Nigeria is moving backward they think that they are smart erasing the Biafra civil war in the history destroying all the tech tools which Biafrans used during the war -Senator Bruce

Ben Murray Bruce, the senator representing Bayelsa East and the chairman of Silverbird Group, had over the weekend cited the civil war, otherwise known as the Biafran War, as the reason why Nigeria has not grown technologically.

Senator Murray Bruce who was in Aba, stated this on Saturday, August 27, 2016, while addressing the International Youth Day Conference which was organised by the Vision Alive Empowerment under the recognition of the United Nations, UN.

While speaking on the theme, “How To Make A Good Choice While At The Youthful Age,” the senator revealed more about his youthful age stating that the right choice he made during his youth led him to become a successful businessman.

He explained why Nigeria is not growing in the tech world, and why technology is not contributing to the Nigeria’s economy.

“Nigeria is moving backward because they think that they are smart, and they do everything possible to erase the Nigeria/Biafra civil war in the history by burning and destroying all the tech tools which Biafrans used during the civil war,” Bruce was quoted as saying.

“Igbos are the most successful people in Nigeria today, both tech and business, even before and after the civil war, Igbos has been advanced more than other tribes, that’s why the other tribe in Nigeria can’t do without them.”

Furthermore, the senator said, had Nigeria keep those tech tools and maintain the history of the civil war, with the massive tech tools owned by the Biafrans, Nigeria would have excelled worldwide and make a good fortune out of it.

“Look at United State of America today, most of their technology experts are not Americans and most of their tools they use are Chinese owned tools, because during those days Chinese were like slave to them and they see the potentials inside the Chinese and utilized it.

“Likewise, when Nigeria thinks that they have defeated Biafrans during the civil war, that was when General Yakubu Gowon declared ‘no victor no vanquish.’ Had Nigeria kept those Biafran tech tools they used during the civil war and utilized them, you can imagine where Nigeria would have been today in the technology world.

“Nigeria thinks they played a smart deal by burning it and destroying it because they are afraid of Biafra and it has always been their worst nightmare, but they made a big mistake and it has drawn us backward rather than forward in the technology world today.

“Nigeria can’t stand without the South East. Also the Igbos, South East precisely should focus on their God gifted gift and maybe politics isn’t their calling, they have been technologically and Business endowed.

“Igbos are blessed, South East are blessed, only if they can look beyond Nigeria politics and focus on the God gifted talent, they will excel, and be great again.

“Seceding or agitation isn’t the solution only if they can realize their great potentials and focused on it, develop and build South East, look beyond Nigeria politics, since it seems like it’s not their calling,” he added.

Addressing the youths, the senator said, “make a good choice today so that your future will justify you. Stop thinking what a mortal man sitting on the Aso Rock can do for you and start thinking how you can be great to yourself. Furthermore, every human is gifted only if you can find and develop the potentials in you.”

BIAFRA - OPEN LETTER TO VANGUARD AND FG| PROVERBIAL BROWN ENVELOPE AND IMPLICATION OF FIGHTING IDEOLOGY
By Ifeanyi Chijioke
September 02 2016

My decision to write to two of you at a go is because you are both in same line to execute the long awaited plan against Biafra restoration that would eventually fail. I am convinced that this plan via TRIPOD and REIPOB will fail because Nnamdi Kanu clearly prophesied it. I am not surprised that Vanguard is being used to finish the plan and gradually, Biafrans will start to boycott the newspaper until it stops selling in our land. I will love to arrange my context to suit the caption, by starting with Vanguard and then FG. This intense attack on Biafra restoration project will backfire; I always note that once the wrong formula is applied, it explodes things beyond repair. I am neither in haste nor will this open letter be my last one; I write to you both to show that I am aware you are chained to the execution of the war against Biafra restoration project.

I spoke to an ex- Vanguard journalist who used to be my friend and we deliberated for long the level of unprofessionalism by Vanguard and other Nigerian media houses. He arrived at a point that Vanguard is a media house that was set up for business; that it would be unwise for the editor to reject press release or news people paid sufficiently for. He further noted that Vanguard is a Nigerian news paper and would be viewed as patriotic with press release ‘lies’ that affect or will cause IPOB to wither knowing that Nigerian government is at war with Biafra. He questioned the rationale behind rejecting press release that is not true as the case may be. He also noted that hence the money stipulated for that is paid; they would go on with it. I was critical of him and questioned him on investigative journalism? He did not bother defending the porous journalism in Nigeria but ended up telling me that it is left for the public to investigate.

I have always maintained that misleading the public could be detrimental to the stability of the people of that society and Vanguard might have not accepted this fact and thus soiling its reputation and bringing morality and discipline to naught. If there is any phrase to qualify this disposition; it is express Ibadan gutter newspaper. Brown envelope journalism is what cannot be avoided but putting brown envelope above a serious issue is something to question. I accept the views of the ex-Vanguard journalist who tried to defend the position of Vanguard. Money is involved and FG is also involved and there is no how it would turn FG down. This brought us to the fact that journalism in Nigeria remains a disgrace to the profession.

The proverbial brown envelope runs the show in Nigeria and because IPOB did not bring their own brown envelope; Vanguard did the job for those that brought. I was critical of Vanguard not contacting IPOB before floating that news but with this, it is clear they were also paid not to investigate anything but just float the news as it was brought to them. Today, the news is coming back at them and destroying the reputation it built for years. IPOB are a people grounded in media and there is need to always be cautious of news aimed at destroying things. I can clearly understand that Vanguard forbids or don’t know what investigative journalism is all about; should this be the case, they need to consider apologizing to IPOB for managing and floating lies to the public.

A country the media is also corrupt will never escape damnation because even the public that is supposed to fight corruption are corrupted by corrupt media. The floating of lies by media houses in Nigeria will go beyond political implication as the moral life of the society will also be affected. This is what Vanguard news lacked or failed to consider before floating the REIPOB news for the sake of the proverbial brown envelope. I am not against fighting IPOB to retain one Nigeria but I am more concerned about how the war is executed; Vanguard should be conscious of the limit they go, making the world and the people to realize that it thrives on deceit will only make information dissemination lack trust. It is more destructive now the world is aware that REIPOB is only the imagination of Vanguard. And one begins to question; how sure are we that everything they have floated before is not their imagination or making?

To the FG of Nigeria; they have chosen to fight ideology like a people without atom of knowledge of what ideology is all about. I have looked back and asked, despite the dishonest approach and fight against IPOB; where has it taken Nigerian government? This hopeless Government has gone on to handle agitation in a barbaric way and failed to learn from the likes of UK and Spain that are faced with same agitation. They have neglected their international obligations, flouting orders and contravening international constitutions. There is no regard for human right and neither has the right to life been respected. Whilest we are at lost as to why International community has left Nigeria to thrive and go free despite its lawlessness; the image and reputation of the contraption remains damaged.

Since 1967 they started shooting and killing Biafra officially; it has not solved the Biafra question and neither were they able to kill Biafra. The agitation for Biafra is only going from one unpopular stage to another popular stage. The arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu since last year October has only given Biafra a momentum needed to achieve its goal. His continued detention has answered many questions and now gaining sympathy and unprecedented support. While they wallow in confusion with hope that holding Nnamdi Kanu will have any negative impact; it has only set the stage for the dance of freedom. They have chosen to contravene her constitution and flout orders of the court only to make sure Nnamdi Kanu is illegally held and it would be wise to ask, in spite of everything done so far, how far?

They have continued to shoot the people of Biafra and launched military action against peaceful and lawful people. They have been involved in ISIS like- execution, arrested and kidnapped the people of Biafra; made more widowers and widows. They have tried all sorts of illegality to deter the people from agitating and asking for their right but to no avail. While the people of Biafra have applied wisdom, the FG has relegated to naming a group and conspiring with Vanguard news to float news of REIPOB. They have tried so much to break the resoluteness of the people or buy the people of Biafra with money and when every move failed; they opted to directly attack Biafra. This desperate move has failed and therefore I urge FG of Nigeria to admit that Biafra is an ideology that cannot be defeated. Let preparation for a legal referendum start to solve the Biafra question as everything done to kill Biafra has failed and naming REIPOB to make a case against IPOB has already failed.
Chat Conversation End

Mr.Ifeanyi Chijioke writes for BiafraPost
Editor/Publisher: Akachukwu Udo
For Biafra Reporters

BIAFRA - HERDSMEN ATTACK: ENUGU STUDENTS REJECT CALL FOR REPRISAL - LEAD UGWUANYI
By David Okpe

ENUGU—The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Enugu State Chapter has lampooned those inciting the students and youths of the state to stage reprisal attack on the Fulani herdsmen over the recent carnage in the state, saying that it is counter-productive and might lead to the endangering of lives of youths and students in the state. He added that such revenge mission would do the Igbo more harm than good.

There have been public outcries, especially on the social media, inciting the students and youths of Enugu State to take laws into their hands and retaliate the attack on Ndiagu Attakwu community by suspected herdsmen, which left two dead and three persons injured.

Reacting to the development, the student union in a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of NANS, Comrade Chidi Ilogebe and its South East and South South PRO, Comrade Victor Ezenagu, described such comments as “careless, inciting and inimical to the calculated efforts being made by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to decisively resolve the issue in line with the oath of office he swore to uphold.

They said that unlike in Ekiti State, the population of Igbo living in the northern parts of the country is enormous, allaying fears that any unlawful action against the herdsmen in retaliation may likely put the Igbo in the north at the receiving end.

On the call by some Igbo groups for the Enugu Governor to emulate Gov. Ayo Fayose’s actions against the herdsmen, the students said that no true Igbo leader would support any act that could lead to bloodshed or undermine the peace and unity of the country.

They also stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi as a responsible leader believes in due process and constitutional way of addressing issues of this nature and should not be pushed to instigate the people of the state to take laws into their hands, as that is certainly not the best option under a democratic setting.

The students who expressed confidence in the ability of the state government to ensure that justice was done on the matter, advised the governor to summon a town hall meeting with the relevant stakeholders to sensitize the people and chart a new course for the safety of lives and property.

They therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to step up actions to put an end to the dastardly acts of the herdsmen in the overall interest of the country.

BIAFRA - IPOB ACCUSES BUHARI AND DSS OF CREATING FALSE DIVISION WITHIN GROUP - VANGUARD

No factions in IPOB—Igbo women, youths, others


Say TRIPOB, RE-IPOB leaders fictional


By Emeka Mamah & Clifford Ndujihe

ENUGU—The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused the Department of State Services, DSS, of being amateurish in its effort to cause confusion in the group by creating false divisions or factions of IPOB, saying that the misadventure would backfire.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Spokespersons of IPOB, Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya yesterday.

They said that it was shameful that the DSS was implementing its plan of creating several factions of IPOB, and challenged the promoters of the “fake RE-IPOB, TRI-POB, BUHARI-POB, OKOROCHA-POB, and OHANEZE-POB,” to publish the real photographs of those behind the pseudo organisations for the world to see.

According to IPOB, its leaders like Nnamdi Kanu, Alphonsus Uchenna Okafor-Mefor and Uchenna Asiegbu among others are known people whose origins were verifiable as against the shadow groups being bandied by the DSS.

The statement read in part: “The Federal Government has done a very bad job as a propagandist. In conjunction with agents of DSS, the government in its propaganda misadventure must have succeeded in enraging outstanding propagandists such as Joseph Goebbels, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, and Gaddafi’s Moussa Ibrahim.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his DSS travelled on this road to infamy by creating fake groups and christening them ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’ with diverse deceptive prefixes such RE-IPOB, TRI-POB, BUHARI-POB, OKOROCHA-POB, and OHANEZE-POB.

The most intriguing aspect of this dance of shame is the use of pseudonyms that are both outlandish and laughable at the same time. For instance, the spokesperson of the Buhari/DSS-POB’s goes by the name Ikemba Biafra.

Recently, another fictitious name was concocted as “Jonathan Kurubo” purportedly from Igbogene, a community close to River Nun in Bayelsa State.

On the contrary, all principal officers and citizens of IPOB under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu bear their real names and have family histories as well as real photographs of themselves.

For instance, Nnamdi Kanu is from Isiama–Afaraukwu Umuahia-Ibeku in Abia state. He is the son of His Royal Majesty, Eze I. O. Kanu, the Egwu Ukwu of Afaraukwu.

The Deputy leader of IPOB is Mazi Alphonsus Uchenna Okafor-Mefor, from Abatete in Idemili area of Anambra State.

No factions in IPOB – Igbo women, youths, others

Similarly, Igbo women, youths, students and traders have faulted reports of crisis in the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leading to the emergence of splinter groups –The Rebranded Indigenous People of Biafra, TRIPOB and Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra, RE-IPOB.

Among people and groups, who insisted that IPOB is intact and challenged leaders of TRIPOB and RE-IPOB to produce their photographs if they are not fictitious are the Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, led by Mrs. Mariah Okwor; Igbo Youth Movement, IYM; Igbo Students Union, ISU; Igbo Traders Association, ITA and South East Christians Network, SECN among others

Recently, TRIPOB and RE-IPOB, in separate statements disowned the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and unveiled their programmes. While TRIPOB said it would burn the Biafra flag on October 1, the RE-IPOB listed names of some eminent persons to negotiate with the Federal Government, while warning Nnamdi Kanu to stop parading himself as IPOB leader.

Speaking on the issue, Mrs. Mariah Okwor, in a statement said: “The funny games being played by the Federal Government is a further confirmation of the arrogance of this government in their stubborn refusal to address the problems from the root by restructuring Nigeria along six regions without delay. Only true fiscal federalism can save Nigeria now. Creating non-existent factions of IPOB will not stop the agitation. Government should stop amusing the public with their childish plots.

There is clearly no crisis or factions among these gallant boys, they’re united under Nnamdi Kanu and they are committed to their struggle. I personally thought that Kanu will go the way of Uwazurike, but he has surprised everybody by his righteous, sincere and total commitment to the struggle. The IWA will honour Kanu in October for his honesty and transparent leadership. That boy is a hero.

According to her, four groups from the South East and three from Niger Delta will publicly honour Nnamdi Kanu for his sacrifices in defence of truth and fight for justice. IYM founder, Evang. Elliot Uko, said: ‘’Those who claim there is crisis in IPOB are the very people who are being used to create the impression of a crisis. Ndigbo know that IPOB is intact, why would I comment on non-existent TRIPOB and REIPOB? I don’t want to dignify fake groups with a response. The Federal Government should do the needful, which is begin to address the foundational reasons millions of youths have lost faith in Nigeria. Creating artificial factions will not stop the agitation. Only a restructuring of the polity will restore hope. Time is running out”

On his part, Comrade Chimezie Ubani, President of Igbo Students, said: “Nobody knows the fictional characters, Philip Effiong Osuji and Ikemba Biafra or Nzeogwu Biafra, Let them publish their photographs and tell us their home towns and local governments of origin, if they truly exist. There is no crisis whatsoever in IPOB. We will honour Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in all the campuses in Eastern Nigerian soon, he is our eternal hero, a prophet and a legend. He destroyed our oppressors with the power of truth. IPOB is intact and we are all proud of them.’’

Bishop Mike Ibeneme, coordinator of South East Christians Network, said: “We all know, Nnamdi Kanu, we know he is from Afara, Umuahia, Abia State. Nobody knows these names Ikemba Biafra and Philip Effiong Chima, they probably do not exist. It is clearly an attempt by certain forces to give the impression that there is division within the IPOB. It means the IPOB has become a very formidable force that is strong enough to frighten the authorities. Nobody believes there is any crisis within the IPOB, those alluding to factions in IPOB are only those who are afraid of IPOB.’’

To Chief Chris Obikwelu, Chairman of Igbo Traders Association: “We are all surprised to hear of strange names breaking away from IPOB. If they had said that Emma powerful, Clifford Iroanya or Emma Nmezu broke away, it probably would have been believable, but for totally strange names, unknown to anybody to publish a list of laughable characters to negotiate on behalf of Ndigbo, simply means that TRIPOB and REIPOB are fake, non-existent groups, created by the enemy in their foolish attempt to weaken IPOB.’’n I can tell you that they have only succeeded in making Kanu and IPOB more popular and respected by all. It means he is giving them sleepless nights, if he were a sell-out, they would not create fake splinter groups to counter him”

No factions in IPOB, say Igbo women, youths, others
Say TRIPOB, RE-IPOB leaders are fictional By Clifford Ndujihe IGBO women, youths, students and traders have faulted reports of crisis in the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leading to the emergence of splinter groups – The Rebranded Indeigenous People of Biafra, TRIPOB and Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra, RE-IPOB. Among people and groups, who insisted that IPOB is intact and challenged leaders of TRIPOB and RE-IPOB to produce their photographs if there are not fictitious are the Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, led by Mrs. Mariah Okwor; Igbo Youth Movement, IYM; Igbo Students Union, ISU; Igbo Traders Association, ITA and South East Christians Network, SECN among others Recently, TRIPOB and RE-IPOB, in separate statements disowned the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and unveiled their programmes. While TRIPOB said it would burn the Biafra flag on October 1, the RE-IPOB listed names of some eminent persons to negotiate with the Federal Government, while warning Nnamdi Kanu to stop parading himself as IPOB leader. Speaking on the issue, Mrs. Mariah Okwor, in a statement said: “The funny games being played by the Federal Government is a further confirmation of the arrogance of this government in their stubborn refusal to address the problems from the root by restructuring Nigeria along six regions without delay. Only true fiscal federalism can save Nigeria now. Creating non-existent factions of IPOB will not stop the agitation. Government should stop amusing the public with childish plots. There is clearly no crisis or factions among these gallant boys, they united under Nnamdi Kanu and they are committed to their struggle. I personally thought that Kanu will go the way of Uwazurike, but he has surprised everybody by his righteous, sincere and total commitment to the struggle. The IWA will honour Kanu in October for his honesty and transparent leadership, that boy is a hero.” According to her, four groups from the South East and three from Niger Delta will publicly honour Nnamdi Kanu for his sacrifices in defence of truth and fight for justice. IYM founder, Evang. Elliot Uko, said: ”Those who claim there is crisis in IPOB are the very people who are being used to create the impression of a crisis. Ndigbo know that IPOB is intact, why would I comment on non-existent TRIPOB and REIPOB? I don’t want to dignify fake groups with a response. The Federal Government should do the needful, which is begin to address the foundational reasons millions of youths have lost faith in Nigeria. Creating artificial factions will not stop the agitation. Only a restructuring of the polity will restore hope. Time is running out”. On his part, Comrade Chimezie Ubani, President of Igbo Students, said: “Nobody knows the fictional characters, Philip Effiong Osuji and Ikemba Biafra or Nzeogwu Biafra, Let them publish their photographs and tell us their home towns and local governments of origin, if they truly exist. There is no crisis whatsoever in IPOB. We will honour Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in all the campuses in Eastern Nigerian soon, he is our eternal hero, a prophet and a legend. He destroyed our oppressors with the power of truth. IPOB is intact and we are all proud of them.” Bishop Mike Ibeneme, coordinator of South East Christians Network, said: “We all know, Nnamdi Kanu, we know he is from Afara, Umuahia, Abia State. Nobody knows these names Ikemba Biafra and Philip Effiong Chima, they probably do not exist. It is clearly an attempt by certain forces to give the impression that there is division within the IPOB. It means the IPOB has become a very formidable force that is strong enough to frighten the authorities. Nobody believes there is any crisis within the IPOB, those alluding to factions in IPOB are only those who are afraid of IPOB.” To Chief Chris Obikwelu, Chairman of Igbo Traders Association: “We are all surprised to hear of strange names breaking away from IPOB. If they had said that Emma powerful, Clifford Iroanya or Emma Nmezu broke away, it probably would have been believable, but for totally strange names, unknown to anybody to publish a list of laughable characters to negotiate on behalf of Ndigbo, simply means that TRIPOB and REIPOB are fake, non-existent groups, created by the enemy in their foolish attempt to weaken IPOB.”n I can tell you that they have only succeeded in making Kanu and IPOB more popular and respected by all. It means he is giving them sleepless nights, if he were a sell-out, they would not create fake splinter groups to counter him”.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/201....6/09/no-factions-in-

No crisis or factions in IPOB,they are united under Nnamdi Kanu - IWA leader, Mrs. Mariah Okwor

Say TRIPOB, RE-IPOB leaders are fictional

IGBO women, youths, students and traders have faulted reports of crisis in the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leading to the emergence of splinter groups – The Rebranded Indeigenous People of Biafra, TRIPOB and Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra, RE-IPOB.

Among people and groups, who insisted that IPOB is intact and challenged leaders of TRIPOB and RE-IPOB to produce their photographs if there are not fictitious are the Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, led by Mrs. Mariah Okwor; Igbo Youth Movement, IYM; Igbo Students Union, ISU; Igbo Traders Association, ITA and South East Christians Network, SECN among others.

Recently, TRIPOB and RE-IPOB, in separate statements disowned the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and unveiled their programmes. While TRIPOB said it would burn the Biafra flag on October 1, the RE-IPOB listed names of some eminent persons to negotiate with the Federal Government, while warning Nnamdi Kanu to stop parading himself as IPOB leader.

Speaking on the issue, Mrs. Mariah Okwor, in a statement said: “The funny games being played by the Federal Government is a further confirmation of the arrogance of this government in their stubborn refusal to address the problems from the root by restructuring Nigeria along six regions without delay.

Only true fiscal federalism can save Nigeria now. Creating non-existent factions of IPOB will not stop the agitation. Government should stop amusing the public with childish plots.

There is clearly no crisis or factions among these gallant boys, they united under Nnamdi Kanu and they are committed to their struggle. I personally thought that Kanu will go the way of Uwazurike, but he has surprised everybody by his righteous, sincere and total commitment to the struggle. The IWA will honour Kanu in October for his honesty and transparent leadership, that boy is a hero.”

According to her, four groups from the South East and three from Niger Delta will publicly honour Nnamdi Kanu for his sacrifices in defence of truth and fight for justice.

IYM founder, Evang. Elliot Uko, said: ”Those who claim there is crisis in IPOB are the very people who are being used to create the impression of a crisis. Ndigbo know that IPOB is intact, why would I comment on non-existent TRIPOB and REIPOB? I don’t want to dignify fake groups with a response.

The Federal Government should do the needful, which is begin to address the foundational reasons millions of youths have lost faith in Nigeria. Creating artificial factions will not stop the agitation. Only a restructuring of the polity will restore hope. Time is running out”.

On his part, Comrade Chimezie Ubani, President of Igbo Students, said: “Nobody knows the fictional characters, Philip Effiong Osuji and Ikemba Biafra or Nzeogwu Biafra, Let them publish their photographs and tell us their home towns and local governments of origin, if they truly exist. There is no crisis whatsoever in IPOB.

We will honour Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in all the campuses in Eastern Nigerian soon, he is our eternal hero, a prophet and a legend. He destroyed our oppressors with the power of truth. IPOB is intact and we are all proud of them.”

Bishop Mike Ibeneme, coordinator of South East Christians Network, said: “We all know, Nnamdi Kanu, we know he is from Afara, Umuahia, Abia State. Nobody knows these names Ikemba Biafra and Philip Effiong Chima, they probably do not exist. It is clearly an attempt by certain forces to give the impression that there is division within the IPOB.

It means the IPOB has become a very formidable force that is strong enough to frighten the authorities. Nobody believes there is any crisis within the IPOB, those alluding to factions in IPOB are only those who are afraid of IPOB.”

To Chief Chris Obikwelu, Chairman of Igbo Traders Association: “We are all surprised to hear of strange names breaking away from IPOB. If they had said that Emma powerful, Clifford Iroanya or Emma Nmezu broke away, it probably would have been believable, but for totally strange names, unknown to anybody to publish a list of laughable characters to negotiate on behalf of Ndigbo, simply means that TRIPOB and REIPOB are fake, non-existent groups, created by the enemy in their foolish attempt to weaken IPOB.”

I can tell you that they have only succeeded in making Kanu and IPOB more popular and respected by all. It means he is giving them sleepless nights, if he were a sell-out, they would not create fake splinter groups to counter him”.

Nigeria military build up in the Southern part of Biafra: Nigeria is on the brink of another full-blown war.

There are fears that Nigeria might witness a major strife, which may even compromise the unity of the country if the federal government goes ahead to declare war against the Niger Delta militants, writes MIKE UBANI, in Port-Harcourt.

Few days ago, President Muhammadu Buhari issued a stern warning to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups in the volatile oil-rich region to embrace dialogue or face military action.
The President warned that his administration would not continue to watch helplessly as a few aggrieved persons destroyed the country’s oil infrastructure when the issues at stake could be resolved though dialogue.
Indeed, the NDA and other militant groups operating in the region had in the past few months destroyed critical oil and gas infrastructures in the area, thus jeopardizing the country’s already dwindling economy.
According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the country loses N107 billion daily due to the vandalization of oil and gas pipelines by the NDA and other militant groups operating in the Niger Delta.
It was apparently against this background that a distraught President Buhari warned the militants of the consequences of continuing in their nefarious activities. He warned that the Federal Government would use the force of arms to literally drag the militants out of the creeks, almost the same way they dealt decisively with the marauding Boko Haram terrorists in the scorching North Eastern part of the country.
President Buhari said the Federal Government was open to dialogue with the Niger Delta militants to resolve all contending issues in the oil-rich area.
‘‘We do not believe that they (militants) have announced a ceasefire. We are trying to understand them more; who are their leaders and which areas do they operate and other relevant issues?,” said President Buhari.
The President who spoke duringa bilateral talks with the Japanest Prime Minister declared that if the Niger Delta militants refused to negotiate with his government, he would crush them the same way he crushed Boko Haram.
He further told the Japanese leader that with the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists by the military, the attention of the administration was now focused on stopping the destruction of the country’s economic assets by militants in the Niger Delta region.
“We are talking to some of their leaders. We will deal with them as we dealt with Boko Haram if they refuse to talk to us.
“As a government, we know our responsibility which is to secure the environment. It is clear to us that lenders won’t fund projects in an insecure environment,” said President Buhari.
Even before the President asked the militants to accept the option of dialogue or face military onslaught, the Nigeria Army had readied itself to march to the creeks of Niger Delta to forcefully fish out the militants..
In a ceremony in Sapele, Delta State to mark the official launching of a new military exercise in the Niger Delta code-named ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile”, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, said the army had been mandated to “provide security for residents as well as critical nation economic assets in the region
“We need to keep our country safe. We need to get our economy going without any interruption”, said the army boss. Gen Burata was optimistic that at the end of the exercise, security would have been achieved in the tempestuous oil rich region.
“ We hope that the economy will come up again and the facilities and infrastructures in terms of the oil and gas will be protected and the people around will go about their normal businesses without fear of any attack,” said the army chief.
It will be recalled that “Operation Delta Safe” was set up by the military during the previous administration to also quell the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta.
Apparently conscious of the consequences of a full-blown war in the Niger Delta region, many organizations and individuals had since appealed to the militants to sheathe their swords and accept the option of dialogue.
For instance, The South-South Peoples Conference (SSOPEC), a socio-cultural group in the region, had appealed to the NDA and other militant groups to dialogue with the Federal Government..
Prof. Sotonye Amakiri, chairman of the association and other leaders of the group drawn from the six states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Edo, said at the end of its recent meeting in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, that it was better the militants discussed with the Federal Government instead of going to war with the Nigerian Army..
“The militant groups should not ignore the Federal Government’s willingness for dialogue,” said Amakiri.
He pointed out that negotiation was paramount as it would enable government to understand their demand challenges.
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ben Nwoye, also said in an interview with The AUTHORITY in Port-Harcourt that dialogue was the best option to resolve the Niger Delta crisis.
He advised the Buhari-led administration to acquaint itself with the Amnesty Programme initiated by the government of late President Musa Yar’Adua, to see whether it could be fine-tuned to meet the demands of the region.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, and his Sokoto State counterpart Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, had equally urged the militants to dialogue with the Federal Government. Both governors said in Asaba during the just concluded 25th anniversary of the creation of Delta State that an atmosphere of peace would fast-track the development of the oil rich region.
Though a faction of the militant groups has reportedly agreed to dialogue with the Federal Government, indications are that it would take some time before a consensus is reached among the militant groups to pursue the path of peace.
The implication, said one military expert, Mr. Donald Iwenso, is that that the Nigerian Army will launch an onslaught against the recalcitrant militants. Iweneso said that if this happens, “many people, especially women and children would be victims of the impending war.”
The country had fought a civil war between 1967 and 1970, after the then military governor of former Eastern Region, Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, now late, declared the region the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967.
According to a report issued by the United Nations,the war which lasted for 30 months, claimed the lives of two million people, especially women and children.
“Nigeria cannot afford to fight another civil war, but if it does, it may lead to the disintegration of the country.” said Iwenso.
An environmental activist in the Niger Delta, Comrade Alagoa Morris, told The AUTHORITY in an interview that the militarization of the Niger Delta region “can never be the best option for suppressing the militants in the region. He rather advocated for the declaration of a state of emergency in the region that will be geared towards developing the area..
“If President Muhammadu Buhari feels that increasing military presence in the Niger Delta region that has been militarized since 1999 will be the only option to solve the Niger Delta issue, he should go and ask Obasanjo whether that military option was effective or not.
“According to students of management, every leader has his own style in pursuing goals of the organization, so I cannot choose for Buhari. However, I would like to remind the Federal Government of certain very important historical facts, when visionary leaders like Ken Saro Wiwa saw the coming war in the Niger Delta and urged Nigerians to do something before the curtain falls, the then leadership of the country failed to see, but rather killed him.,” he said.
He said it will be difficult if not impossible for the Nigerian military to fight a successful war in the creeks of Niger Delta.
“Strangers cannot know the creeks more than the locals and so, militarization may not solve the problem. It might only encourage more youths to return to the trenches, and the consequences could be disastrous.”
“While not encouraging militancy in any way, I wish to remind residents that Nigeria is sailing in a democratic dispensation and, it is far better to jaw-jaw than take up arms against each other. Unfortunately former President Yar’dua is late, I would have urged Buhari to go and learn from him”.
Morris also urged the Federal Government to go back to the report of the Technical Committee on the Niger Delta and implement recommendations therein, pointing out that If Boko Haram that killed fellow Nigerians in thousands without any positive reasons are now enjoying protection and the North East is given special attention, there is no reason why the Federal Government should not declare a state of emergency in Niger Delta with the main focus of developing the area.
He said: “Look at the Brass road which even IBB said he will complete in 30 months; it is still in limbo. Are they serious with our development? Even politicians from our region are looting the commonwealth and under- developing us. This is so sad and unfortunate.
Nevertheless, the fiery civil society activist and founder Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, accused the Federal Government of lacking strategic plan to develop the Niger Delta region, saying the many years of neglect of the area has forced the youths to take up arms against the government. .
The groundswell of opinion here is that the unity of the country will be seriously affected if the Federal Government declares war against the militants of the Niger Delta.
“Nigeria may not be the same again if there is war in the Niger Delta”, says Chekwube Isioma, an undergraduate in one of the universities in the South-South region.