Buhari on IPOB @ UN speech

The burning issue of these days is the issue of IPOB. That is the Indigenous People of Biafra, and also the wonderful and marvelous address of Mr. President at the United Nation. Our President must be applauded for successful handling of these very important crucial matters. He demonstrated clearly by so doing the mastery of administration and service to his country, to Africa and to the international community in general. The Waziri of Adamawa, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar himself has attested to this and commended the speech as worth of confidence. We thank the former Vice President for his mental discernment and sagacious comments. It is not a small thing for the nation to have such positive comments from such people.

The CNN called the President’s speech as President of Africa Speech. In other words, President Buhari’s speech represented the view of the entire continent, though surprisingly some people criticized some of the points mentioned. People like Ambassador Joe Keshi criticized the mentioning of Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar, saying that, why should Buhari mention them in his speech. But he unconscionably and unethically in terms of international diplomacy, approved the mentioning of North Korea nuclear issue. He said that of the Rohingyas is not a national or an African matter. This was contained in his comment on PMB’s speech on Channels TV on September 19, 2017.

Here I want to ask Keshi, is North Korea part of Nigeria or is she an African country? Keshi should know both are international issues and Buhari was talking to the international community. Therefore, he was very correct and very right. I wonder - one can see some people seemingly and ostensibly educated and sophisticated but obviously deep in sentiment and naïve in thinking. Everyday different countries denounce the way the Rohingyas are being treated in Myanmar, European countries inclusive. What will Joe Keshi say to the Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Antonio Guterres, who said the most vicious human catastrophe would befall the Rohingyas if care is not taken? Let one be considerate and humane, please.

In the same vein, the classification or tagging of IPOB as a terrorist group by the Federal Government is prettily in order. Critics should bear in mind that IPOB is not an ordinary or a civil organization. It is a militant one. It is crystal clear to every Nigerian, the destruction and the atrocities perpetrated in both Abia and Rivers States e.g. burning of police station, attack of some residents and burning of worship places. All those who are current and follow the news saw this. Our aim here is not to stir or instigate others but is to remind the opponents only.

I am overwhelmingly puzzled and astonished to see people like the Senate President going against the governors of the South East for the proscription of the terrorist group and also against the categorization of this violent organization as terrorist by the Nigerian Army. Now, we have crossed the Rubicon, for the President has signed the declaration and the High Court Judge has given his verdict on this. We want to pose these following questions to Saraki: As he purported that the proclamations are unconstitutional, therefore it is act of illegality, please is secession or breaking up constitutional? Has Mazi Nnamdi Kanu followed the due process for agitations? What kind of agitation is this, people carrying weapons to attack the others? What kind of agitators are these, having their financial headquarters outside the country? What kind of agitators are these, having radio station overseas for malicious campaign against their mother country? Look at what had happened in Umuahia and other places. The President has done the needful for, he has followed the due process. Nigeria is a country of democracy that was why the Federal Government gave Kanu ample of time to be sensitive and to demonstrate emotional sensibility, so that he could follow the right path in lodging his complains. So Saraki and his alike should stop hammering on this point and should remain cool. As reported by the Leadership Newspaper of Tuesday, September 19, 2017 that Saraki hinted that the National Assembly was planning to embark on a fact finding investigation to determine what actually happened during the period of the military exercise in the South East. He said they want to be able to sift the fact from the fictions. To me, this is perfidious and unscrupulous statements. If it is true that the senators are working for the whole country, why haven’t they done this in the North East? Why has the National Assembly not conducted such action in Abia and Rivers for the recent unrest? This is a real double standard and contradictory. We are aware that the international human right watch had talked extensively on such issue during the last regime where human rights were violated flagrantly. He further mentioned that, they were assuring Nigerians that there will be no cover up and they intended to lay the facts bare, as such we also call upon Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu to conduct the same investigation in the places we mentioned above. Please treat Nigerians equally and justly.

People should be aware of the fact that IPOB is different from Ohanaeze Ndigbo as Boko Haram is different from the Arewa Youth and also as Afenifere is different from Oduduwa People’s Congress (OPC).

Also to my dismay, when the Arewa youth made just verbal declaration against the Igbos, people like Jerry Gana, Emir of Katsina Kabir Usman, and the United Nation were appetent and agog to censure the youths, but now when others were beset and assailed physically, they are nowhere to be found. They are mute.

By and large, I will like to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate the northerners and their leaders for their self-control, maturity and fervent feeling and enthusiasm for the unity of this country. Their kind indulgence, pardon and magnanimity should be commended. Reprisal and vengeance will not do any good to us. We are now in 21st century; as such, it is not time for solving problems through violence, but disagreements should be solved through dialog and round table. Arewa youth, too, in particular, should be saluted for their self-restrain.

We are very grateful and appreciative to all governors of South East; they have shown good quality of leadership. Their love for oneness of Nigeria is crystal clear. Craving for peace in the entire country is their paramount objective.

It was reported by the Daily Trust Newspaper of September 22, 2017, the positive and affectionate comments made by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, which was very encouraging. His speech during his visit to Sokoto was very patriotic and excellent. These are the real nationalist.

Prof. Nguru is the Chief Executive of Nigeria Arabic Village, Ngala.