Igbo leaders criticise Ihejirika’s appointment
   Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja and Nwanosike Onu, Awka 13/09/2010 00:32:00


Igbo leaders, under the platform of Igbo Political Forum (IPF), have criticised the appointment of Major-General O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff.

IPF said the move is aimed at getting the support of the Igbo for President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s presidential election.

They said the appointment would not change their commitment to zoning and power rotation, and the emergence of an Igbo president in 2015.

The members of the IPF are Chief Simeon Okeke, its Chairman, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Ben Obi, Prof. Chukuma Soludo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Hon Dubem Onyia, Dr. Sam Egwu, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, Prof Chinwe Obaji, among others.

In a statement titled: "The Change in the Leadership of Nigeria’s Military and Security Command Establishments," IPF said:

"Before the recent changes, the Igbo people had two top security positions, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ogbonna Onovo.

"With the changes announced, that number has dropped to one.

"If, as the media have been disclosing, Onovo’s removal stems mainly from the state of insecurity in the nation, particularly the Southeast, it is surprising that his replacement, IGP Ringim, was the AIG in charge of the Southeast Zone 9 before his elevation.

"While we are not imputing any ulterior motive behind Mr. Onovo’s removal and his replacement with former Commissioner of Police Ringim, who was in charge of Bayelsa State police command when DSP Alamieyeseigha was impeached from office as the governor, we aver that the recent changes in the police command are unnecessary and un-called for."

The immediate past President General of the apex Igbo body, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, said the Major General Ihejirika merited the position.

He said although Onovo was retired prematurely, the high rate of kidnapping, the embarrassment of police check points turned toll gates and the Boko-Haram saga could not be overlooked.

He said: "We are all Igbomen; we wanted him to walk high. But anybody that fails on these issues, not minding his tribe or religion, should vacate his office for a competent person to take over.I wish him well."

The Chairman of "Environment watch", a human rights group in Anambra State, Osita Obi, said he was not excited over the army chief’s appointment.

Obi said what the Igbo people need are infrastructure and state creation.


http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/13022.html

MetalGong4:


"If, as the media have been disclosing, Onovo’s removal stems mainly from the state of insecurity in the nation, particularly the Southeast, it is surprising that his replacement, IGP Ringim, was the AIG in charge of the Southeast Zone 9 before his elevation.

"While we are not imputing any ulterior motive behind Mr. Onovo’s removal and his replacement with former Commissioner of Police Ringim, who was in charge of Bayelsa State police command when DSP Alamieyeseigha was impeached from office as the governor, we aver that the recent changes in the police command are unnecessary and un-called for."


http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/13022.html

The above quote begs for more answer. Why should Onovo be replaced with an AIG of police who was in charge of SouthEast Zone 9, an area with the highest rate of kidnapping in the entire country.

The members of the IPF are Chief Simeon Okeke, its Chairman, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Ben Obi, Prof. Chukuma Soludo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Hon Dubem Onyia, Dr. Sam Egwu, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, Prof Chinwe Obaji, among others.

the last time I checked these are bunch of loosers without any electoral values even in their wards

Solomon227:

the last time I checked these are bunch of loosers without any electoral values even in their wards

BTW: Who are you to call them bunch of losers? What have you achieved in life? . . . . You must be a drooling slowpoke for uttering that nonsense.

BTW: Who are you to call them bunch of losers? What have you achieved in life? . . . . You must be a drooling slowpoke for uttering that nonsense.

The list is a collection of losers the only name missing on the list is Metal gong

Solomon227:

the last time I checked these are bunch of loosers without any electoral values even in their wards

Believe me, the men of that list IS IT as far as PDP is concerned in the south east. Mind you we are talking about PDP and its zoning. You cannot get more powerful men in Igboland than these men as far as PDP is concerned.

Onlytruth:

Believe me, the men of that list IS IT as far as PDP is concerned in the south east. Mind you we are talking about PDP and its zoning. You cannot get more powerful men in Igboland than these men as far as PDP is concerned.

You can tell that dolt again.

Chief Simeon Okeke, its Chairman, former Senate President Ken Nnamani (not even a regular member of PDP), Senator Jim Nwobodo (ave not won an elction since serving as a senator), Senator Uche Chukwumerije (his Gov has already delivered his state), Senator Ben Obi (he doesnt even ave a party), Prof. Chukuma Soludo (not even a politician and Anambra PDP is Uba's), Chief Achike Udenwa(history,the state has lready been delivered), Hon Dubem Onyia, Dr. Sam Egwu (history, his state has been delivered), Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, Prof Chinwe Obaji, among others.

Solomon227:

The list is a collection of losers the only name missing on the list is Metal gong

As always, you are an irredeemable fool. Those people you call losers had already occupied high electoral and political offices which you can only achieve in your dream.

As always, you are an irredeemable fool. Those people you call losers had already occupied high electoral offices which you can only achieve in your dream.

Electoral office is not my dream in life and I am happy with my achievement so far in life. They have occupied the offices how many positive changes have they made in office?

Solomon227:

Chief Simeon Okeke, its Chairman, former Senate President Ken Nnamani (not even a regular member of PDP), Senator Jim Nwobodo (ave not won an elction since serving as a senator), Senator Uche Chukwumerije (his Gov has already delivered his state), Senator Ben Obi (he doesnt even ave a party), Prof. Chukuma Soludo (not even a politician and Anambra PDP is Uba's), Chief Achike Udenwa(history,the state has lready been delivered), Hon Dubem Onyia, Dr. Sam Egwu (history, his state has been delivered), Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, Prof Chinwe Obaji, among others.

Please can you translate the above Swahili into English.

Please can you translate the above Swahili into English.

They are currently politically irrelevant in deciding who wins PDP's primary

Solomon227:

They are currently politically irrelevant in deciding who wins PDP's primary

I'm beginning to think that you might be a fool afterall. You think the governors can deliver anything?
Keep dreaming!

'm beginning to think that you might be a fool afterall. You think the governors can deliver anything?

They will not only deliver anything but everything including your vote. Dont waste your time your Gov has already caste your vote 4 u. We are just fulfilling all righteousness by going into primaries and general elction for mere formality.

Solomon227:

They will not only deliver anything but everything including your vote. Dont waste your time your Gov has already caste your vote 4 u. We are just fulfilling all righteousness by going into primaries and general elction for mere formality.

Look, if you are planning to rig elections, simply say so. Don't come here trying to tell me that governors will deliver votes they don't have.

Dont worry be happy!

Solomon227:

Dont worry be happy!

I'm laughing at you because you think your client can toy with Nigeria. He is walking a very dangerous path.
The last thing he can pull off in Nigeria now is a brazen rigging exercise. He may be supported by Obasanjo, but he is NOT Obasanjo. A word is enough for the wise. 

[b]ABC Nwosu to Ndigbo on 2011 polls: Abandon Zoning, Commit Political Suicide[/b]Periscope Sep 11, 2010
Share | By Tony Edike

Professor Alphonsus Bosah Chukwurah (ABC) Nwosu was Political Adviser and Minister of Health in the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2003. Before then he was the Chairman, Organizing Committee of MKPOKO IGBO of 1994 and the Head of the Igbo Secretariat at the 1995 Constitutional Conference. Recently he was appointed Director of Research, Planning and Strategy for President Ibrahim Babangida’s Campaign Organization. In this interview, he speaks of what should constitute the Agenda for 2011 Presidential Election, the contentious issue of zoning and advises his kinsmen, Ndigbo not to abandon the accepted concept of zoning which they fashioned and pushed through for redressing marginalization at the 1995 Constitutional Conference. Excerpts:

What is your schedule of work as Director of Research, Planning and Strategy for the IBB Presidential Campaign Organization. What are your plans?

There is a Director-General and Director Media and Communications of the IBB Campaign Organization. The Director-General speaks for the organization, I can only comment as a citizen. As to how I came to be, it was to be expected especially after the meeting of the South East Consultative Forum with Northern elders to the effect that zoning was sacrosanct and the North should complete the presidential tenure zoned to the North in 2007 and thereafter the presidency shall rotate to Ndigbo. I am a strong believer in this agreement and therefore decided to service a presidential candidate who is also a strong believer in this agreement.

But Ohanaeze Ndigbo has stated that it did not enter into any agreement with the North.

Who said that Ohanaeze entered into any agreement? Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural body and the apex for Ndigbo. It was the South East Consultative Forum to which I belong that entered into the agreement. Ndigbo may wish to react to the agreement in their own way. The central point is that we believe that 2015 is our date and destiny with the presidency of Nigeria. The other dates are 2019, 2023, 2027 and so on. The political arithmetic is simple and we expect Ndigbo to be mindful of these dates and not commit political suicide in 2011.

Prof, before this interview I thought that you were only concerned about zoning…

(cut in) Of course zoning and six geopolitical zones are the core of nationhood and nation building. You must have justice, fairness, equity and a sense of belonging by all constituent peoples in the Nigeria project before you can have national progress and development. That is why some of us consider zoning, six geopolitical zones and federal character principle as sacrosanct and vital for our unity, peace and stability. For the records, zoning, rotation and six geopolitical zones including the names South-East, South-South, North Central etc are the brainchild of the South East in 1994 which were canvassed comprehensively at the Constitutional Conference of 1995.

Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and the late Dr. Sam Mbakwe led a South East presentation which they stoutly defended on the floor of the conference. Before that conference, the Igbo unanimously endorsed the concepts both at the committee level under late Dr. Pius Okigbo and by Ohanaeze. In my view it will be politically suicidal for Ndigbo to abandon these concepts in 2011 and 2015 and beyond before the deprived geopolitical zones would have attained the presidency. In my view, it is also cruel and unfair for geopolitical zones that used zoning to attain the presidency in 1999, 2003, 2007 to now turn and repudiate zoning before the purpose of zoning would have been achieved. This will be tantamount to crossing a bridge and burning that same bridge so that others on the disadvantaged side will not cross.

I am sure you have read the report of the World Igbo Congress where the president’s message said that he is an Easterner and that Igbo interests are well represented. How do you react?

How do I react? It would be unfair for me to treat the newspaper reports as Mr. President’s message because Mr. President is yet to signify his intention to contest. I will therefore react to President of Ijaw National Congress and a Minister who gave the messages. I will remind them that support was denied to a South-Southerner in 2007 on the belief that he was Igbo.

I shall say no more on this. To the minister who is a South-Easterner I shall say nothing except that a people’s identity is a people’s identity. It is called Ahamefula in Igbo. In 1979 and 1983, the legend, the Great Zik of Africa contested the presidency on the platform of NPP because of Ahamefula. In 2003 and 2007, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu contested the presidency on the platform of APGA because of Ahamefula. In 1999 and 2003 Dr Ekwueme was denied the same presidency by the PDP.

We do not wish to ask where our brother Nigerians were during these contests when Ndigbo were denied. What Ndigbo plead for is understanding from their fellow brothers and should not be insulted with pedestrian presentations such as those made at the World Igbo Congress.

The Great Zik is no more. The baton has now been passed to a new generation. ]This generation of Ndigbo will have a choice to run away, betray or sell ahamefula to their eternal shame and permanent condemnation of their children and grand-children.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/09/11/abc-nwosu-to-ndigbo-on-2011-polls-abandon-zoning-commit-political-suicide/

^^^^

I wholeheartedly concur with the position of my erudite Prof. As he said, Igbos should go into this upcoming election bearing the principle of Ahamefule in mind.

On kidnapping in the south east, there are devices rich igbomen can wear which are small, that when they are kidnapped they can be found.

The truth is crime is changing in Nigeria. Arm robbering look like it is not bringing in money to criminal, so they went for kidnapping. With people carrying credit card now in Nigeria, people do not have physical cash at home for arm robbers, that is the reason , I would assume Kidnapping because the only solution for ex arm robber.

It is the use of credit card that have made regular arm robbering by criminal not interesting any more. So Onovo could not be blame for it but more of a change in technology.

Becomrich0:

On kidnapping in the south east, there are devices rich igbomen can wear which are small, that when they are kidnapped they can be found.

The truth is crime is changing in Nigeria. Arm robbering look like it is not bringing in money to criminal, so they went for kidnapping. With people carrying credit card now in Nigeria, people do not have physical cash at home for arm robbers, that is the reason , I would assume Kidnapping because the only solution for ex arm robber.

It is the use of credit card that have made regular arm robbering by criminal not interesting any more. So Onovo could not be blame for it but more of a change in technology.

Becomriich, I'm really proud of this your intelligent reply, which is devoid of Google maps . . . .

Jonathan is really causing confusion in the enemies camp.

otokx:

Jonathan is really causing confusion in the enemies camp.

Whose camp is confused? Jonathan's or "the enemies'"?

These Guys obviously don't speak 4 the Igbos. they are hardly relevant now in the scheme of thngs. They will critisise any thing. Its disheartning seeing Soludo drop to this abysmal level of delusion.If he is not careful he will diminish completely and his high hope of becoming an Igbo President will vanish.They should read between the lines written by the political expediency of the present circmstances on the political chessboard.Support jonathan, north takes it in 2015 finishes 8 years later, then the igbo takes it with unanimity for 8 years.Any thing short of this is dim and politically unrealistic,God willing then most of these self serving shmurks would have ended their date with nature and younger generation of Igbos will heave a heavy sigh of relief.God bless nigeria.

mechris:

These Guys obviously don't speak 4 the Igbos. they are hardly relevant now in the scheme of thngs. They will critisise any thing. Its disheartning seeing Soludo drop to this abysmal level of delusion.If he is not careful he will diminish completely and his high hope of becoming an Igbo President will vanish.They should read between the lines written by the political expediency of the present circmstances on the political chessboard.Support jonathan, north takes it in 2015 finishes 8 years later, then the igbo takes it with unanimity for 8 years.Any thing short of this is dim and politically unrealistic,God willing then most of these self serving shmurks would have ended their date with nature and younger generation of Igbos will heave a heavy sigh of relief.God bless nigeria.

With this type of jaundiced reasoning, God can never allow your type to be at the helm of Igbo affairs. Igbos will really live to regret it if they fail to support the zoning principle , especially now that it is almost their turn to produce a candidate in 2015.

All rubbish, would the real igbo people pls standup and condemn this acts of this self centred peeps.

doesnt matter where the president of this country hails from.

All we are saying "Give us good government"

ayo84:

All rubbish, would the real igbo people pls standup and condemn this acts of this self centred peeps.

doesnt matter where the president of this country hails from.

All we are saying "Give us good government"

I concur. However, we are not as matured as the western world as yet.

ayo84:

All rubbish, would the real igbo people pls standup and condemn this acts of this self centred peeps.

doesnt matter where the president of this country hails from.

All we are saying "Give us good government"

What do you mean by real Igbos? . . .  Such external divisive cliche doesn't work in Alaigbo, you guys should have known that for a long time.
When Obasanjo was there for eight years, as a product of zoning, non of all the yoruba pedestrian activists were talking. Also note that every section of Nigeria has presidential candidates that have the wherewithal to enthrone good governance in Nigeria. So suffice it to say that zoning is as good as no zoning.

The only one that I respect out of the IPF is Ken Nnamani the former Senate President, others are just politcal jobbers. Uche Chukumerije seems to be a progressive now sha, but, we remember his antecedents (sic).

Igbo's fall for IBB n ATIKU and c 9ja go back to 1967-70.BTW why is PDP feeling like d only party in 9ja?ACN please give us a vibrant young like RIBADU so dat we can get rid of these buffons!

How can people from different "autonomous communities" speak for the Igbos? Have they forgotten that it is every community for itself in Igboland?

May I laugh in Igbo - hia hia hia hia

jamace:

How can people from different "autonomous communities" speak for the Igbos? Have they forgotten that it is every community for itself in Igboland?

It exists only in your fantasy world.