Nnamdi Kanu plotting to overthrow Buhari, split Nigeria – Arewa youths ON SEPTEMBER 14, 20176:20

AMIN HEADLINES, NEWSCOMMENTS


Abia govt extends curfew, meets monarchs, others Don’t be provoked into reprisal attacks, Northern Youths warned Arewa Consultative Forum calls for caution; IPOB meets to restrategize Operation Python Dance II: Why I can’t attend meeting with S-East govs – Kanu By Our Reporters



UMUAHIA — The Abia State Government yesterday extended the dusk-to-dawn curfew slammed on the township of Aba in wake of rising security concenrns, just as it met with a broad spectrum of traditional rulers in the state. It plans more meetings with other stakeholders, especially market leaders.


IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, said he would not attend tomorrow’s meeting with South East Governors as he earlier agreed with them, citing alleged plots to assassinate him on his way to Enugu for the meeting. Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, called for calm, commending Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Aba township in the state. Sources told Vanguard in Enugu that the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, who is on overseas tour had volunteered to drive straight from the airport to pick Kanu at his home in Umuahia to Enugu for the meeting, but Kanu declined the offer, saying he would not leave his home when it was surrounded by soldiers.


On August 30, the governors met with Kanu alongside National Chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN; Founder of Igbo Youths Movement, IYM and Secretary of Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, among others, for about four hours, on the way forward over Biafra agitations. Tomorrow’s meeting is supposed to be the follow-up.


Why I can’t attend the meeting – Kanu

However, in a statement he signed personally, Kanu alleged plots by a detachment of soldiers in Enugu to kill him, adding that the atmosphere was not conducive for the meeting.

The statement read in part: “Before now, prominent leaders and groups had insisted that I tow the line of peaceful dialogue and meet with the governors to find a lasting solution to our grievances. “I conceded to that request which led to the August 30, 2017 meeting with the South-East Governors Forum at the Government House in Enugu, in the company of the very eminent Professor Ben Nwabueze and Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko. “In view of the concerted effort by the oppressive Nigerian state to shatter the peace and tranquillity of the South-East and the rest of Biafraland through military intimidation, it has become necessary for me to clarify why, regrettably, I may not be able to attend Friday’s meeting with the South-East governors as earlier agreed, for three main reasons.

“We are currently busy attending to our dead and injured from this latest round of unprovoked military onslaught against innocent civilians in our own land. All the casualties so far were shot by men of the Nigerian Army deployed to my house and those stationed along motor ways leading into Umuahia, my home town. “I have been reliably informed also, that a detachment of this same soldiers responsible for the murder of innocent unarmed IPOB family members have now been stationed near Enugu to ambush and assassinate me on my way to the meeting with the governors, on Friday.

“On that same Friday the September 15, 2017, the leadership of IPOB through the instrumentality of the Directorate of State, DOS, head-quartered in Germany, will be meeting to vote on the viability or otherwise of continuing our struggle in this non-violent manner. There is urgent need to begin the process of defending ourselves in the face of relentless murderous attacks from the Nigerian state. “It is impossible to engage in any meaningful conversation with the governors in the midst of so much bloodshed, abductions and military siege to our town and villages. Accordingly, we will not engage in any meeting with anybody until the atmosphere is conducive and peaceful enough to allow for such.”

Abia govt extends curfew till tomorrow, to meet market leaders, others today

Meanwhile, the state government has extended the curfew in Aba to Friday, following yesterday’s clash between soldiers and IPOB members, who were on their way to Umuahia. The clash left some of them injured. Hell was let loose when reports of the incident broke, leading to skirmishes with the Hausa community. Addressing the Hausa community at the Aba Central mosque, Aba, Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, commended the efforts of the security agencies in maintaining law and order, noting that the city was calm and safe. “We have gone round Aba and found out that everywhere is calm. We commend the security agencies for their efforts. I plead with you to go back to your businesses without fear. I want to assure that the security agencies will continue to protect lives and property.“ He pledged the support of the state government for the protection of lives and property in the state and urged residents to return to their businesses.


The deputy governor was accompanied by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade as well as the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division, Enugu, Major-General Adamu Baba Abubakar, who addressed the Hausa community.

The Abia State Government has also summoned a meeting of market leaders and stakeholders over the tense security situation in the state, particularly in Umuahia and Aba. The meeting will hold today. Indeed, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu met with Abia monarchs on the issue, yesterday. South East Reps call for de-escalation of military operations Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives from the South-East geo-political zone have called for de-escalation of military operation in the zone, saying that any military operation that frightens, maims or leads to loss of lives of citizens and property is unjustifiable. A statement by the Deputy Minority Leader and Leader South-East Caucus, House of Representatives, Chukwuka Onyema, yesterday, called for caution in Abia State and the entire South-East zone. The legislators, however, expressed their support for the Seven-man Committee raised by the South East Governors’Forum to investigate the causes of the current conflict in Abia State. The statement reads in part: “While we appreciate the right to discharge core duties of the Nigeria Armed Forces as spelt out under Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), there is no gainsaying that internal military operations can only be conducted without doing violence to the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights of citizens. “To conduct operations that frighten, maim or lead to loss of lives of citizens and property, are clearly unjustifiable and an offence to our democracy and the rule of law. “We therefore call for a de-escalation of “internal military operations” in Abia State and the South East as a whole, while urging our brothers and sisters at home to remain civil and law abiding. “We wish to express our support for the reported setting up of a Seven -man Committee by the South East Governors to investigate the causes of the current conflict in Abia State.”


Soldiers assault Vanguard ‘s driver

Meantime, less than 24 hours after the invasion of the offices of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Umuahia, soldiers assaulted a Vanguard Newspapers driver conveying the day’s edition to Aba. The driver, Onyeisi Odor, now receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital, said he got to Bata junction, Factory Road, at 6.45am when he met some soldiers numbering over 20 who ordered him out and started beating him with sticks.

So what about the countless coups northern military officers have subject Nigeria to? You guys are only afraid of your own shadow.Ndi ara them.