column
TOMORROW, the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be celebrating her 44th year of independence. Many people have held the view that it is the Nigerian State that gained independence from her former British colonial masters. By this, they imply that the people of Nigeria have not been granted independence. The people of Nigeria have continued to languish in political and civic subjugation, this time under the indigenous, neocolonialist administrators of the Nigerian State.
Abuja - Asari Refuses to Yield Ground
FEDERAL Government yesterday in Abuja said it has opened dialogue with
the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) Alhaji Mujahid
Dokubo Asari, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of
Biafra (MASSOB), as well as leaders of other militia in the zone even as
there are indications that the issues of political autonomy and oil revenues
sought by NDPVF were not immediately resolved.
Owerri - Wades Into Ojukwu, SSS Face-Off
NDIGBO yesterday again rose in massive support of the bid by the ethnic
nationality to produce the country's next president in 2007.
Messages of support for the bid came from some Northern leaders also at
the grand finale of the Igbo Day celebration in Owerri even as apex Igbo
organisation Ohanaeze, is to wade into the current face-off between Ikemba
Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the State Security Services
(SSS).
Owerri - The quest for Igbo presidency in 2007 yesterday received a major thrust
in Owerri, the Imo state capital, as lgbo political stakeholders not only
restated their claim to the presidency but also resolved to initiate moves
to collectively fight for its realisation.
Calabar - Federal government has been advised to expedite action on the
convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) as this will address
some of the problems facing the nation.
President, Supreme Akwa Ibom Community Association (SACA), Cross River
State Chapter, Dr. Oscar Umoh and the National coordinator of the congress
of popular Democracy (CPD), Dr. Edwin Madunagu, while speaking at two
different fora, urged the Federal government to introduce measures that
would cushion the harsh effect of poverty in the country.
Port Harcourt - THE Armed Forces, yesterday, dared an insurgent group-- Niger Delta
People's Volunteers Force-- led by Mujahid Dokubo-Asari to "strike first"
and see the manifestation of Nigeria's "full military colours."
Meanwhile, the National Council of State (NCS) yesterday gave President
Olusegun Obasanjo the go-ahead to crack down on all groups including MASSOB
threatening the country's existence.
Abuja - Obasanjo Mandated to Deal With Troublemakers Council endorses excess
crude fund sharing formula
The Council of State made up of former leaders of Nigeria, the
President, Vice President and State Governors, yesterday gave President
Olusegun Obasanjo the go-ahead to deal with persons or groups whose
activities or utterances threaten the sovereignty of the country.
Owerri - IMO Youths Movement (IYA) has deplored what it called "Present harassment and intimidation" of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu by the Federal Government using the State Security Service (SSS).
Making the condemnation in a press statement in Owerri weekend, the group said the situation becomes worrisome when attempts are made to insult the person of Ojukwu.
opinion
Igbos should insist that they be given an opportunity to govern.
IT is no longer news to say that since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970 it has been a tale of woes for Ndigbo in the economic, political, social and even advancement in the Armed Forces. It is also a truism that a lot has been said and written about the continued suffering of people from this ethnic nationality. These discussions would have since changed if the issues at stake were given the right attention by the appropriate authorities. Again, the issues have remained unresolved because the Federal Government appears not to be in a hurry to address them. People are gradually getting restive while the end to the suffering of Ndigbo, seem not to be in sight.
opinion
Lagos - While the consequences of the interplay of the legality of the action of the SSS and the political strength of Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu are unfolding, there is need for well-meaning Nigerians to do a review of the events especially as they relate to the drum of war and seccession being beaten by MASSOB purportedly on behalf of the people of the South-east Nigeria.
follow MASSOB