed the possibility of ejecting the people of Southeast from the Northern region.

“We rejoice with Nigerians over Buhari’s safe return. All we need now is to forget the past and join hands with him to take Nigeria to a greater height while the prayers for his permanent recovery are sustained in the interest of our dear nation”, Alabi pleaded

South-West pledges support to President Buhari

The South-West National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) says it will continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.


Its Coordinator, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, expressed gratitude to Nigerians for the fervent prayers and solidarity showered on President Buhari during his medical vacation.

He issued a statement in Abuja on Monday to welcome the President back to the country after his medical vacation in London.

Boroffice expressed optimism that the President would continue to lead the country along the path of “purposeful leadership and economic revival.”

"The euphoria, enthusiasm and widespread jubilation that heralded the arrival of Mr President from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria represent a spontaneous testimony that the support base of Mr President has expanded across zones.

"Also, his popularity has risen higher and his acceptability rating has soared higher.

"The NCBSG is particularly delighted that at every opportunity, Mr President has shown Nigerians that he is as much a trusted democrat as he is a firm believer in the rule of law.

"With the transfer of presidential powers to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in accordance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Mr President has further enriched his democratic credentials.

"In the light of the above, we likewise, salute the leadership acumen of the vice president and commend his outstanding efforts which addressed secessionist agitations in the absence of Mr President,” he said.

Ondo APC commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his stance on united and indivisible Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his stance on united and indivisible Nigeria.

Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, the APC Publicity Secretary in Ondo State, made the commendation in an interview with journalists in Lagos on Monday after a nationwide broadcast by the President.

President Buhari made a nationwide broadcast on Monday morning on his return from medical vacation in London when he affirmed that “Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable.’’

Adesanya said: “the President’s commitment to the unity of this country is highly encouraging and must be commended and emulated by all Nigerians.”

Adesanya said Nigerians’ commitment to the nation “must be evident in our attitude and behaviours, in our love for one and another and in the defense of the sovereignty of Nigeria and her citizens anywhere in the globe.”

“The task of repositioning this country for greatness rested not only on the shoulders of President Buhari and his cabinet members, members of National Assembly but on all Nigerians all over the world,’’ Adesanya said.

He advised Nigerians to be more patriotic and constructive to “Project Nigeria’’ and the President.

"Hold purveyors of fake news and hate speeches accountable for the falsehood"-Lai Muhammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has tasked well-meaning Nigerians to hold purveyors of fake news and hate speeches accountable for the falsehood they spread on the President’s health.

The Minister stated this on Sunday when he featured on a late night interview programme on African Independent Television (AIT) on the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari from London

Mohammed expressed concerns over the level of falsehood and bitterness spread by certain high-ranking public officials about the President’s condition while recuperating in London.


He also said the media has the responsibility to hold such officials accountable for the falsehood they spread on the President’s health.

“I will start with Mr Femi Fani-Kayode and Gov Ayo Fayose, although I am not used to commenting about them.

“I remembered on July 13, Fani-Kayode said that Mr President will not come back as President because his situation was pathetic and critical.

“He went as far as saying that the President does not even recognise people and that he suffered from dementia.

“He challenged the Acting President who just came back from his visit to Mr President to tell the world if he actually saw him and talk to him and what the President was suffering from.

“On Aug. 12, I was in London to see Mr President and the whole world saw Mr President walked to greet me they saw him mention my name and yet nobody has gone to challenge him for his lies.

“Similarly, Gov. Fayose came to Abuja and told newsmen that he had 11 pictures that he would release and when he do so, the whole country will be on fire.

“He said Mr President was on life support and he will never return alive to the country.

“It is amazing that up till date, nobody has hold him accountable for his falsehood and reckless statement.

“I am more worried that the media which they used in spreading these falsehood and hate speeches do not think that they have the responsibility to go back and hold them to account,” he said.

The Minister said he was amazed when he heard of a tweet message by Fani-Kayode that it was the planned protest in London by Peoples Democratic Party that “chased the President out to Nigeria”

He said: “In the first instance, assuming without conceeding that it is the truth, is it not Inhuman for any political party to say they have chased out a sitting president who is convalescing.

“Is it not sadistic on the part of a political party to say that they chased out the President who is recuperating from the hospital.


“These are warnings to all of us the level of hatred, bitterness and falsehood that is being purvey”.

The Minister reiterated that every Nigerian has the responsibility to check the high proportion the trend of hate speeches and fake news had assumed.

He said if the trend was left unchecked, it would threaten and destroy the very fabric of the nation

Source: http://guardian.ng/news/minister-tasks-well-meaning-nigerians-to-hold-purveyors-of-fake-news-accountable/

APC Deputy National Chairman (South) congratulates Nigerians over Buhari's Return

Former Ekiti State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Chief Segun Oni has described the home coming of President Muhammadu Buhari after his medical vacation in London as “a soothing balm on the fragile political atmosphere in Nigeria”.

In a statement yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Steve Alabi, Oni said: “Seeing President Muhammad Buhari in good health has put a lie to the wishes of those who don’t wish the nation well”

The APC Deputy National Chairman (South) congratulated the President for his recovery and wish him robust health as he continues to give quality leadership to the nation.

Oni, who is also an aspirant in the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti, advised some of Buhari’s antagonists to stop playing politics with every issue, especially when it touches on health, saying they are not God.

“There is a particular governor in one of the Southwest states who said he would commit suicide if President Buhari returned to the country alive.

“Now that our leader is back into the country, not only alive but agile and ready to resume his Presidential seat, when are we reading his news of suicide in the dailies or hearing it on the radio or television?” Oni asked.

Group Apologize to Nigerians for Fayose's recklessness

BEING THE PRESS STATEMENT MADE TODAY 20TH AUGUST,2017 IN ADO-EKITI BY A GROUP OF VIBRANT YOUTHS CALLED EKITI FOCUS.

1. We welcome all Journalists to this Press Conference.
2. It is of essence because our Jerusalem (Ekiti State) must not be destroyed by a man whose tenure has an expiring date.
3. We regretted ever working for his emergence even though we did then because he told us he has changed.
4. We join the well meaning sane Nigerians to welcome our President back to the country.
5. We reference God in his life for that Divine Grace he benefitted from.
6. We Pray that God will Perfect his recovery and make him whole.
7. We condemned all altercation of our State Governor against the health of PMB which has put our state in Bad light.
8. We want to say unequivocally that we didn't regret to be a native of Ekiti State but regretted having someone like Ayodele Fayose as our Governor.
9. We Apologise on his behalf and on behalf all Ekiti people for all kinds of uncivil statement our Governor had said against the President of Nigeria.
10. We also need to put the record straight that a Man whose Paternity was and still in doubt will never appreciate another man's Father.
11. It's pertinent to say that the real father of Ayodele Fayose still leaves in abject Poverty due to the wickedness of his Son who does care about his living.
12. It's worrisome that even the man that claims to be his father is not enjoying him either.
13. How do you expect such a Son to appreciate another man's father how much more the father of a Nation?
14. We want to pass strict warning to Mister Governor to stop portraying Ekiti State, a state that is known as Fountain of knowledge in bad light.
15. We advise him to conduct himself well in the remains short period he has left else he may end up leaving Ekiti the way he left during his first term.
16. We call on our father Baba Afe Babalola SAN to please assist to counsel Mr Governor since he is the only person he do give audience.
17. We appeal to our Fathers in the palace, Sons & daughters of Ekiti across the Globe to work together and give us a good Leader to work with as the gubernatorial election approaches.
18. The Ekiti of our dream is attainable.
19. Find attached the Picture of the real Father (Chief Deji Fasuan) of our Governor.  All his attributes find its root to this man.
20. We appreciate you all for your support towards making Ekiti state a better place.
21. Thanks and God Bless you all.

Long Live Ekiti Focus
Long Live Ekiti State
Long Live FRN.

State Cordinator
Messrs Akinlolu Obafemi.
08054161982.

‎JKF Centre Hails Buhari's Return, Urges Support For President's Growth Agenda

‎JKF Centre Hails Buhari's Return, Urges Support For President's Growth Agenda


JKF Centre, a baby of Dr Kayode Fayemi towards youths training and leadership development, has rejoiced with President Muhammadu Buhari on his safe return to Nigeria after three months medical holiday in London.

The centre's solidarity message came as civil society groups in Ekiti State storm the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, tomorrow for a solidarity rally in support of the President.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti  by its Director, Biodun Omoleye, the centre said it was pleased to have the President back on his desk hale and hearty after unpleasant rumours on his health left Nigerians distraught on the consequences of his long absence in the polity.

He also praised Nigerians for their prayers, noting that the President's return is a prayer answered for a purposeful and disciplined leadership to restore hope and redirect the country towards economic prosperity.

"The return of the President hale and hearty to his seat is a testimony that God loves Nigerians and wants Nigeria to continue to enjoy the disciplined leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to help restore hope for economic recovery.

"Therefore, the restoration of the President's health is a collective victory over the clouds of uncertainties that hanged over the nation's push for economic recovery and fight against corruption, which are the antidotes to our current socio-economic challenges.

"With the President back on his seat, we urge Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation in honesty, commitment and discipline required to put the nation on economic sound footing where Nigerians can develop their potentials for collective development and progress of the nation," Omoleye said.  

He said even though the President had a large heart and had forgiven those who wished him dead, he warned "evil-wishers" to change their ways so that they too could enjoy the mercy of God like the President in times they need divine help.

"What we saw in the miraculous recovery of President Buhari is a testimony that no human being can change what God has sealed and it is a proof the evil can't triumph over what God has sealed.

"God loves Nigerians and President Buhari's recovery is a testimony that God's purposes in the lives of Nigerians cannot be reversed by a tiny band of evil-wishers who, in their pursuit of private comfort, will stop at nothing to sabotage the collective destiny and aspirations of the entire country," he said.

 Omoleye, who also urged Ekiti people to turn out in large numbers tomorrow for a solidarity rally for the Nigerian Leader, said the President's recovery had raised hope for unrelenting fight against corruption,  economic recovery and jobs creation among  unemployed youths.

He also urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the President and support him in his transformation agenda to restore hope and spread prosperity among dispossessed Nigerians.

Biodun Omoleye

Director

August 20, 2017

Only One Company is Authorized to Mine, in Zurak – Minister

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said that only one company has mining lease to carry out mining activity in Zurak, Wase Local Government of Plateau State.

The Minister stated this during a meeting with leaders of the community shortly after 16 Chinese and 8 Nigerians were arrested for illegal mining in the area and the shutting down of two companies notorious for illegal mining.

The Minister who reiterated government’s commitment to discouraging the activities of illegal miners and its environmental degradation, urged the community and its leadership not to collaborate with unauthorised persons or groups carrying out illegal mining in their domain.

The Minister said; “The minority in your community are colluding with these criminal gangs that have taken over your land, enough is enough.

“In our record, and by the special grace of God and the authority of Mr. President, it is my duty to sign all mining licenses in Nigeria, no one else has that authority and I can tell you as I stand here that only one company has a mining lease in the whole of these area.

“That company is called Tongay, there is no other company, whether it is called solid unit, or it’s called geotess or it’s called anything”, the Minister added.

The Minister’s position was contrary to claims by one of the companies shut in the wake of the visit by the Minister and the National Security Adviser, Brig. Gen Babagana Munguno to Zurak that it had a valid license.

Dr Fayemi insisted that his office never authorised Dan China’s company to carry out mining activities in the area.

http://www.minesandsteel.gov.ng/2017/08/21/only-one-company-is-authorized-to-mine-in-zurak-minister/

While The President Was Away

Posted By: Dapo Olufade 



In this report, Dapo Olufade takes a look at what happened while the president was on medical leave.

RUMOUR. Controversy. Threats. Countermands. Emotion. Fury. Theatrics.

None was in short supply in the country in the 103 days President Muhammadu Buhari spent in London, attending to his health.

Dutifully dispensing them at measured intervals were the politicians, political jobbers and mischief makers.

Once a controversy appeared to have served its course and began to wear out, another would suddenly pop-up, sending the populace into a fresh frenzy.

First was the storm over his Eid el Fitri message on the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on June 25.

How dare he address Nigerians in Hausa, many charged, after demanding that he should say something, just anything, to assure the nation that what they were hearing about him was not true.

The Sallah message broadcast was preceded by a statement issued by his media team.

The presidency only released the audio in an apparent response to distrustful Nigerians who had not heard from Buhari for nearly two months.

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State categorically declared the audio message a fraud.

Buhari, according to him, could not have spoken the words contained in the tape because he had it “on good authority” that the President had been “on life support since June 6.”

He told reporters at a so called ‘world press conference’ in Ado Ekiti that he had in his possession 11 photographs  of the President on life support in a London hospital, and would release them to the public ‘soon’.

He said: “The audio message does not represent the truth as our President does not only have voice impairment; he has been on life support since June 6, 2017 at a West-End, London Hospital.

“Of a fact, our First Lady, Mrs. Aisah Buhari was not allowed to see her husband during her last visit to the United Kingdom if only she will be courageous enough to admit.

“Only three Nigerians who are of the President’s cabal are allowed access to the President. I will keep their identities for now.”

As if taking a cue from Fayose, an online publication ran its own account of Buhari’s “bad condition.”

He was not allowed to see “his wife (Aisha) during her recent visit to the United Kingdom,” it said quoting presidency sources.

It also said Buhari had “not spoken to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for several weeks following his departure from Abuja for a second round of medical treatment.

“The sources gave the example of Wednesday last week when members of Buhari’s cabal called the Acting President and asked him to await a call from the ailing President, pointing out that no such call was received except one that was just a few seconds of hellos before the person hung up the phone.”

In a follow up story on Osinbajo’s visit to Buhari in London in early July, the online publication reported that the meeting “lasted for five minutes only according to Presidency officials in the know of what transpired between the two leaders at the Abuja House in London.”

It also said Buhari “has a major difficulty speaking audibly as his treatment continues.”

A few days later, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and Governors Umaru Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi), visited Buhari in London in a bid to put a lie to speculations about the President’s health.

Former Aviation minister and PDP member, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode refused to be persuaded by the photographs of the meeting that went into circulation.

Like Fayose before him, he said they were manipulated.

His ‘sources’, he claimed had told him that the photographs were old ones, taken when Buhari was breaking the fast with the people seen in the photographs.

He had another evidence of the ‘deception’: drinks on the dining table were Nigerian products.

He said: “I have been reliably informed that the picture was taken in Abuja some time back and not yesterday in London.

“Quite apart from that, even though the picture was meant to have been taken in London curiously all the drinks on the table are Nigerian products and Nigerian-made.

“Did the Governors take all those drinks along with them to London when they went to see the President?

“What was the purpose and point of this fake photo-shoot and this strange breakfast meeting? What was the purpose and objective of this monumental fraud and deceit?

“Whatever the answers may be to these questions the curtain must be brought down on what can only be described as a puerile and nauseating conspiracy.

“For those who still believe that the meeting actually took place there are some nagging questions that need to be answered.

“For example why were the Nigerian and foreign media not allowed to cover the proceedings and participate in this celebrated photo-shoot and merry London feast?

“Why did the Villa press corps not take one of their own camera men to London and make a short video of the event?

“Why was the whole event shrouded in so much secrecy? Why is it that only one picture was taken? Why were more pictures not taken? Why was Buhari not put on audio tape and recorded talking to his guests?”

The answer soon came when a delegation of APC and PDP governors left for London to visit Buhari.

Others,  including the Archbishop of Canterbury, members of Buhari’s Media team, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the General Overseer Worldwide of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Adejare Adeboye took turns to bid Buhari get well soon.

In early July, the Senate sparked a controversy of its own when some members moved to make Senate President Bukola Saraki Acting President of the country.

The Red Chamber had, on resumption from a three week recess, received a letter from Osinbajo seeking the confirmation of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, as Director General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

Incidentally, Osinbajo was briefly out of the country that day, prompting Senator Eyinanya Abaribe (Abia South), to say the country had no President or Acting President at that moment.

Saraki appeared to have read the mood of the majority of senators and of the nation and tactically ruled him out of order before the situation could degenerate

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and some Northern youths would not allow the politicians monopolize the limelight.

Kanu, in utter violation of his bail conditions, addressed rally after rally in the South East, insisting that he and the Igbo must get out of Nigeria.

He shut down major towns in the South East on May 30 to mark Biafra day and vowed to stop the November 18 governorship election in Anambra, unless there is a referendum on the future of ‘Biafra’.

In early June, 16 northern youth groups emerging from a joint meeting in Kaduna gave Igbo residing in North up to October 1, 2017 to vacate the region.

In no time, fresh agitation for Nigeria’s restructuring swept through the country.

Even, the North which many Nigerians see as being afraid of restructuring told everyone who cared to listen that it is ready for it.

The Governors of the Northern states and the traditional rulers met in Kaduna and resolved to set up a committee to harmonize the views of the people for action at the appropriate time.

But the hatred sparked by the quit notice has been a little difficult to suppress.

Acting President Osinbajo met with leaders from the North and the South to douse the tension, only for some hate songs to emerge in parts of the country.

There was also a threat by Niger Delta militants to resume hostilities by the end of September if the federal government failed to fulfil its promises to the region.

A similar threat by Niger Delta elders to pull out of further talks with government prompted a peace meeting in Abuja with Osinbajo leading the government delegation.

Agreements were reached, compromises made, and peace returned.

For now, the sticking point in the social sector is the ASUU strike launched last week.

Government has admitted responsibility for failing to meet its part of the agreement earlier reached with the lecturers and now hopes that the teachers will return to the classrooms this week when all the issues in contention will have been sorted out.

http://thenationonlineng.net/while-the-president-was-away/

Anambra Lawyers Blast Nnamdi Kanu, Blame Him Over Ekwulobia Crises

The Anambra State Lawyers in Defence of Democracy [ASLADD] have come down very heavily on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB for attempting to affix culpability on it for the crises that occured at Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area where the Nigerian Police reportedly had a clash with the IPOB who were said to be awaiting the arrival of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for a rally scheduled to hold in the town. Below is the press release by ASLADD as made available to odogwublog in Awka today:

EKWULOBIA CRISES: IPOB IS CONFUSING APPLES WITH ORANGES

The attention of the Anambra State Lawyers in Defence of Democracy [ASLADD] has been drawn to a statement released by Emma Powerful for the IPOB on the clash that was reported to have occurred between the Nigerian Police and some IPOB members at Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. In the said press release, the author labored strenuously to share the culpability of the crises between the DPO of Ekwulobia Police Station and “individuals hiding under non-existent Anambra Lawyers”.

We start by saying that the Anambra State Lawyers in Defence of Democracy [ASLADD] is composed of eminent Legal Practitioners from Anambra State who practice both within and outside the shores of the state. Without mincing words, the foremost consideration that propelled the coming together of these fine minds is to robustly protect democracy in Anambra State which has come under a massive threat by the extra-legal and anarchist method introduced by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his push to carve out an imaginary fiefdom for himself where delusively he would be presiding over his serfs like a feudal emperor who must not be opposed by his subjects without fatal consequences. 

It is rather ridiculous that the author of the IPOB statement claimed that our group is both “faceless” and “non-existent” and yet he labored profusely to apportion blame and culpability to a “non-existent” group. This is purely an inverted logic. It is a matter of ordinary knowledge that lawyers in every society [by virtue of their professional calling and standing] are public figures. True indeed, the Convener of this august assembly is Mr. Johnmary Chukwukasi Jideobi. This is a gentleman committed to the defence of human rights, rule of law and constitutionalism. It is on record that our Convener stood tall and firm in robust defence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu since he was arrested in 2015. As a matter of fact, it was our Convener who put up a pro-bono appearance with Mr. Vincent Obetta on the 17th day of December, 2015 before the Honourable Justice A.F.A. Ademola where the Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was granted bail for the 2nd time.

The records of proceedings in charge no: FHC/ABJ/383/2015 would reveal that our Convener has put up many pro-bono appearances in defence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before the Honourable Justices; A.F.A. Ademola, A.R. Mohammed and James Tsoho. Our Convener has equally on different occasions backed up his courtroom support with strongly-worded letters to President Muhammed Buhari, Chief John Oyegun, National President of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation urging them to see good reasons why the order of court granting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Rtd. Colonel Dasuki and El-Zakzaki bail ought to be respected in total obeisance to the dictates of rule of law and for the preservation of our constitutional democracy.

These tons of letters are readily accessible as they were well published and documented at the offices of their recipients. This is quite apart from the numerous legal articles contributed by our Convener aimed at rallying the support of human rights activists to have Mazi Nnamdi Kanu freed from Kuje. While still in prison, our Convener has had to visit and meet with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on more than five different occasions all in a bid to strategize on how to use the instrumentality of the law to set him free from the gulag. What has our convener not done to have Mazi Nnamdi Kanu breathe the air of freedom he is enjoying today even at a great personal risk [even at a time when even the highest political office holders in the South-East region were shy of identifying with Nnamdi Kanu’s ordeals]. We challenge the IPOB to controvert these hardcore and overwhelming facts. It was William George who once rightly posited that “ingratitude is a crime more despicable than revenge, which is only returning evil for evil, while ingratitude returns evil for good.” 

While Immanuel Kant [German Philosopher] appreciates that “Ingratitude is the essence of vileness”, James Thomas [Scottish Musician] rightly concludes that “Ingratitude is treason to mankind”. It is not surprising to us that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu does not brook the word “gratitude” in his vocabulary of living just as he has sufficiently demonstrated that those core values handed down to us by our forebears that characterize Igbo civilization have evaporated from his menu of manners.

It is therefore rather unfortunate that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu [a huge beneficiary of our legal prowess and professional benevolence] could turn around and accuse our noble body of being responsible for Ekwulobia crises. Yes we dared to challenge him on the futility of his attempt at truncating Anambra election where he has no legitimate interest in whatever becomes the outcome of that democratic exercise. In our considered view, his home state [Abia], with deep humility and respect, needs more help to rescue her from dilapidated infrastructures than our dear Anambra State that currently shines the light in most indices of governance. All this madness being orchestrated by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is ultimately aimed at possibly setting the polity ablaze [using the fuel of hate and intimidating speeches] in the phantom hope that the weighty criminal charges hanging on his neck would drown in the ensuing melee. In achieving this devious intention [which is a mere fishing expedition in the desert], Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would not mind using as many uniformed and less-privileged compatriots as are available as his canon-fodders.

We are compelled to state for the umpteenth time that we shall never fold our alms and watch Mazi Nnamdi Kanu pull our sacred constitution apart, pollute the system with rotten speeches of putrid hatred, acrimonious vituperations and denigrating venoms while pouring acerbic expletives on the foundations of our democracy in a manner that is capable of bringing an organised society to a perilous end. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be rest assured that if we could use our legal arsenal to rescue him from the Kuje gulag after waging a very deadly and fierce legal battle on his behalf against the Federal Government of Nigeria [amidst all odds], we equally have more than what it takes [in our legal armoury] to decisively end his impunity and defend democracy [from his tyranny, imposition and buffoonery] in Anambra State which is our primary constituency. Participating in an election is purely discretionary on the part of the citizens. But we can never accept a situation where Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB is deploying violent means to scare law-abiding Anambrarians away from the polls even to the point of the Kanus repeatedly issuing assassination threat to our Convener for which human rights communities around the globe have adequately been put on notice. 

We hereby re-iterate our call on the relevant authorities to urgently commence a high-powered clinical investigation into the activities of the IPOB. Biafra is a sacred ideology which is not commodious enough to admit acts of outlawry, criminal intimidations and charlatanism under its canopied ambience.

In signing off this statement, we find it so unfortunate and discomforting that the conducts of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has forced us to address him in the very words we addressed President Muhammed Buhari when we wrote him on the 6th of January, 2016 condemning his refusal to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite an existing Court Order. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should listen to this:
“Sir, all the existing Supreme Court authorities and our penal books lean heavily in support of the long-established postulation that disobedience of Court Orders (otherwise called contempt of Court) is an abomination of the rankest specie just as it is an anathema in every democracy worth the name as it holds the key to the floodgates of anarchy and societal destruction. Condemning this cancerous vice, our own Supreme Court, in the case of Hart v. Hart (1991) 21 N.S.C.C. (Pt. 1) 184 at 199, had these unkind words for those who disobey Court orders (contemnors);
“I would like to state that obedience to Orders of Courts is fundamental to the good order, peace and stability of the Nigerian nation. The ugly alternative is a painful recrudescence of triumph of brute force or anarchy, a resort to our old system of settlement by means of bow and arrows, machetes and guns or, now, even more sophisticated weapons of war. 

Disobedience to an order of Court should, therefore, be seen as an offence directed not against the personality of the Judge who made the Order, but as a calculated act of subversion of peace, law, and order in Nigeria society. Obedience to every Order of Court is therefore a duty which every citizen who believes in peace and stability of the Nigerian State owes to the nation. To allow Court orders to be disobeyed would be to tread the road toward anarchy. If orders of the Court can be treated with disrespect, the whole administration of justice is brought into scorn…If the remedies that the Court grants to correct wrongs can be ignored, then, there will be nothing left for each person but to take the law into his own hands. Loss of respect for the Court will quickly result in the destruction of our society.”

How time flies! The same impunity and disobedience of Court Order levied against our president last year is what Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is gleefully practicing today. If Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had obeyed the Ruling of the Court anchoring his bail to many conditions [most of which he has violated even though he earlier agreed to them], the Ekwulobia tragedy would not have occurred. It was in the process of disobeying the Court Order [banning him from organizing and/or attending rallies] that Ekwulobia tragedy eventuated. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his IPOB and the whole world can now see where the culpability of Ekwulobia tragedy lies. Unlike Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB that offered no word(s) of sympathy, encouragement and condolence to the deceased and victims of the 6th August gruesome, mind-boggling and ghoulish butchery at Ozubulu, we [on our part] humbly pray the Good Lord to show mercy to the victim(s) of Ekwulobia tragedy, graciously lift the light of His countenance upon the departed and grant the dead a kind admittance into his kingdom. 
Ozoemezina!.
18th August, 2017.

Video Of President Buhari Addressing The Nation: Nigeria’s Unity Not Negotiable

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said the federal government would not tolerate separatist movements and inflammatory statements that threaten Nigeria unity and stability.

“Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable,” Mr. Buhari said in a nationwide broadcast to the nation Monday morning, two days after returning to the country from the United Kingdom.

The President had been in London for 103 days to treat undisclosed ailment, before returning to Nigeria on Saturday.

In his broadcast, he said his government would not “allow irresponsible elements” to threaten Nigeria’s unity and stability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2_2kYW4eBA