Despite Madrid’s opposition, Catalonia to declare immediate independence if ‘yes’ wins referendum



AFP-JIJI
JUL 5, 2017

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Catalonia will declare independence “immediately” if the region’s voters opt to separate from Spain in a referendum, its ruling coalition said Tuesday as it unveiled a bill aimed at ensuring the vote takes place despite Madrid’s refusal.

“A decisive vote will be held on Oct. 1, we will respect the vote,” Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont told a press conference.

Gabriela Serra, a member of the separatist coalition that governs Catalonia, said that if a majority of voters back the creation of a Catalan republic, “obviously independence will have to be declared immediately.

If the “no” side wins in the planned Oct. 1 referendum, she added in Barcelona, new regional elections will be called.

The comments came as the coalition presented a bill aimed at extracting the northeastern region from Spain’s legal system in a bid to circumvent all legal and practical challenges to organizing a referendum — a move that will deepen tensions with Madrid.

The bill will be submitted to a vote in the Catalan regional parliament, where separatists hold a majority, at the end of August.

Lluis Corominas, another regional lawmaker from the coalition, announced the law would “prevail” over other rules in place.

Article 2 of the bill stipulates that the Catalan population is a “sovereign subject” that has the right to decide its own “political conditions.

But Xavier Garcia Albiol, head of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party in Catalonia, said it was merely “a coup d’etat dressed up as democracy.

Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million inhabitants with its own language and customs, has long demanded greater autonomy.

For years separatist politicians in the region have tried to win approval from Spain’s central government to hold a vote similar to Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum from Britain — which was approved by London — and resulted in a “no” vote.

But Madrid has remained steadfast in its opposition to such a vote, considering it a threat to Spain’s unity, and this time is no different.

The Constitutional Court has already quashed a resolution approved by Catalonia’s parliament calling for the referendum to take place.

It has also warned Catalonia’s elected officials that they will face legal consequences if they take any steps toward holding such a vote.

The draft bill unveiled Tuesday confirmed the date of the referendum, as well as the question: “Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?”

But challenges from Madrid aside, Catalans themselves are divided on the issue.

Some 48.5 percent are against independence and 44.3 percent are in favor, according to a recent regional government poll — although a large majority want a referendum to take place to settle the matter once and for all.

On top of this, the Catalan executive has been wracked by internal debate over the issue, unable to find a way to guarantee the credibility of such a vote, if it ever manages to hold it faced with Madrid’s refusal.

It has no regional election authority to oversee the vote, for instance, and has not found any companies willing to provide ballot boxes.

Aside from the legal bans of the Constitutional Court, the central government has also threatened civil servants with sanctions if they help organize the referendum, and has warned companies against any involvement.

In an interview on Monday, Jordi Baiget, the regional councilor in charge of business, expressed doubt over whether the referendum could take place, given the power of Madrid.

But this was not to the liking of Catalonia’s President Puigdemont, who promptly announced Baiget’s departure on Monday evening — a decision that was criticized by some of the most fervent supporters of independence.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/05/world/politics-diplomacy-world/despite-madrids-opposition-catalonia-declare-immediate-independence-yes-wins-referendum/#.WVwyhaGEy1s

But this is not a problem. Is it still not the same afonja will take over? I thought Saraki is yoruba, why the hate? If Osinbajo is not good enough, then another yoruba person in the name of Saraki takes over. At the end of the day, yoruba will still be ruling the zoo. Shouldn't we all be happy?

Nigeria: When a Media Aide (Reno Omokri) Becomes a Slave Boy - Jude Ndukwe (@StJudeNdukwe)




L - R: Nnamdi Kanu and Reno Omokri

We must have heard how the former media aide to erstwhile president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, the self-called pastor and founder of the Mind of Chrsit Christian Centre, embarked on an ill-advised and futile attempt at lecturing the Igbo nation on diplomacy in reaction to a statement credited to Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, on president Goodluck Jonathan.

It is most unfortunate that Omokri would take a statement by Nnamdi Kanu as a statement by the Igbo, and weave same to make it look like the Igbo met somewhere as a nation, concluded on what to say about Jonathan and detailed Kanu to speak on their behalf.

Having served at that level of government and run a self-found church for this long (most probably without any anointing), one would have thought that Reno would be circumspect in his approach to such matters rather than blow it out of proportion by apportioning it to the Igbo while using that opportunity to run a web of tirades against the Igbo who were as shocked as anyone else by Kanu’s statements.

Even if anyone should want to say what Kanu said about Jonathan, the general belief in Igboland is that it should not have come from a brother anywhere between the south east and south south. But then, Reno, who was anonymous, lame and ineffectual in his days as media aide to Goodluck Jonathan to the extent that he and his colleagues allowed the opposition to literally run the government of Jonathan aground and out of town but for the intervention of people like Femi-Fani-Kayode, which, though, came late, but was nevertheless so effective that the opposition got distracted from Jonathan and faced FFK squarely, threatening fire and brimstone, and court cases while Jonathan’s rating rose so high within the period FFK joined his campaign.

If Reno had been just even one per cent as effective as he is now, running after every Tom, Dick and Harry who says anything about Jonathan, when he was media aide, the opposition would have had no space to run their propaganda, half-truths and outright falsehood against the former president. The impression Reno creates now is that he was so comfortable enjoying the perks of office and a very sure income that he cared less about his job and its sensitive nature to the image of the person and government of Jonathan.

Of course, we all know that church business is no longer as lucrative in America as it used to be, that country is fast turning its back on the church, so the pastors there, especially those like Reno, who called themselves to church business as a means of livelihood, can hardly make ends meet. The income is low for the Renos of this world, and to shore up whatever little they get from there, they have to try to remain relevant by spewing gibberish against a people in the name of defending Jonathan.
While it is unacceptable to some of us to describe Jonathan in uncomplimentary remarks, we still remember very well that the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, an Ijaw man like Jonathan himself, said that Jonathan’s six years as president was a waste. While we condemn Dickson for such insulting remark, it would be wrong for anyone to claim that it was the Ijaw that spoke through Dickson. Those of us who condemned Dickson for such remarks, condemned him as a person, and even though he is the governor of Bayelsa State, we would still not arrogate such malicious remark to the good people of Bayelsa. So, why would Reno ascribe Kanu’s remarks about Jonathan to Ndigbo and not ascribe Dickson’s to the Ijaw?

What lesson in diplomacy does Reno want the Igbo to learn when the region is peopled by some of the finest diplomats, ladies and gentlemen that can be found anywhere in the world and have risen to the height of their respective callings, towering above many others. From Emeka Anyaoku to Alex Ekwueme, Onyeka Onwenu, Cardinal Arinze, Nwankwo Kanu just to mention a few.

It is on record that Wole Soyinka one made reference to Jonathan as the inglorious King Nebuchadnezzar of biblical days and described Patience Jonathan as “mere appendage of power…” and other unsavoury things he had said then about the former president and his family. But Reno then operated like a sickly fowl just saved from lightning-induced electrocution: helpless, weak, incompetent and ineffectual while the Soyinkas, Lai Mohammeds etc had a field day against his principal.
How come Soyinka’s statement was not arrogated to the Yoruba then?

One can only imagine how the Igbo would have been bashed if it was an Igbo man that described Jonathan as clueless. Of course, the traditional media would have gone gaga and the social media would have gone haywire. The statement would have been “the Igbo lack diplomacy, they lack respect, they lack courtesy” etc. But because it was somebody from the other side of the divide that said it, it could be forgiven, it could be forgotten. Not so, never so for the Igbo man. He must not talk or else he is labeled. Such nonsense!

Nobody heard Reno arrogating that balderdash against Jonathan in Segun Adniyi’s book “Against the Run of Play” to the Yoruba, and rightly so too. Segun Adeniyi may be Yoruba but he does not equate to Yoruba. The same goes for Nnamdi Kanu. One can only imagine what the Igbo would have been subjected to if that propaganda and hate-filled book had been written by an Igbo man.

While Jonathan faced acerbic and scurrilous attacks even from his own people in south south, the Igbo stood by him solidly. One can only thank God that Rotimi Amaechi is not Igbo, or Timipre Sylva, or Magnus Abe etc, the Renos of this world would have been convulsing with hate and use every opportunity available to spew such in-built hate against Ndigbo in the media.

It is even more nightmarish to remember that Jonathan lost the 2015 election majorly to image problem created by the opposition and unchallenged by the president’s media aides of which Reno was a prominent member.

The fact is that the Igbo love Jonathan even till tomorrow no matter what the Renos of this world try to make us feel or think. Apart from high ranking appointments, it was Jonathan who destroyed the plans of our common foes to keep Ndigbo perpetually inaccessible and locked out from the outside world when he declared the Enugu airport an international air route for Nigeria thereby opening the south east directly to the world. That was not a mean feat given the fact that it was done against the powerful wish of those who have held this country down for so long with their oppressive agenda.

That singular action by Jonathan has opened the south east to enormous opportunities that can only be appreciated not only now but forever.

However, the south east is also suffering for their support to Jonathan at the 2015 elections. Our businessmen in the oil & gas industry, auto-industry, cement industry, manufacturing industry etc, are being hounded freely today by security agencies because of their open support for the former president. The reversal of some of Jonathan’s policies like that of the automobile industry was directed at the Igbo who were already making giant strides in that sector before the coming of Buhari. Today, our busineses suffer for our free democratic choice to support Jonathan. We have no regrets about that at all. We are never known to abandon our own even when the battle is fiercest, it does not matter what gossips and betrayers say about us. Our loyalty is always total and unalloyed.

The suffering assumed an official dimension and got the official stamp of the presidency when Buhari made the infamous and unfortunate declaration of 97% vs 5%! The good thing is that what the Igbo saw in 2015 while sitting, those who did not see it even while standing on the Iroko tree are now seeing it and wished they had towed the same line with the Igbo during the elections.

No matter what Nnamdi Kanu says, Jonathan will continue to enjoy the support of Ndigbo even till death. We will not betray him like some of his own people have done. Kanu might have said what he said, but the truth is, given another opportunity to choose between Jonathan and Buhari, Kanu, even Kanu would still choose Jonathan. He is not like Reno who is scoring a much needed goal only after the match has ended. Such a needless, meaningless and useless goal…

Rather than his diatribe against the Igbo, Reno would do well to come out from hiding, return to Nigeria and join in the noble task of tackling this oppressive and tyrannical government that has brought so much distrust among brothers and sown so much hate among neighbours. It is an act of cowardice to remain in San Francisco and keep picking on soft targets while the real despots in the country get away with severe and several acts of unconstitutionality.

Even if he decides to remain in distant lands, when next Reno wants to attack, he should choose his subjects carefully. Ndigbo are not Jonathan’s problem. People like Reno who think they can continue to be hypocritical in order to impress Jonathan should learn to deliver their messages as aides and not as slaves!

Lastly, Jonathan remains Nigeria’s hero of democracy. It is his meekness that has exposed Buhari’s gross incompetence and tyranny. If Jonathan had behaved like strong men behave in Africa, we would not have had the opportunity to know that Buhari is the worst president Nigeria would ever have.
Meekness is no weakness. It is the strong that let go. Jonathan let go to save the nation from the precipice, and today we have all learnt enormous lessons from that singular act of magnanimity.
I hope Reno, too, has learnt.

=. =. =.

Jude Ndukwe (Twitter: @StJudeNdukwe)

http://www.agorasblog.com/2017/07/nigeria-when-media-aide-reno-omokri.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

What happened then was genocide against Biafrans by nigerians from the north and southwest. They rewrote the history and it became just civil war, but our people are awakening to reality. Rwanda's deaths was not up to that of Biafran's, yet the whole world acknowledged it as genocide.

REVEALED: WE ARE BEING PAID AND SPONSORED BY SOME ELITES TO WRITE AND TARNISH THE IMAGE OF NNAMDI KANU


In the contemporary Nigeria today, Biafra has become not just a political issue but also a national question which has remained a thorn on the flesh and heart of the Nigerian state and the world at large. Nnamdi Kanu has also become a household name which must make headline in both online and news paper media outfits for them to sell or have the needed traffic on their various platforms. Nnamdi Kanu the leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra had in recent time faced a lot of media blackmail, backstabbing and the most brutal media trials, wars and bulling from different media maria's and internet gladiators. Now these set of voracious and thrusting bloggers/Journalists are propagating that Nnamdi Kanu said he is greater than Jesus Christ, like seriously? So ridiculous. You see how vain and moronic this sounds?

The Nigerian government and her political elites have embarked on massive recruitment of internet wizards and online e-rats whose sole duty is to fabricate all forms of lies against Nnamdi Kanu thereby waging a media war against him in other to douse and sow a seed of discord among his teeming followers. According to one of the panic-stricken journalists who was part of the newly recruited crew sponsored by these elites in the Nigerian government, who out of fear of the unknown pleaded anonymity even as she took it upon herself to disclose this vital information to a Family Writers correspondent, Somto Okonkwo.

However, in her open confession she stated thus: "We are many recruited for this job and our sole duty is to wage a media war, to write and tarnish the image of Nnamdi Kanu even if it means fabricating lies against him and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). They got us well furnished apartments, Laptops, Phones, sophisticated gadgets and two cars just to make sure we did not lack any logistics that will aid our work to avoid excuses. Though we are about eleven journalists now and I know more are still being recruited. We have already started writing against him and fabricating stories just to steer the attention of people away from the agitation".

Continuing she said that, "the reason behind this move was because Nnamdi Kanu has galvanised and is commanding multitude of followers, in that his profile and influence amongst the masses is becoming threatening and the Nigeria government is unarguably frightened. These elites are now seriously scared and furious that millions of people are following Nnamdi Kanu, while more have continued to identify with him hence, their decision to form and institute a media front to do their bidding of calculated media onslaught to tarnish his fast growing popularity and followers, yet they are still finding it difficult to bring the young man down. I got myself into this mess because of the material inducement and other benefits and am seriously feeling guilty and remorseful for my actions".

She also advised that I warn the leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra to be very mindful and vigilant of happenings around him because many people have been employed to destroy him and there are desperate moves to scuttle his agitation.

Therefore, we at Family Writers Press in a strong term without mincing words, want to put the world on notice that, should anything untold happens to the supreme leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Nigerian government should be held accountable. Family Writers Press is also condemning unequivocally the persistent and calculated attacks on the person of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government and their collaborators. We have pledged an unalloyed loyalty to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, an unflinching support to the Biafra struggle and we are standing in the gap to unveiling and revealing all the orchestrated plans and agenda of the Nigerian government on Biafra and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, letting them bare at the fore of the international communities and the world at large. We have reliable sources and whistle blowers that are always at our beck and call to disclosing and exposing the secrets and hidden conspiracies going on within Nigerian government.

http://www.thebiafraherald.co/2017/07/revealed-we-are-being-paid-and.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Nigerians never see anything. Let them continue with their Lagos-Ibadan express way gutter media propaganda of some fictitious Anambra groups disowning Nnamdi Kanu and the election boycott. When 18th of November comes, we shall know between those real people we see in the video and those imagined fictitious group who will carry the day. Nigerians are silly with their childish propaganda that it beggars belief.

seanet02:
No, he was not weak, there was possibly nothing he could do, the troops were 90 hausas who have been brainwashed that they could only take orders from their kinsmen.
He tried his best but the odds were definitely against him ezeuche.

Because he is yoruba, therefore, he tried his best. Had he been an Igbo officer, you would not have used the sentence "he tried his best" We know cowards when we see one.

EzeUche:


The counter-coup could have been prevented. Ironsi surrounded himself with Northerners to appear that he did not have any ethnic biases. He should of surrounded himself with trusted Igbo and Yoruba soldiers.

This nation would have been divided if Western diplomats did not play a role in keeping this nation one.

The western diplomats know the fools whom they can easily control and use them to have unrestricted access to the oil in Biafra, hence their role in persuading the fools not to secede despite their Araba plans to secede.

Some of you are just dimwits. Masturbating with an old photo won't stop Biafra.

Yet some useful idiots pretend not to see why Biafrans want out from the hell hole called nigeria where illiterates are implanted to control the literates. In such situation, where will the much wanted progress come from when illiterates are in control of the nation's affairs? A question to those stupid unity beggers.

Useless man. He is losing cutomers and now want to use Biafra to get back his customers. Only the gullible Igbos will follow or listen to this fraud of a man called Mbaka. May Chukwu Okike Abiama of UmuBiafra knock down that Useful idiot.

tinsel:
Ithink Igbos in the North will have serious problem if anything happens to Buhari. They will have to problem the igbo youths. I have never seen where an igbo man will wish death even to his enemies the way our youths are behaving. It is our culture to sympathize with your worst enemy in time of death.
I have warned my relatives in kano to just put there ears on the ground and be careful.
What our youths are doing rejoicing over another"s sickness and even wishing him death is an eyesore.
I think it is time we think again.

You Yoruba lame idiot should just shut up your mouth. Igbo wanna be afonja.

All Biafrans should take that idiot serious. He is exhibiting the mindset of most northerners. They simply can't take the scam that SW has once again perpetuated on them, (Remember OBJ and Yar'adua and now Tinubu and Buhari) and they are ready to vent their anger towards Biafrans who's land is from where their parasitic behind gets their free oil money from.

Tinubu dogs are biting back. What was planned wasn't what they saw after being dribbled out of scene.

Interesting discussion aboiut Nnamdi Kanu by TVC panel. Listen from 18minutes of the video to get the confession. Na Yorubas themselves tok am.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47ZPe1ZpTlo&t=108s

IpobExposed:
Instead of Badluck Jonathan to fight Boko Haram he was there they kidnapped the chibok.

Chibok was a scam perpetrated by northern elite for the return of power to north. Power that they don't even know what it means of how to use it for the benefit of the masses.

Pray for that murderer?

Daviddson:
This man is just looking for cheap popularity and acceptance by IPOB faithfuls. Just let APC moot the idea of bringing him back to their fold and see how he'll start lambasting Kanu, GEJ and PDP. He has no allegiance at all. He's only interested in being popular by criticism even where none is needed.

He voluntarily left APC when he found out APC is an evil party, so what exactly are you blabbing on about?

GavelSlam:
They keep thinking the north use Boko Haram.

Is this also the case in Cameroun and other countries with insurgency?

Nigerians love conspiracies so much that after they invent them they believe them like a religion.

Don't be silly. What is that fool called Nnamani talking about getting education and certificate? Are those that have connered the power by military violence and restructured the government in a way that it excludes Igbos more educated than Igbos? They used military power and violence of all means to coner the power today, yet Nnamani is talking about education which the Igbo are far much better than those that think they are born to rule.

deji68:
6 billion Naira corruption charges he don gentle

So where exactly is the so called corruption fight by messier buhari? Only a phone call to the EFFCC chiarman who is also a northerner, telling him that there was a meeting and Sanusi has appologized and the charges will be forgotten. Then idiots wonder why we Biafrans want out from this cesspit called nigeria.

These people prefer almajiri system of life, so all that Sanusi was preaching is not for them. Forget the $1.85Million light rail project mentioned in this article, that was not really the problem. Problem is why should Sanusi talk nonsense about their almajiri way of life.

RockHard:
Smh. This yigbo people no get shame. Comparing two Yoruba men. Next they'll compare Tinubu to OBJ. Una no get influential yigbo political heavyweights worth comparing? Wey be say na to dey suck Yoruba politicians' dicks una sabi. Tufiakwa!

Comparing a yoruba and a fulani. Point corrected!!

alade112:


off topic. Dz one of the effects of smoking too much weed..

The yorubas and the British colonialists are the economic beneficiaries of SE/SS sufferings and resources being pillaged by northern oligarchy made up of hausa/fulani. Britain must always release this sort of propaganda to make the yorubas feel good and see reasons to keep on assisting in keeping their "factory" called nigeria one.

Jabioro:
Send this, yours thought to National Assembly so your constituency representative can raise as it as matter arising for an effective debate ..

That is yoruba way right? Reason why the below quote is meant for yorubas.

''I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.'' - Harriet Tubman.

folarinmiles:


Your quote directly speak of you. You claim you're not slaves yet derez nothing you can do than to be a minority on the losing end while they keep enslaving your asš. They mine your Coles in tonnes and all you could do is come to nl or go on the street celebrating trump. Brown nose folks seeking cheap favors

Do you know what it means to oppose someone who erroneously think he is your master and on the otherhand, what it means to always bow to and serve willingly such person? Now that is the picture of Igbo and yoruba in the hands of the so called hausa/fulani. Igbos want out of the cage being gaurded for the British by the hausa/fulani while yorubas want to remain despite all the abnormalities.

folarinmiles:
"especially yorubas"
Ibos should stay dere while dey fvck ur mama and sisters finish.
I wonder if most of dx nl iPod/biafrans are not mixed breed of fulani and ibo woman

''I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.'' - Harriet Tubman.

Will you and your yoruba people ever realize you are slaves to the hausa/fulanis? Seems you all are enjoying this useless union called nigeria except few of you like Femi Fani Kayode and others.

Of course Saraki is far more influencial. Who know Tinubu except yoruba muslims and that he is a confirmed drug lord and the most corrupt human in nigeria.