₦airaland Forum

Lagos - The Lagos State government on
Sunday sealed the main electrical and
electronic market in Oshodi.
Officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on
Environmental and Special Offences
(Enforcement) Unit on Sunday morning
stormed the market to shut it.
It was gathered that as early as 06:00,
hundreds of armed police officers stormed
the market and shut it down.
Several police vans were stationed around
the market to scare away traders.
Most of the traders had gone to the East to
celebrate the Christmas and New Year
festivals.
The market was shut following
information that traders in the market had
decided to stage a protest in support of
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB), who is being
detained by the Department of State
Security Services (DSS).
Before the closure, it was gathered traders
were planning to organise a rally to
protest the continued detention of Kanu.

Lagos
Similar protests were organised by traders
at the popular Alaba International Market
before the Christmas holiday.
An official of the task force who pleaded
anonymity, however, said they were at the
market to seal it due to the traders
nonchalant attitude to environmental
sanitation.
He noted that the traders have taken
government’s threat lightly and did
nothing to remedy the situation.
Most of the traders, however, disagreed
with the government position.
They noted that they have always abide
with environmental laws.
They wondered why government had to
shut the market when most of the traders
had gone to the East to celebrate the
Christmas and New Year holidays.

I just remember only
recently the Yoruba leaders said they
want to break, break from where. The
Yoruba are probably the people who
economically enjoy Nigeria more than
anybody, economically. So why are they
going?

MXrep:
He appologised for insulting ppl, not for his biafra project. Its the desperate govt that want to use the press to misinform ppl making it look like he has abandoned his struggle. the said apology was on moral grounds, he is still in the legal struggle. and thanks for being honest this time to acknowledge how embarassing the govt has been

project8:
Link: http://www.punchng.com/why-kanu-
apologised-to-buhari-others-lawyer/

sule17:
Who care for ur apology. R u even a nigerian?

“However, I am aware that in the course of making his statements to the SSS, he acknowledged the fact that certain words he used on these persons/elders during his broadcast were ‘uncomplimentary’, considering the culture and values of the African society to which he belongs.

The detained leader of the Indig­enous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu has denied apologising to President Mu­hammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders over his comments on them in Radio Biafra.

This clarification came on the heels of some media reports that the Director of Radio Biafra has tendered unreserved apology to these people in his bid to regain his freedom.

Kanu, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Vincent Obetta, in a statement ob­tained by Saturday Sun said: “I denied the ruse making the rounds that my client apologized vide a letter to the President Mohammed Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan and some Igbo elders. “Obetta said that Kanu did not address any letter of apology whatsoever to President Buhari, Jonathan or the Igbo elders.

“However, I am aware that in the course of making his statements to the SSS, he acknowledged the fact that certain words he used on these persons/elders during his broadcast were ‘uncomplimentary’, considering the culture and values of the African society to which he belongs.

“He further stated that he may write a letter of apology to the President to ex­press his regret over the use of such words on him. But up till this moment, such let­ter, to my knowledge, has not been writ­ten. And I challenge any body that has a copy of such letter to make it public,” he said.

The IPOB counsel noted that there was nothing unusual in acknowledging certain areas where a person got things wrong and expressed regrets.

“To me, I see it as a mark of good lead­ership and a show of high level of sports­manship for him to have been able, at this point, to distinguish between the person of Mr. President and the bad leadership in the Nigeria federation, particularly when the problems that gave rise to the present agi­tation existed several decades preceding the current regime.

“I am still confused as to what and why the statement is causing furor in the media. If the innuendo is to say that by that he is or is intending to abandon his cause, then the propagators of this hype have lost the round.

“At the last time I had meeting with him, he openly told me that he is commit­ted to his cause and was ready to sacrifice anything in the process than abandoning the cause.

“According to him, he is apologetic to the elders to whom he had used uncom­plimentary words, but unapologetic to the pursuit of the agitation for the self-deter­mination of his people,” Obetta said.

He also expressed dismay that the president is still adamant in releasing the detained Kanu.

“I was disappointed to hear this. It is one of the gloomy words I have ever heard from a democratically elected presi­dent. If the president has such powers in a democracy, there would be no necessity of running a three-tier government where the judiciary, as one arm of government, interprets the law. How did we arrive at this point?

“It is anachronistic and opprobrious to the judicial arm of government for an elected President to detain a suspect in­definitely even in the face of a subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction barely on the strength of an investigation report by law enforcement agency which is still subject to judicial scrutiny.

“If Mr. President maintains a hardline position in this respect, it therefore means we have to rewrite our constitution to shift the burden of proof to the accused as well as expunge the ‘presumption of innocence’ as enshrined in our laws. But until that is done, I urge those concerned to release my client ‘unconditionally’ as ordered by the Federal High Court on the 17th December, 2015.”

Obetta, however, said that despite the challenges they are facing in the case of Kanu, their confidence in the Nigerian judiciary is still intact, saying that they would continue to ventilate their griev­ances through the courts.

Flyoruboy:
E pain am! Abeg wetin consign Agbero with overload? ? Why you dey shift goal post? The same Aregbe has commissioned way more projects than all your SE Govs combined so park well and face your market. Just so you know, I'm rooting for Team Biafra to succeed in their quest for freedom. That I busted your lies doesn't change that fact.

Flyoruboy:
. You no even fit refute me. It's ok. You're obviously stunned by those stats. Even Aregbe's state received more FDI than your glorified city-states. Hell yeah, I'd be pained too if I were in your shoes.

Flyoruboy:
Guy, why are you deceiving yourself? Fact: you Biafran igbos are contributing nothing to the Nigerian commonwealth which explains why inspite of your attention seeking noises the FG is calling your bluff. In other words, economically your region ain't shyt. And those fake stats about industrial clusters are nothing but mere fantasy coz even your own folks have long since admitted that y'all are lagging behind other parts of the country -- http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/rivers-state-others-have-overtaken-s-east-in-commerce-industry/

Ogun currently is the number 1 most industrialized state in Nigeria (attracting over 70 new manufacturing industries in the last 3 years with more still waiting in line for approval), followed by Lag. The SW contributes more non-oil revenue to the commonweal than any other region. The North contributes Agric. Pray tell what SE contributes? ?

Lol. Una hero Jonathan himself said it that the SW controls 55% of Nigeria's economy.

Excerpts:




And he wasn't lying when you consider the indices from Manufacturers Association of Nigeria's last report as follows:
The SW virtually controls/accounts for atleast 70% of industrial activity in Nigeria.

old2boy:
Just watching the development so far and pondering if Nigeria without Biafra will benefit by making money from work permits and taxation of 'foreign' businesses.

Is there any Political scientist in the house to enlighten us?

alpha75:
The man of God Apostle JOHNSON SULEMAN the founder of Omega fire ministry in this evening program, made the children of God to understand that there will be peace in NIgeria. And as for those that are agitating for Biafra should go and rest because our great country Nigeria can never divide. He made it clear that those sponsoring Biafra agitation are doing it for their self interest! Moreso, he made it clear that the person that had vision for Biafra died long time ago. He also made it clear that the arm forces that are arresting the agitators should release them and let them go because it will not help. SOURCE - CELEBRATION TV. Mods FP pls

mbaeeeee:
The death of some Igbos in the North is inevitable

There will be reprisals

Hope Ipob learns a big lesson

Governors of the Nineteen northern States on Thursday took undisclosed security measures with a view to ensuring that Wednesday’s violence that included burning of places of worship in the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State does not spread to the northern part of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the nineteen Governors, Borno State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima whose statement was issued by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau on Thursday in Maiduguri, said the Governors, particularly those of major cities were in touch with another yesterday and had taken some firm measures that aim at averting any spill-over.
Shettima said the Governors took the undisclosed measures, following media reports claiming that worship places were touched during the Wednesday violence in Onitsha.

MORE DETAILS SOON

ohemdave:
You are a fool and a daft, better advice yourself and your foolish Buhari to curtail incessant killing of zoo animals by boko Haram. Pro biafra has come to stay. Dullard daura man (PMB) can't fool Nigerians. We hate his ideologies and is a sectional soul that will perish in hell if he doesn't repent.

catlova:
Stop fooling yourselves

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has finally reacted to the outcome of Wednesday’s protest by pro-Biafra groups, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Onitsha, the commercial city of the state, which reportedly led to the death of 9 civilians, two police sergeants and eight others injured.

[img]http://cdn1.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/412x368xBiafra-Onitsha-protest-e1449087509563.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Wf6fPSprfb.webp[/img]
Scene of Onitsha protest

The clash between protesters and security operatives on the Onitsha Head Bridge, also reportedly led to the burning down of the Onitsha Central Mosque and at least six Dangote trucks.
Bothered by this, Governor Obiano today, appealed to the various groups of agitators protesting for the release of the founder of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, to maintain the peace in the state.

Obiano in a special address, said that he wouldn’t stand by and watch what had looked like a peaceful procession get out of hand.

“As your Governor and the Chief Security Officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that,” Governor Obiano declared.
He advised the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other aggrieved groups and individuals to “resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State.”
The governor further warned all mischief makers who might want to take advantage of the peaceful demonstration to foment trouble to “keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretence.”
He assured residents and visitors to the state that he was in touch with all the security agencies in the state and had their assurances that mischief makers would not be allowed to take advantage of the situation.
“I therefore wish to assure Ndi Anambra and all visitors to the state to go about their normal business peacefully as the security agencies are on top of the situation to preserve law and order,” he said.

size40:
Ghen! Ghen!! The real problem starts from now. because there will a factional and splinter group. The next person to be expelled from IPOB will be Nnamdi Kanu for trying to cause second nigeria civil war.

Idrismusty97:
The Biafra issue isn't like the Catalonia or Palestinian issue. The worlds medias know about it and are pinning it all on "Bad governance". BBC said they are protesting for a "Better Nigeria", The economist said the protest was fuel by politicians and bad governance. They equally mentioned Boko haram and the militants.

MOST Nigerians do not remember their
country’s civil war. A large majority were
born years after the 30-month fight
between Nigeria and the breakaway
region of Biafra, which ended when the
secessionists surrendered in 1970. Yet
over the past month independence
protests have erupted in cities across the
south-east, where the self-declared state
once was. Agitators say that this time they
will not be beaten. “Biafra is a country to
be restored,” declares one of them. “We
are determined to fight to the end.”
This is a concern for Nigeria’s new
government. Secessionist organisations in
Biafra have been agitating for years, but
analysts reckon the scale of the current
marches is unprecedented. Superficially,
they were sparked by the arrest of Nnamdi
Kanu, the outspoken head of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
movement, and director of Radio Biafra, a
pirate station. But the grievances run deep.

Nigeria did not exist until British
colonialists drew a line around hundreds
of fractious ethnic groups dominated by
the Igbo in the east, the Yoruba in the
west, and the Hausa-Fulani in the north.
The country’s regions have jostled for
power ever since. Predominantly Igbo
protesters have not forgotten that tens of
thousands of their people were killed
before Biafra unilaterally declared
independence in 1967. Between 1m and
3m people died during the war, many as
the rebel territory was starved into defeat.
In the 45 years since the war ended, they
feel they have been blocked from senior
political posts, denied public services, and
impoverished by a post-war programme
that they say auctioned off their houses
and returned just £20 ($320, in today’s
money) to them.
In the presidential election in March most
south-easterners voted for the incumbent,
Goodluck Jonathan, who comes from their
region. He lost to Muhammadu Buhari, a
Muslim from the north. “#NigeriaWillRot”,
Mr Kanu’s radio station declared after the
results were announced. Politicians have
fired up impressionable agitators by
claiming that the new government is
marginalising Igbos, says Nnamdi Obasi of
the International Crisis Group, a think-tank.
In the oil-rich Niger Delta, a revolt
beginning in the 1990s was focused more
on winning power and a share of the
spoils than on ideology. Many analysts
think the same is true today.
So far the demonstrations have been
mostly peaceful, though locals say shops
have been looted and tyres set ablaze, and
protesters claim police have killed several
of their crew (the police deny those
charges). That could change if Mr Kanu is
killed or mistreated by Nigerian security
agents . Boko Haram sets an unhappy
precedent. The Islamist movement became
a full-scale insurgency only after its leader,
Mohammed Yusuf, was shot in police
detention in 2009. Another worry is the
impending end of a six-year-old amnesty
for militants from the Delta. They could
return to violence if it is not extended next
month, spelling wider instability in the
region.
Mr Kanu is not averse to playing with fire.
He called for arms earlier this year and an
unverified Twitter page in his name is full
of extreme rhetoric and images of
mutilated Biafrans, which Mr Obasi says
often seem to be fake. Last week, his radio
station inferred from a Boko Haram
bombing that the “killing of Igbos in large
scale has already commenced”. Many of his
followers speak with an equally
intimidating tone. “Give us Biafra or we all
die getting Biafra,” one of them proclaims.
The real concern is not alleged government
brutality but poor governance. Despite
huge oil wealth, Nigerians were twice as
likely to be poor in 2010 as they were in
1980. Frustration is not confined to the
south-east. Poverty and joblessness have
driven conscripts into the arms of Boko
Haram terrorists, who want to establish a
caliphate in the mostly Muslim north-east.
Insurgents battled for self-rule in the Delta
until they were paid to stop. Over the years,
too many of Nigeria’s politicians have been
too busy filling their pockets to think of
solving the common underlying problems,
ignoring them until they got out of control.