Topic: The Best & The Worst In
Southeast Nigeria: A Comprehensive Review Of Governance Challenges In The
Geopolitical Zone Dating Back To The Second Republic; Among Other Burning
National Issues
(Sharom Hall, Onitsha, Southeast Nigeria: 25th
February 2018)-This media interaction has
become necessary following near total, if not total collapse of quality leadership
and good governance in the Southeast Zone in particular and Nigeria in general;
and the rise and institutionalization of transactional
governance and bad leadership. According to the Scripture, where good leaders are in charge, people and
their society rejoice and prosper.
Qualities Of An Accomplished Leader In Public
Office
As embedded in the tradition of modern
democracy or limited government and clearly defined in the Mo Ibrahim Prize for
Achievement in African Leadership (MIPAAL)), an accomplished leader is (a) that serving executive leader or former executive leader who, under challenging circumstances,
develops or developed his or her social clime and strengthens or strengthened
democracy, good governance and human rights for the shared benefit of his or
her people, paving the way for sustainable and equitable growth, development
and prosperity of his or her people and their society.
Other qualities of an
accomplished leader in executive position are (b) his or her exceptional role
models for his or her society and people; and (c) ensuring that his or her society and people
continue to benefit from the experience and wisdom of his or her exceptional
leadership during his or her term and after he or she had left national or
sub-national office; thereby making him or her an irreplaceable role model and
public roles player in his or her immediate society and beyond. Such a
charismatic leader must at all times during his or her stay in office, use the
public funds for public good and ensure the putting of smiles on the faces
of majority, if not most of his or her
own people.
12 (Twelve)
Core Achievement Parameters Of A Democratic Leader
According to Intersociety (2017), there are twelve (12) core achievement
parameters for an accomplished democratic leader especially in developing
countries or their sub-national entities. They are (a) winning
of election by popular votes (input legitimacy), (b) ability of the elected to
serve the people in the context of service to humanity (as opposed to
transactional governance), (c) avoidance
of call to squander and heeding of call to serve, (d) formation of a sizeable
cabinet composed of persons of conscience; with technical expertise in various
sectors of public governance, (e) a cabinet type devoid of favoritism and
nepotism.
Others are: (f) financial prudency or fiscal
responsibility and maintenance of a moderate monthly wage bill, (g) drastic
reduction in governance running costs most especially in the areas of security
votes and overheads and allowances of the political appointees, (h) near zero
or zero debts culture and ability to adequately mobilize both statutory and non
statutory (non loan funds) within and outside the country for massive capital
development of the governing area.
The rest are (i) aggressive or multi sectoral and
infrastructural development and provision, delivery and sustenance of social services and
public utilities, (j) provision of enabling environment and social incentives
for the FDI inflows, private sector participation and general wellbeing of the
citizenry including security and welfare (human security), (k)periodic justice
sector reform, promotion and advancement
of human rights and (l) rendering the account of stewardship at the end
of every fiscal year and elected tenure.
Understanding Concept Of Human Security
By Human Security, it is a seven
dimensional approach to security and welfare of the citizens and a radical
departure from over-reliance on traditional AK-47 or gun culture monopolization
of security or security concept. It is also called “Peopling Security”. For
more details, see the UNDP’s Human Dev Report of 1994 via: http://www.thefullwiki.org/Human_security.
Public Governance As Social Contract
In his 1690
famous book called the Second Treatise of Civil Government, John Locke saw and
called for a situation where a free, equal and independent people agreed
to be governed in return for certain secure enjoyment for their individual
rights, which the courts and police powers of a government can enforce leading
to every free individual having a moral right to be protected from arbitrary
interference by government or other individuals, of his or her sacred rights.
The
visionary and philosophical work of John Locke led to the enactment of the
famous Social Contract, contained in the US Independence Declaration speech of July
6, 1776 and its Constitution as follows:
We hold
these truths to be self evident that all men (and women) are created equal and
endowed with certain natural and inalienable rights, and most important being
of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And to protect these rights, men
set up government whose authority rests on their consent.
And whenever
a government ceases to do what it has been set up for, its citizens have a
right to change it or its order and put in place a new government or a new
order that will provide for their safety and happiness.
Social
Contract In Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution
In the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria 1999, as amended, the Service
to Humanity or Social Contract obligations (duties of public governance
administrators) of Nigeria’s 17, 500 Public Office Holders are clearly
provided in the Chapter Two or Fundamental
Objectives & Directive Principles of State Policy.
Specifically, by Section 17 of the Chapter Two,
otherwise called “the Charter of Responsibilities for the
Public Office Holders in Nigeria”; “the State Social Order is founded on
ideals of Freedom, Equality and Justice”; 17(2) “in furtherance of this social
order: (a) every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and
opportunities before the law”; 17 (2) (b) “the sanctity of human person shall
be recognized and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced”; 17 (2) (c) “government
actions shall be humane”
By
Section 17 (2) (d) “exploitation of human and natural resources in any form
whatsoever for reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be
prevented”; and 17 (2) (e) “the independence, impartiality and integrity of
courts of law, and easy accessibility thereto shall be secured and maintained”.
Also by
Section 14 of the same Constitutional Charter of Responsibilities, “the Federal
Republic of Nigeria shall be a State base on Principles of Democracy and Social
Justice”; 14 (2) it is hereby
declared that sovereignty belongs to the People of Nigeria from whom government
through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; 14 (2) (b) the
security and welfare of the People (human security) shall be the primary
purpose of the Government; and 14 (2) (c) “the participation by the People
in their Government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution”.
Further,
by Section 14 (3) of the referenced Charter of Responsibilities in the Constitution,
“the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and
the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect
the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and
also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no
predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other
sectional groups in that Government or any of its agencies”.
By
Section 15 (1), “the motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity
and Faith, Peace and Progress”; 15 (2) accordingly, “national integration shall
be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of
origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall
be prohibited”. By Section 10 of the same Constitution, the Government of the Federation or of a
State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.
Grandly,
by Section 13 of the same Constitutional Chapter Two, it shall be the duty
and responsibility of all organs of government, and of all authorities and
persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to,
observe and apply the provisions of this Chapter (Two) of this Constitution.
Social Contract As Condition For Indivisibility And
Indissolubility Of Nigeria
In
summation, therefore, the oneness, indivisibility and indissolubility of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria as contained in Section 2 of the Constitution
can never have any effect or be validated unless they are mandatorily linked
and grounded in Social Contract
clearly entrenched in the sections and their subs highlighted above. In the
event of default in same by the public office holders manning executive,
legislative and judicial powers of the government in the country or any part
thereof, the oneness, indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria become
totally challenged and unrealizable.
Institutionalization & Codification Of Theft Of Public
Funds In Nigeria
In the
past, especially during the days of Nuhu Ribadu’s EFCC, stealers of public
funds used both conventional and unconventional means to siphon their looted funds
and stash them abroad and skeletally invest some within through phony names or
proxies; but today, they invest substantial part of same locally even while in
office. That is to say that in today’s Nigeria under Buhari’s Presidency;
corruption is not only institutionalized but also fully codified and
domesticated.
It is
a fact that three out of every five major investments in today’s Nigerian
quoted investments, banking, real estate and other choice properties; oil and
gas including petroleum filling stations; private universities and first class
colleges; hotels, student hostels, shopping/market plazas, industries including
industrial farms; media (print, radio, television and web); and palatial
private houses etc are circumstantially linked to a serving or former governor;
or a serving or former top federal public office holder including Minister; or
a State/Federal legislator; or a serving State Commissioner; or a State/Federal
top Judicial Officer; or a serving/retired top Police or Military formation
Commander; especially from the rank of Police Superintendent and above; and Lt
Col and above or its equivalent in other military or para-military
organizations; all gotten through stolen public funds.
These
stolen public funds are stolen through codified corrupt policies and practices
of security votes, over-bloated
allowances and overheads as well as
over-bloated severance packages (for retiring and retired public office
holders especially at the State and Federal levels). Through criminal processes such as illicit oil and currency
exchange deals; contract kickbacks, borrowing and debt services kickbacks, over-invoicing, inflation of contracts, white
elephant contracts; and siphoning, misappropriation and looting of public funds,
etc; billions of dollars of public funds statutorily meant for public good are
stolen annually from public coffers and criminally cornered, invested and
privatized.
It is
also a fact that 98% of the country’s serving and former public office holders
are living far beyond their statutory incomes and legitimate lifestyles. The
worse of it all is that billions of dollars and their local currency
equivalents are borrowed locally and internationally by National and
Sub-National Governments in Nigeria; only for 70% of the budgets substantially
financed through the borrowed sums to be squandered in over-bloated recurrent
expenditures especially through codified criminal processes of security votes, overheads and allowances of
the country’s 17, 500 top public office holders and national and sub-national
senior public/civil servants.
How Public Office Holders Squander Funds Meant For Public
Good In Nigeria
For clarity,
there are 17, 500 top public office holders in Nigeria including 11,278
supposedly elected Local Government chairpersons, their deputies and
councilors; 1, 695 elected public officers at Federal and State levels and
4,500 appointed top public officials at Federal and State levels; excluding
their public and civil servants, squandering over N1.2trillion annually in
salaries and allowances alone. The N1.2trillion excludes annual overhead costs
of the public offices manned by the 17,500 public office holders. For more
details, see Salaries & Wages Commission reports.
Specifically,
there are around 4000 State elected and appointed public office holders
including 1,152 State legislators and about 1500 top Federal elected and
appointed public office holders including 469 Federal legislators. These 17,
500 top public office holders in Nigeria exclude tens of thousands of other
political appointees below the rank of special
advisers. Over 1300 of them presently serve under Gov William Obiano of
Anambra State majorly as Special
Assistants (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs). These categories of privileged Nigerians found in Nigeria’s
three tiers of government (federal, states and local governments) are
responsible for squandering billions of dollars meant for good governance and
public good in the country on annual basis and over the years.
It is terribly
shocking that the servicing of Nigeria’s 1,500 top federal public office
holders and battalions of their aides; in addition to 90,000 federal civil
servants as well as less than 700,000 policing and security personnel gulp 70%
of Nigeria’s federal net annual budget. Yet the meager 30% left to service the
remaining population of over 175million is still tempered with through theft of
public funds. It is so bad that of the entire remunerations of the named public
officials and civil servants, 90% is spent on their allowances excluding overheads,
whereas only 10% goes to their statutory salaries.
For instance, according to Nigeria’s Salaries
and Wages Commission, out of N40.9billion spent on 1,152 State legislators
annually, only N5.09billion is spent on their salaries, while a whopping sum of
N35.8billion goes to their allowances; out of N550billion spent on 11, 278
elected LGA officials annually, only N49.5billion is spent on their salaries
and staggering N500.5billion is spent on their allowances; and out of N90billion
spent on 469 federal legislators annually, only N10billion is spent on their
salaries. These categories of allowances and their cash values have since been
catapulted or reviewed upwards.
Short Statistics On Squander-mania In Nigeria’s Public
Sector
According
to Intersociety (2017), Nigeria,
including its three tiers of government (Federal, States and LGAs) had in the
past 15 years: 2003 to 2017; budgeted and squandered $680billion (N238trillion)
with little or nothing to show for it in terms of good governance and public
good. Intersociety’s investigation further disclosed that $624billion was
budgeted and squandered between 2003 and 2016, while over $56billion including
Federal Government’s budget of about $25billion for 2017 was budgeted and
squandered by all tiers of Government in 2017.
Substantial
part of these national, sub-national and residual budgets since 2003 was
financed from local and international borrowings or loans. For more details,
see Intersociety’s letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, dated 5th
February 2016 and titled: How Nigeria
Spent $624 billion or N124.8 trillion in 14years (2003-2016) and Borrowed $50
billion in Ten Years (2007-2016). The update is calculated using N305 for
$US. The research letter followed the AGF’s false public disclosure at a public
function in Abuja in 2016 that “EFCC had recovered over $2trillion from looters
since its creation in 2004”.
By the
end of 2018 Fiscal Year, the Buhari Administration must have borrowed over $33
billion locally and internationally since June 2015; having borrowed over $25
billion as at 2017 and must borrow at least $8 billion loans to fund its
heavily deficit federal budget of 2018; amounting to over N8 trillion or $27
billion. At the end, over 70% of the budget will be squandered on over bloated
recurrent expenditures particularly allowances and overheads as well as
questionable debt servicing and their conditions.
Linking Governance Failure To Squander-mania & Bad
Leadership In Nigeria
Totality
of the above; in addition to maddening profligacy and rabid corruption in
government quarters is responsible for chronic mass poverty and
under-development in Nigeria including the Southeast Zone. Nigeria as a country
is not destined to fail or be impoverished, but it is badly afflicted by bad
leadership; leading to near total, if not total collapse of good governance and
quality and enviable leadership. Lack of charismatic and visionary leaders has
also plunged the country into chronic and intractable ethno-religious divisions
especially under the present Administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
Apart
from over 90% of all important federal security, policing and political
appointments occupied by members of Northern Muslims, contrary to Section 14
(3) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution; ethno-religious animosity is promoted or
encouraged by the State; to the extent that killing of Nigerian Christians by
the Muslim Fulani extremists is encouraged, condoned and protected by the
Administration especially through its policy of Cattle Colony or Cattletocracy.
The
two insurgencies going on in Nigeria are originally targeted at Christians,
their properties and holy places of worship with over 14,000 churches and 1500
Christian schools already razed in Northern Nigeria and tens of thousands of
Christian lives lost in the past nine years (2009-2017).
The
country is so polarized, unstable and unsecure that direly needed huge direct
foreign investments (FDIs) and effective participation by indigenous private
sector and their output employment opportunities are nowhere to be found. The
duo is the largest employer of labor in the world over. Yet few local investors
that dare to invest and operate in Nigeria are threatened and persecuted by the
State; except those who cover the dirty deals of some leading government
appointees or carry their baggage.
The
economy particularly the power sector is still in shambles; with only less than
4000 megawatts of electricity generated in the country of over 175million as
against that of Iran which has 60,000 megawatts generated for its 80miilion
people. Youth unemployment in Nigeria has reached an all time high of over 50%
compared to Iran’s 26%.
Just
recently, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) startlingly disclosed that
4.7million Nigerians lost their jobs between January and September 2017 and
7.9million lost theirs in the past 21months of 2016-2017. Insecurity has not
only risen to an apogee, but further worsened by the State which now turns the
State armory against unarmed and defenseless citizens; killing and maiming them
with reckless abandon and unabatedly.
Governance & Leadership Failure In Southeast Nigeria
Having
effectively highlighted the conventional, international and constitutional
parameters of good governance and charismatic leadership above, in addition to
statistical breakdown of untamed squander-mania and monumental governance
failure in Nigeria’s public sector including Southeast Zone, we are
particularly deeply saddened over the near total, if not total collapse of good
governance and visionary leadership in the Southeast Zone.
This
explains why we chose to organize this media briefing and interaction with Gentlemen
and Ladies of the Media. The briefing and interaction are in furtherance of the
constitutional duties of the media and rights CSOs as contained in Sections 22
(role of the mass media in the promotion of good governance), 24 (duty of the
citizenry) and 39 (freedom of expression) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as
amended).
It is
therefore no longer news and new that good governance and charismatic
leadership have eluded the Southeast Zone. The Zone is now shackled by transactional governance and chronic bad
leadership. As a matter of fact, corridors of power in the Southeast are
now majorly under the grip of The
Anarchists. Art of governance has
become transaction of businesses in the corridors of power and shameless
display of political rascality and immorality.
Many,
if not most of the legislators in the Geopolitical Zone are no longer
legislating and checkmating the executives for good governance and public good,
but transacting by cornering public funds into moveable and immoveable investments.
Use of public funds for public good is now strange and has become a thing of
the past in the Zone. Many, if not most State and Federal House legislators in
the Southeast Zone now operate or own private revenue windows and taskforces.
It is
so sad, shocking and disappointing that some university professors and their
likes in social settings have now become shoe shiners, dusters of files,
carriers of bags, personal assistants and private secretaries to these anarchists and renegades
masquerading as executive and legislative
public office holders in Nigeria particularly in the Southeast Geopolitical
Zone.
We
therefore have strongly resolved to revisit and review critically; social,
economic, political and security and safety developments in Southeast Zone in
the past years including 2017. The events being revisited and reviewed are
public interest oriented. The roles played by their key players are evaluated
and rated as the best and the worst in
the Southeast (1980s – 2017); involving
the serving and former executive or public governance, social services and
security administrators in the Zone in the past years including 2017.
Identification And Celebration Of Few Best Hands In The
Southeast
Those
with outstanding performances in ensuring provision and delivery of human security (i.e. personal security,
food security, health security, environmental security, economic security,
community security and political security) as well as public decency and
accountability in governance to the People of Southeast in part or in whole;
are rated and celebrated as the best
personalities of the Southeast Zone (1980s -2017). The public officers so
named or recognized are the serving or retired or living or dead (posthumous)
public office holders from the Zone; who are serving or had served in executive
public offices.
Their
recognition and celebration have become compelling following the sorry state of
governance and its peripherals in the Zone. In progressive and prospering social
climes, achievers and charismatic leaders are celebrated and worshipped as
religion and legends; but in Nigeria of today especially under Buhari’s
Presidency, such leaders are not only rarely found, but also mocked and hated
when found especially by members of the political class or political elites. It
is so bad that decency and outstanding achievement no longer have a place in
Nigeria’s political space. Failures are beatified and canonized while
achievements and their achievers are demonized and marked for destruction.
It is
also no longer hidden that membership of political class in the Zone is now
dominated and held by jugulars by the
black sheep of the society; thereby making good governance and charismatic
leadership attainment an act of impossibility. It is so bad that any
conscientious political player that operates in the opposite direction while in
office (i.e. provides good governance and quality leadership) instantly draws
the untamed anger of the immoral members of the political class and marked for
total destruction. He or she is further seen and treated as a leper or a deviant.
A
clear case in point is the attacks and destructive conspiracies against former
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State by members of the political class; just
because he insisted on using public funds for public good during his days as
the democratically elected Governor of Anambra State (2006-2014). His
remarkable transformation of the State has, till date, not gone down well with
the political elites who attacked him for “making them hungry” during his
tenure; instead of allowing them access to public funds to loot and plunder at
the teething expense of the People of the State in particular and the Southeast
in general.
Obi’s
achievements in office are second to none since the days of late Dede Sam
Mbakwe in old Imo State (present Imo and Abia State and a part of Ebonyi State)
and Chief Jim Nwobodo in old Anambra State (present Enugu and Anambra States
and larger part of Ebonyi State).
At the
level of Intersociety and SBCHROs, therefore, we must at all times insist on
celebrating and immortalizing the achievers of our time especially in the
Southeast Zone. To this effect, the trio of late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe (from
Avutu-Obowo, Imo State), Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo (Nkanu, Enugu State)
and Chief Peter Gregory Onwubuashi Obi (Agulu, Anambra State) must at all times
make the hall of fame as the great achievers of our time during their days as
democratically elected Governors of old Imo and Anambra and present Anambra
States.
If it
is to be in other social climes, these great leaders and achievers (noted are
minuses in Chief Jim Nwobodo’s present reputation and integrity) will eternally
be celebrated and immortalized. University faculties, research centers, care or
charity foundations and public monuments will be named after them. Their
achievements in office would also have been theorized and developed into
courses of study in the tertiary institutions.
Those
of them still living would have been made visiting
or guest lecturers and professors in some reputable universities particularly
those in their localities. They would also have been invited to chair or sit in
the boards of regional and int’l multibillion dollar companies and highly
respected and influential foundations and bodies.
Borrowing From Mo Ibrahim Prize For Achievement In African
Leadership
This
position of ours, therefore, is partly borrowed from the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in
African Leadership, created in 2007 by Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) which awards
a $5 million initial payment, and a $200,000 annual payment for life to African
heads of state who deliver security, health, education and economic development
to their constituents and democratically transfer power to their successors;
especially before or after three years of leaving office. Mr. Mo Ibrahim is a
Sudanese-British billionaire and former owner of the Celtel Communications; who
sold it in 2005 to set up Mo Ibrahim Foundation and Prize for Achievement in
African Leadership.
Chaired by Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim-a former Secretary General
of OAU (now AU), the Award had produced only six Winners or Laureates since
then; namely: President Joaquim Alberto
Chisano of Mozambique (2007), President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela of South
Africa (honorary-2007), President Festus Gontebanye Mogae of Botswana (2008),
President Pedro De Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde (2011), President
Hifikepunge Pohamba of Namibia (2014) and the immediate past first female
President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (2017). In 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, the
MIF Prize Committee chaired by Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania, after
in-depth review, uncompromisingly, did not find a winner.
As leaders
of rights CSOs and unrivalled conscience of our modern society, we must insist
on good governance and remarkable leadership in the Southeast Zone. We must at
all times identify, recognize, celebrate and immortalize those with
accomplished records in leadership especially the holders of executive offices.
When men and women of evil-will strive to demonize and destroy the achievers of
our time, we must rise with one voice and offer them encouragement, protection,
celebration and immortalization.
Remembering Detained & Persecuted Pro
Biafra Activists
Noted too,
is the need to recognize, celebrate and immortalize the slain and persecuted citizens
of the Southeast Zone in 2017. The persecuted
include Citizens Benjamin Mmadubugwu (detained since July 2015 over
allegation of unlawful possession of un-prohibited firearms or Pump Action or
gaming guns as well as conspiracy to commit treasonable felony) and Dave
Nwawuisi (detained since October 2015 over allegation of illegal importation of
goods and conspiracy to commit treasonable felony).
Citizen
Chidiebere Onwudiwe was also arrested and detained since June 2016 over
allegation of illegal importation of goods and conspiracy to commit treasonable
felony and Bright Chimezie (detained since September 2016 till date by SSS over
allegation of conspiracy to commit treasonable felony).
Over 82
others including minors and married women are held at Port Harcourt
Maximum Prisons (15 detainees), Ahoada Prisons (20 detainees) and Degema
Prisons (10 detainees) all in Rivers State. Others are one detainee with a
severe eye injury at Amawbia Prisons in Anambra State; 33 detainees including
minors and one Ms Ada Nnude (a female detainee) at Aba Prisons in Aba State as
well as 4 detainees at Enugu Prisons. We also have it on good authority that
scores have disappeared or are held in secret detention facilities particularly
manned by secret and plain police formations in Nigeria; with their identities
shrouded in secrecy till date.
These
persecuted detainees are detained without formal trial or dumped at pre-trial
stages by the Buhari Administration since 2015, 2016 and 2017 over offenses
that are not more five years prison term on court conviction. The Buhari
Administration in a panicky move to truncate and pervert local and int’l
justice and shield the perpetrators turned around and retroactively tagged them
“terrorists” in September 2017. The detainees are unarmed and defenseless
citizens violently arrested for their involvement in nonviolent pro Biafra
agitations in Southeast and South-south Nigeria between 2015 and 2017.
Remembering Slain Pro Igbo-Biafra Activists
Remembered
are slain unarmed and defenseless citizens of Southeast Zone in their
productive age; with their numbers estimated at not less than 100. This is in
addition to over 270 others earlier shot and killed between 30th
August 2015 and 20th January 2017. The estimated 100 slain Igbo
citizens were shot at close range and killed vicariously by the Chief of Army
Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai and directly by men and officers of the
Nigerian Army during the bloody or violent military invasion of Abia State,
between 12th and 14th September 2017.
Most, if not
all the killings took place in Aba, Isi-ala Ngwa and Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia,
all in Abia State. The leadership of IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) said: “the
Nigerian Army killed 305 of our members in Abia State in two days on 12th
and 14th September 2017”. Scores of others were also shot and
maimed. The Nigerian security forces led by the Army had earlier between 30th
August 2015 and 20th January 2017 shot at close range and killed not
less than 270 unarmed and defenseless citizens of Southeast Zone and terminally
wounded over 370 others.
Most of
those slain citizens of the Southeast also constitute bulk of the victims of disappearances across the country; perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, SSS
and SARS operatives. On 1st June 2016, not less than 120 of them
were criminally buried inside one of the two military cemeteries located inside
Onitsha Military Cantonment under civilian and authority supervision of a
serving Commissioner in the present Government of Anambra State.
They were
shot and killed on 29th and 30th May 2016 at Nkpor and
Onitsha in Anambra State. Their remains were lumped in about 15 shallow graves
and possibly decimated with raw acid substances to erase evidential traces. Not
less than 30 others were shot and killed at Asaba spillover military shootings
and killings on the same 30th May 2016; with many later buried
around Asaba Air Port Road on 26th June 2016 after they were removed
from the Asaba Federal Medical Center morgue.
Remembering Wounded Victims Of State Violence
& Ors
Remembered,
too, are the wounded victims of State violence, the physically challenged and
the destitute in the Southeast Zone. It must be remembered that the very reason
why democracy or limited government was founded was to cater at all times for
the welfare of the named three citizen categories and the rest of the
downtrodden, but in Nigeria especially in the Southeast Zone, they are totally
neglected and abandoned by the Government and its deviant operators especially
the Governors.
There are
over 400 wounded victims of State violence in Southeast Nigeria. Scores of them
have died from their gunshot wounds while several others are crippled or
disabled for life. Most of them were shot and terminally wounded by the
Nigerian security forces especially the Nigerian Army between 30th
August 2015 and 14th September 2017 in different parts of Southeast;
and Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers States all in South-south
Nigeria. Nigerian Government not only
refused to treat them but totally abandoned them without adequate compensations
till date.
There are
tens of thousands of non-mercantilist Street destitute and physically
challenged citizens with hundreds of thousands of their dependants especially
children roaming about major streets in the Southeast Zone. According to
Intersociety, most of these abandoned children constitute the bulk of children of the street (under-age beggars
and hawkers) and children in the street (permanently live or wallow in the
streets outside or without their families).
Most of
these children or the Street under-age population in the Southeast have dropped
out of school or not gone to school at all; except roaming about the streets of
the Southeast. Striking among these destitute are the destitute of Uga Junction pedestrian Bridge at Bridgehead end of
the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway in Onitsha. The social welfare of the physically
challenged persons and the destitute in the Southeast is nothing to write home
about.
Failed Public Utilities Providers In
Southeast
Reviewed in
the past years including 2017 are criminal and failed roles of some persons and
corporate bodies entrusted with the responsibilities of provision, delivery and
maintenance of social services including public utilities in the Southeast
Zone. One of such bodies is the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC);
mandated by the Federal Government via an operating license to provide quality
and steady electricity to the people and properties in the Southeast Zone. The
EEDC is one of the makers of our hall of shame and has emerged the worst social
services or public utilities provider in the Southeast Zone in the periods
under review including 2017.
Regime And
Regime-Aided Atrocities Beyond Borders Of The Southeast
Beyond the Southeast Zone, we are not unaware
of the Federal Government condoned mass killings of thousands of defenseless
citizens with full Jihadist coloration and intents. The Buhari Administration
is also directly responsible for the death of 1130 Shiite Muslims between
December 2015 and November 2017 and shot and wounded over 400 others
(Intersociety 2017).
The terrorist Fulani Herdsmen, on their part,
who have President Muhammadu Buhari as their lifetime national grand patron
(under Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria-MACBAN); have
systematically massacred most of not less than 350 defenseless Christians and
Christian-Farmers in the months of December 2017 and January 2018 in the States
of Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Taraba States and Christian dominated Southern
Kaduna in Kaduna State. Several churches and other Christian holy places of
worship were also burnt to ashes or razed to rubbles. In January 2018 alone,
over 250 mostly Christians were slaughtered by terror Fulani Herdsmen and Boko
Haram.
For
more details, see the reports of local branches of the Christian Association of
Nigeria-CAN and indigenous associations over the killing of Christians in the
three States including Southern Kaduna, which also lost over 800 Christians in
the Christmas period of 2016. The systematic killing of Christians is also
extended to Plateau and Nasarawa States and other parts of the North with large
Christian populations. This is nothing short of repetition of generational
massacre and cleansing of once dominant Christian populations in Turkey,
Lebanon and Asyut in Egypt centuries of years ago by Islamic Jihadists backed
by the State.
For more details on killing of not less than
350 Christians in the months of December 2017 and January 2018; and killing of
over 250 mostly Christians in the month of January 2018 alone all in Northern
Nigeria by the duo of terror Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram, see the text of a
press conference addressed by the leadership of CAN in Adamawa State, led by
Rev Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, delivered on Wednesday, 10th January
2018; on the spate of violence &
terror killings unleashed upon Christian/Farming Communities in Adamawa State.
Also see the text of a world press conference
addressed by the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria,
through its Secretary General, Rev Musa Asake, PhD, on Tuesday, 16th
January 2018 at the National Christian Centre, Abuja Nigeria on: Federal Government’s conspiracy in the
massacre of Christians in Nigeria; as well as that addressed on same 16th
January 2018 by the leadership of CAN in Taraba State on massacre of Christians
in the State by terror Fulani Herdsmen.
The texts showed that at least 70 Christians
lost their lives to terror Fulani Jihadists between 25th December
2017 and 10th January 2018 in Adamawa State alone with over 10
churches burnt to ashes. This excludes “not less than 150 Christian lives lost
before the last Xmas festivities in the State”, according to the State
leadership of CAN.
In Benue State, not less than 73 dead bodies
of Christians killed by terror Fulanis on 1st and 2nd
January 2018 were recently interred. Several churches were also burnt or razed
to rubbles. In Taraba State, according to the State leadership of CAN and
Governor Darius Ishaku, not less than 63 Christian lives were lost and buried
in January 2018.
As reported by Punch Newspaper of 2nd
February 2018, the Governor of Taraba State had during an official visit by the
national leadership of his party (PDP) disclosed that “63 people (Christians)
killed by Fulani Herdsmen were buried in the State the same day the Benue State
Government buried 73 people (Christians) killed by the same Fulani Herdsmen”.
The Benue killings took place on 1st
and 2nd January 2018. The Governor further disclosed that police
authorities hardly respond to distress calls by the Government of Taraba State;
saying police in his State had insisted that police intervention arising from
such distress calls must be authorized by the Inspector General of Police.
Specifically, the killings by the duo of
Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram in recent weeks clearly indicate that not less
than 250 defenseless citizens mostly Christians died in the month of January
2018 alone. Boko Haram Islamist insurgents account for at least 40 deaths,
while the terror Fulani Herdsmen account for the rest. Amnesty Int’l also notes
that “at least 168 people have died in Herdsmen violence since January 2018”.
In 2017, Amnesty Int’l says “Boko Haram insurgents killed at least 411 people
in Nigeria in 75 attacks”.
In Adamawa State, according to Amnesty Int’l,
86 Christian farmers including not less than 35 killed by Government jet
bombing were killed on 4th December 2017 and later buried in
individual graves (58 bodies) and mass graves (28 bodies).
The killing of the Numan Christians was done
and coordinated simultaneously by the Nigerian jet fighters and the terror
Fulani Herdsmen. While the Nigerian Air Force, according to Amnesty Int’l
report was bombing the Christian villages and killing defenseless Christian
population including women and children using rockets and bombs; the Fulani
Herdsmen simultaneously launched bloody attacks on the same population,
shooting and slaughtering women, children, men and the elderly in their dozens.
The lists of 86 dead victims from the
simultaneous Air Force and terror Fulani Herdsmen attacks obtained by Amnesty
Int’l showed that 51 dead victims had gun shots and machete wounds while 35 others
bore wounds of air strike attacks. Amnesty Int’l says 3000 homes were razed in
air attacks launched on five Numan villages of Lawaru, Dong, Kodomti, Shafaron
and Nzuruwei. In all, Amnesty Int’l says eight villages were heavily damaged or
completely destroyed by air strike fire. Credit: Intersociety 2018.
In Nasarawa State, according to the combined
reports of the Open Doors Int’l, the
Religion of Peace and the Jihad Watch, dated 18th February 2018;
15 Christian villages and nine churches were razed or burnt to ashes with
dozens of Christians killed by terror Fulani Herdsmen in sustained violence and
attacks against Christian communities and their sacred places of worship that
started since 15th January 2018.
Estimated 16,000 defenseless citizens, according
to Intersociety’s findings (2018), have been killed by the trio of Nigerian
security forces especially the Army; the terror Fulani Herdsmen and the Boko
Haram insurgents since the assumption of office by Retired Major Gen Muhammadu
Buhari as the sixth civilian President of Nigeria on 29th May 2015;
a period of 32 months or 960 days: on monthly average death of 500 citizens.
This is the highest criminal death rate in the shortest period of time (June
2015-January 2018 or in 32 months) in the history of non-civil war Nigeria
since 1960.
Intersociety gave the breakdown of the
killings as (1) State Actor Generated
Killings 10, 000 Involving: direct State murders: 2,050 citizens; comprising
unarmed and defenseless Igbo-Biafra activists and supporters 400 citizens;
unarmed and defenseless Shiite Muslims 1,130; civilian detainees at Giwa Army
Barracks in Maiduguri including 29 Children with ages between newborn and 5yrs
240 civilians (see Amnesty Int’l Special Report on Nigeria for 2016/2017).
There was
also killing of 236 defenseless
Christian IDPs at a Rann Christian IDP in Kala-Balge LGA in Borno State
via the Nigerian war jets bombing in the broad day light of 17th Jan
2017; and over 50 Christians killed in another premeditated bombing of
Christian villages of Lawaru, Dong and Kodomti in Numan, Adamawa State by an
Alpha Jet and an EC 135 attack Helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.
The bombing and killings took place on 4th December 2017. See the
text of the CAN’s international press
conference, dated 16th January 2018 and the latest report by Amnesty
Int’l, Nigeria-3oth January 2018.
2. Police custodial and captivity deaths 7,950
(on national monthly average deaths of 250 detained or captivity citizens and
seven per State since June 2015). The deaths arose from police racial profiling
and unprofessional crime detection and criminal investigation management. See
Intersociety’s expert report on police custodial killings in Nigeria: the Untold Story of Ezu River Police SARS
Killings (July 20, 2017).
3. Non State
Actor/Government backed ethno-religious killings 5,800 (since June 2015) perpetrated
by the duo of terror Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents; comprising 3,
750 all Christians killed by the terror
Fulani Herdsmen and 2, 050 mostly
Christians killed by Boko Haram insurgents; with several churches and
properties burnt or destroyed.
4. Other 200 criminal deaths-represent the dark figures of crime or
criminal deaths not captured or recorded by State actor or non State actor
crime statistics.
In all, see Intersociety’s
11-page letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated 6th February
2018 and titled: Christians At Crossroads In
Nigeria: How Hundreds Of Churches & Estimated 16,000 Mostly Christian Lives
Including 5,800 Victims Of Fulani Herdsmen And Boko Haram Were Lost Since June
2015.
Till date and since June 2015,
not a single member of the Armed Forces particularly the Army and Air Force, or
the Police; or an official of MACBAN or culpable Fulani Jihadist has been
apprehended by the Federal Government of Nigeria and put on trial over the
killings highlighted above. Instead, the Administration keeps setting up one
exonerative and lame duck panel or the other especially as it concerns the
military atrocities against Shiites and pro Biafra activists. To fully shield
itself and its atrocious security
officials, the Buhari Administration turned around and
declared Shiite Muslims and pro Biafra agitators as “threat to national
security” and “terrorists” respectively.
Remembering Slain Shiite Muslims
& Sheik Ibrahim Zaky el-Zaky & Ors
Remembered
also is the continued solitary confinement in the custody of SSS of the leader
of the Shiite Muslims in Nigeria, Sheik Zaky Ibrahim El-Zaky and his
wife-Malama Zeenatu by the Buhari Administration. The unarmed and defenseless
husband and wife had been held by SSS without trial since 14th
December 2015; a period of over 800 days; after being shot severally at close
range and inflicted with terminal injuries by Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai
(vicariously) and the Nigerian Army during violent crackdown on Shiites on 12th
and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Over 1000
unarmed and defenseless Shiite faithful were shot and killed on 12th
and 14th December 2015 by the Nigerian Army led by Lt Gen Tukur
Yusuf Buratai. The IMN leader also lost three of his sons (Hamad, Aliyu and
Humaid) as well as his 70yr old elder sister (Fatima) to Buratai’s men on the
spot same day. The violent crackdown on Shiites has continued into this 2018
with no end in sight.
Recognizing
And Celebrating Best Personalities And Achievers Of Our Time In The Southeast
·
Late Chief Sam Mbakwe (Posthumous Greater
Personality of the Southeast Zone)
For his outstanding governance achievements
and charismatic leadership as the democratically elected Governor of old Imo
State-1979-1983.
His achievements were striking in: education,
health, agriculture and poultry, water, environment, tourism, industry and creation of employment opportunities
through then direct industrialization policy of the government; public decency,
fiscal responsibility, massive infrastructural developments and provision and
delivery of social services.
·
Chief Jim Nwobodo (Great Personality of the
Southeast Zone)
For his outstanding governance achievements
and charismatic leadership strictly during his days as the democratically
elected Governor of old Anambra State-1979-1983.
His achievements were striking in: education,
health, agriculture, water, environment, tourism, industry and creation of
employment opportunities through then direct industrialization policy of the
government; massive infrastructural developments and provision and delivery of
social services
·
Chief Peter Gregory Obi (Greatest Personality
of the Southeast Zone & Executive Leadership Man of the Year since the Forth Republic or 1999).For his
multi-sectoral approaches to governance and outstanding achievements in office
during his days as the democratically elected Governor of Anambra State- 2006-2014.
His
achievements were strikingly anchored on Human Security by way of provision of
quality education and health; agriculture, tourism, industry and creation of
employment opportunities through PPP and private sector involvement or indirect industrialization policy of the
government; FDI inflows and provision of
industrial incentives; massive infrastructural development including massive
road construction and bridges; social development and provision and delivery of
social services.
Included in
his achievement list are civil
service productivity including liquidation of LGA and State civil service
arrears of over N35 billion accumulated since 1992, mobilization of huge non-loan resources for
multi-sectoral development of his State of Anambra, fiscal responsibility including
minimization of governance costs, security votes, cabinet size and use of
public funds for public good; and zero borrowing and low debts overhang of less
than N12 billion; savings in government coffers amounting to billions
of naira (first of its kind in any public governance in Nigeria).
The rest are
future savings through procurement of shares and investments worth billions of
naira. The era of former Governor Peter
Obi as chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum served as a strong driving
force for the unity and security of the Zone.
Worst Public Office Holders In Southeast Nigeria:
Most
Unpopular & Unfriendly Federal Government Among The Southeast People
·
Government
of President Muhammadu Buhari
Worst Past
Governors in the Southeast
·
Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju-Anambra State
(1999-2003)
·
Chief Orji Uzor Kalu-Abia State(1999-2007)
·
Chief Ikedi Ohakim-Imo State(2007-2011)
·
Chief Theodore Orji-Abia State(2007-2015)
Worst Serving Governor in the Southeast
Zone
·
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State
Worst Public Utilities Providers of the
Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone
·
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company
(EEDC). See Intersociety & SBCHROs’ Memo to the Minister
of Power & ors, dated 18th December 2017 (www.intersociety-ng.org)
Most Atrocious Security Organization in the
Southeast Zone
·
Nigerian
Army and its Enugu 82 Division (shot and killed in two years-2015-2017 over 370
unarmed and defenseless citizens of the Southeast and maimed over 400 others)
Most Regime
Atrocity Perpetrator in the Southeast Zone
·
Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (vicariously
masterminded in two years 2015-2017, as COAS, the massacre of estimated 370
defenseless citizens of the Southeast Zone and maiming of over 400 others)
Most
Atrocious Police Special Squad of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone
·
The Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS)
formations in Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States as well as the Zone 9
SARS formation in Umuahia; killed average of
estimated 35 detained citizens monthly and 420 annually in the
Zone. The killings are perpetrated
through criminal processes of extra jus (beyond the law), extra legal (beyond what the written criminal law
provides) and extra judicial (beyond court or judicial
pronouncement or verdict); arising from racial profiling and unprofessional
crime detection and criminal investigation management. For more details, see
Intersociety’s expert report: The Untold Story of Ezu River Police SARS
Killings (July 2017).
Most Lopsidedly Composed Security Organization
in the Southeast Zone
·
The Nigerian Army & Navy (most, if not all
their key heads in the Zone are members of Hausa-Fulani Muslims). For more
details, see Intersociety’s statement of 19th October 2017; titled: The Retun Of “Glover Hausas” In The Nigerian Army: Exposing 95% Dominance Of Key Army
Formations In Igbo Land By Northern Muslim Officers
Most Corrupt
& Incompetent Policing Organization of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone
The Nigeria
Police Force and its key formations in the Southeast under IGP Ibrahim Idris
(generated, illicitly, over N14 billion or $45million between September 2017
and January 2018 from Southeast roadblocks using over 2900 police roadblocks
raised in early September 2017). See Intersociety’s statement of 5th
September 2017 on: Unchecked
Police And Army Extortion In Southeast Nigeria: How IGP And His Cohorts Will
Pocket (already pocketed) N14.1Billion In Five Months (Sep 2017-Jan 2018) From
2900 Roadblocks Using False Biafra Insecurity, etc.
Destitute of the Year 2017 in the
Southeast Zone
·
The
Destitute of Uga Junction Pedestrian Bridge in Onitsha (represents the
plight of the destitute population roaming the streets of the Southeast Zone
without government care and welfare). Governors of the Zone are called upon to
urgently address the plight of the destitute population especially their
children who are out of school. One of the core ways to address this is by
enacting the Destitute & Disability
Rights & Welfare Laws by the Executive and Legislative Arms in the
Southeast.
The Slain & the Disappeared
of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone
·
Estimated
100 defenseless citizens of the Zone killed or made to disappear by the
Nigerian Army in September 2017; in addition to over 270 others earlier shot
and killed; with most of their bodies remained missing till date. Their killers
must be fished out and severely punished by the Federal Government or relevant
international justice groups no matter how long it takes.
The Maimed or Wounded of the Year
2017 in the Southeast Zone
·
Over 400
victims of military shootings in the Zone. They must be adequately compensated
with their shooters fished out and punished severely.
Persecuted Citizens of the Year
2017 in the Southeast Zone
·
Include
Citizens Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Dave Nwawuisi, Benjamin Mmadubugwu, Bright
Chimezie and over 82 others including minors and married women presently
languishing in various prisons across the country without formal trial; in
connection with nonviolent pro Biafra agitations. Others are those in the category
of “dark figures of crime” or arrested and detained citizens without public
notice or records. All pro Igbo-Biafra detainees in Nigeria must be
de-criminalized, released and have their phantom charges dropped by the Buhari
Administration.
Calling On Government Of Buhari To Free Shiite Leader & Prosecute
Perpetrators Of Shiite Genocide
We call for immediate and
unconditional release of Mallam Zaky Ibrahim El-Zaky and his beloved wife-Malama
Zeenatu as well as an end to persecution of Shiite Muslims in Nigeria. Those
who masterminded the massacre of over 1,130 Shiite members in December 2015 and
above including COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (vicarious culpability) must
be arrested and punished locally or internationally no matter how long it
takes.
Calling On Government Of Buhari To End Government And Herdsmen Killings
& Other Crimes Against Humanity
The present Federal Government
under Retired Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari must put an end to slaughtering of
thousands of defenseless citizens especially Christians on annual basis by
terror Fulani Herdsmen in Northern Nigeria and proscribe the Miyatti Allah
Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria as well as fish out their leaders and
culpable elements and charge them for manslaughter and culpable homicide,
respectively, among other felonies committed against the State of Nigeria and
its population.
The Federal Government’s silence,
inaction and conspiracy over these ethno-religious carnages are not only an
invitation to retaliatory widespread violence and ruination of the country in
part or in whole but also a gross breach of Section 10 of Nigeria’s 1999
Constitution which forbids the Federal Government or any State Government from
adopting any religion including Islam as a State Religion.
The first major step towards
addressing the present national and sub-national security challenges in Nigeria
is total re-organization of the commanding positions and other top echelons of
security forces, the police and other para-military organizations in Nigeria.
The present Caliphate structure of Nigerian security and policing is totally
rejected. They must be restructured in accordance with Section 14 (3) of
Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution or federal character or geopolitical spread.
The stark reality today is that
continuation of the centrality; oneness, unity and national cohesion of
Nigeria; steadily and systematically undermined by the present central
Government has become an act of impossibility.
The ethno-religious divisions in
the country have continuously thickened with ethno-religious chauvinists taking
over and consolidating their grip on power without letting go. In other words,
the Nigeria Project has collapsed;
requiring urgent re-negotiation by all ethnic nationalities through their
representatives before the country goes on full brink. The Buhari
Administration must hearken to this wind
of change and urgently steer the ship of the re-negotiation of the Nigeria Project.
Calling On Southeast Governors To Wake Up From Their Slumbers
The Governors of the Southeast
Zone are collectively and individually called upon to wake up from their
slumbers. They must be proactive and efficient in strengthening the internal
and external security of the Zone especially with regard to well oiled and
coordinated widespread violent attacks against Christian population and their
churches by the terror Fulani Herdsmen such as the Nimgbo tragedies of 14th
February and 25th April 2016 in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State during
which terror Fulani Herdsmen killed at least 50 rural Christian dwellers and
injured 79 others.
The Southeast Governors must
desist henceforth from lending their hands and supports by way of supporting,
adopting, aiding, abetting or undermining the present and future collective
security of the people of the Southeast Zone and their properties; through the
raging, disastrous, unilateral and militarist national policy of “Cattle
Colony”; using any guise or instrumentality particularly the Federal Executive
Council and the National Council of State.
The Governors must also
proactively and courageously engage the Federal Government, the President and
heads of major security and policing agencies in the country by insisting on
making proactive inputs into the overall security structure and composition in
the country as well as the posting of commanders of their formations in the
Southeast Zone especially in the Army, Navy, Air Force, SSS, Customs and the
Police. The current policy of flooding most, if not the entire military and
policing formations in Igbo Land with senior and commanding officers of
Hausa-Fulani Muslims must be rejected and reversed.
More concerted efforts are also
required from the Southeast Governors at ensuring that the Zone which is the birthplace of the Igbo Nation gets its
fair and due share of the Federation resources, appointments, attentions and
infrastructural developments. The Governors must ensure that the Southeast is
fully factored into the new national railway policy and comprehensive
reconstruction of all federal roads in the Zone especially the Onitsha-Enugu
and the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressways and other important ones.
The Zone also needs a standard
international seaport and construction of a standard bridge linking Ogwu-Ikpere
in Ogbaru, Anambra State and Ndoni in Rivers State; which if constructed, will
take less than two hours to convey goods and services from Port Harcourt wharfs
into the Southeast Zone or any part thereof. The Akanu Ibiam Int’l Airport in
Enugu, which is presently a makeshift int’l airport, must totally be upgraded
to truly reflect its international status and serve the People of the Southeast
Zone and others from major parts of the world particularly Africa, Europe,
Americas, Asia and Middle-East.
Condemning Christian Violence
Against Traditional Religions In Southeast Nigeria
We stand morally and legally
condemned if we turned a blind eye or refused to say anything about the
indiscriminate attacks and widespread violence directed at members and
institutions of the Traditional Religions and their sacred places of worship by
radical elements within the trios of Catholic Church, Anglican Church and
Pentecostal churches in Southeast Nigeria.
There have been systematic, well
coordinated and unprovoked Christian violence against Traditional Religionists
and their sacred places of worship in recent times in Nigeria particularly in
the Southeast. These attacks and violence are executed especially during
“Christmas and Easter Crusades” and similar activities. They are executed or
carried out particularly at late night during the said “crusades”.
During the attacks, sacred places
of worship belonging to the Traditional Worshippers and their symbols of
worship including sacred altars, artifacts and diviners’ objects are targeted
for burning, destruction or confiscation; under stigmatization and false
labeling of all traditional religions, their worshippers and sacred places of
worship as “Satanism and evil doers”. A
clear case in point was the attack and violence directed at the said
worshippers and their sacred institutions in Igboukwu, Ekwulobia and other
communities in Anambra State during the 2017 Christmas season.
At Igboukwu Community, Aguata,
Anambra State, despite an early warning letter written to the Parish Priest of
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Rev Fr. Christopher Azolibe by the Otu
Odinani Igbo Organization led by Priest Okwudili Ezeife and Chukwudinka
Ezeatueyi; alerting him of planned attacks and violence by members of the Catholic Charismatic
Renewal Movement in Igboukwu led by Elder Polycarp Okonkwo and Innocent Okeke
using their midnight crusade of 29th December 2017; the said Catholic
Charismatic Renewal Movement reportedly in conjunction with Rev Fr Chibuzor
Emmanuel Obimma (Father Ebube Muonso) reportedly went gone ahead, attacked and destroyed sixteen
(16) sacred temples of worship of the Igboukwu Traditional Religionists within
the Igboukwu Community.
The attacks which took place
between 1am and 4.30am; affected properties, artifacts, walls and roofing
belonging to the sixteen traditional sacred places of worship. During the
attacks, the National Museum at Igboukwu was also targeted for destruction but
for eleventh hour pressures and calls from concerned quarters; forcing the
attackers to retreat from torching the National Museum.
The attacking church youths
reportedly backed down after much pressure but threatened not to spare the
“evil Museum” during their next crusade in 2018. Youths loyal to the Igboukwu
Traditional Religionists also regrouped and made their way to burn down some
churches but were prevailed upon by some notable leaders of the Igboukwu
traditional institutions. The angry youths retreated but vowed not to spare any
church if such attacks happened anywhere in Igboukwu again.
Apart from right to freedom of
religion and worship clearly provided in Section 38 of Nigeria’s 1999
Constitution, Section 10 of the same Constitution also forbids the Federal
Government or any State Government from adopting any religion as a State
Religion in Nigeria. The Constitution also tasks Federal and State Governments
and heads of security agencies to ensure that every citizen is allowed to
worship and profess religion of his or her choice within the confines of the
law and without threat or molestation from any quarter.
Right to Freedom of Religion and
Worship was the first human right proclaimed in the Fourth Century AD by
Emperor Constantine De Great (AD306-337) during the Christian Roman Empire. See the Edict of Milan of AD313 or
decriminalization of Christian worship, which started in April 311 with the
enactment of the Edith of Toleration.
Under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution
and other body of laws, no religious body or person is allowed to launch an on
attack or destruction of any form against another religion or its sacred place
of worship or symbol or artifact. The law empowers Government or its security
agency (not alternative religious body or person) to visit the wrath or long
arm of the law against any violent religionist or a religious practitioner that
engages in religious practices that are unknown to God, Man and Law including
religious violence and Satanism.
The court death sentence handed
down to Rev Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (a.k.a. Rev King); General Overseer of the
Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) over his intra denominational satanic
religious practices is a clear case in point.
Godly religious faith anywhere in
the world including Nigeria and its Southeast part is not practiced or
professed by violence but through persuasion, good manners, emulative lifestyle
and conviction. Christians are therefore be reminded that Christianity in
Nigeria particularly in Igbo Land did not start or come with violence. A clear
case in point was the first encounter between Rev Father Duhaze of Portuguese
Catholic Missionary and Eze Nri Obalike of Nri Kingdom in 1906. As a matter of
fact too, traditional religions are the forefathers of Christianity in Igbo
Land just as Judaism gave birth or founded Christianity in the Middle East
where it originated; as clearly noted in the Holy Scripture.
We hereby call on the national
and regional leaderships of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Christian
Association of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in Nigeria and the Pentecostal
Fellowship of Nigeria and leaders of other Christian bodies to call their
followers and radical elements within their clergy to order and prevail on them
to desist from taking laws into their hands by visiting unprovoked and
unwarranted attacks and violence against members and institutions of
alternative religions especially the Traditional Religions in Nigeria
particularly in the Southeast or any of its part thereof; all in the name of
“crusades” or attack on Satan in his
citadel. There must be an end to religious radicalism and extreme religious
practices in the Zone.
The Governors of the Southeast
Geopolitical Zone are specifically called upon to rise up to the occasion particularly
against this new round of Christian violence and protect the traditional
institutions in Igbo Land including freedom of every citizen to practice and
worship religion of their choice without fear, threat or molestation.
Signs are obvious that the victim
religious bodies and their supporters may most likely resort to self defense
and other self help mechanisms including burning of churches and other
Christian sacred places of worship in retaliation if nothing was done to stop
the attacks and violence against the traditional religionists and their sacred
places of worship. The Southeast Governors must not allow this ugly situation
to further degenerate in the entire Zone or any of its part thereof.
End
Intellectual Credit: Researched
and compiled by Emeka Umeagbalasi (criminologist & graduate of security
studies) for Intersociety & SBCHROs.
Coalition Partners & Their Reps:
* Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Emeka
Umeagbalasi, Umeh MaryRose N., PhD, Ngozi Marion Emmanuel and Barristers
Ndidiamaka C. Bernard and Jacinta Ezinwanne)
* Civil Liberties Organization, Southeast
Zone (Aloysius Emeka Attah)
* Centre for Human Rights &
Peace Advocacy (Peter Onyegiri)
* Human Rights Organization of Nigeria (rep Michael Ifeabunike)
* Society Watch & Advocacy Project (Chike Umeosonwunne)
* Anambra Human Rights Forum (Alex C. Olisa)
*Southeast Good Governance Forum (Barr Obianuju Joy Igboeli)
* Int’l Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative (Jerry
Chidozie Chukwuokoro, PhD)
* Igbo Ekunie Initiative (rep Charles Ogbu)
* Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch (Vincent
Ezekwueme)
* Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Dev (Nelson Nnana
Nwafor)
* Society for Economic Rights & Social Justice (Orji Andy Ndukwe)
* Initiative for Ideal Dev & Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria
(Nwokocha Anozie Innocent)
* Igbo National Council (Chilos A.C. Godsent)
* Forum for Promotion of National Ethos & Values (rep Ugochukwu
Onwukwe)
* Easy Life Initiative for Rural Youths (Emeku Uche)
* Voice of the Voiceless Int’l (Barr Violet Umenwofor-Ezekwike)
Introductory letter
The Best & The Worst In Southeast
Nigeria: A Comprehensive Review Of Governance Challenges In The Geopolitical
Zone Dating Back To The Second Republic, Etc: A Letter Of Introduction Calling
For Action
We are group
leaders of the Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights & Good Governance
Organizations (SBCHROs) comprising the following 17 Southeast based rights
groups and their leaders:
* Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (led and
represented by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Umeh MaryRose N., PhD and Barr Jacinta
Ezinwanne)
* Civil Liberties Organization,
Southeast Zone (led by Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah)
* Centre for Human Rights &
Peace Advocacy (led by Comrade Peter Onyegiri)
* Human Rights Organization of Nigeria (rep by Comrade Michael
Ifeabunike)
* Society Watch & Advocacy Project of Intersociety (rep by Comrade Chike
Umeosonwunne)
* Anambra Human Rights Forum (led by Comrade Alex C. Olisa)
*Southeast Good Governance Forum (rep by Barr Obianuju Joy Igboeli)
* Int’l Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative (led by Jerry
Chidozie Chukwuokoro, PhD)
* Igbo Ekunie Initiative (rep by Comrade Charles Ogbu)
* Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch (led by Comrade Vincent
Ezekwueme)
* Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Dev (led by
Comrade Nelson Nnana Nwafor)
* Society for Economic Rights & Social Justice (led by Comrade Orji
Andy Ndukwe)
* Initiative for Ideal Dev & Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria (led
by Comrade Nwokocha Anozie Innocent)
* Igbo National Council (led by Comrade Chilos A.C. Godsent)
* Forum for Promotion of National Ethos & Values (led by Okpala-EzeNri
Emeka Onyeso)
* Easy Life Initiative for Rural Youths (led by Comrade Emeku Uche)
* Voice of the Voiceless Int’l (led by Barr Violet Umenwofor-Ezekwike)
Yours Faithfully,
For: Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights & Good Governance
Organizations (SBCHROs)
Intersociety Secretariat (Coordinating Secretariat of SBCHROs)
Mobile Line: +2348174090052
Email: [email protected]
Couriered & Dated 28th February 2018
The Best and Worst public servants in South-East Nigeria by Intersociety
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 08, 2018
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