Gov. Okorocha Visits Kano Over Boko Haram Attacks

The governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is in Kano for on-the-spot assessment of the recent bomb attacks by the Boko Haram sect in the state. While in Kano, Gov. Okorocha will assess the level of destruction of lives and property, especially as it affects Igbos and other Nigerians. The governor will also pay a visit to his Kano State counterpart, Alhaji Rabiu Kwakwanso, and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, to condole with them over the attack on the people of the state.

The visit is in line with Gov. Okorocha’s commitment to the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians regardless of their ethnic background. He urged Nigerians to view the attack by the Boko Haram sect as one aimed at the nation rather than along ethnic, religious or sectional lines. He therefore called on Nigerians to rise above religious and ethnic sentiments and work collectively towards building a nation of our dreams.

Gov. Okorocha Proposes N174 Billion For 2012

Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has presented a budget proposal of N174,316,400,000 before the Imo State House of Assembly for approval for the 2012 fiscal year. The presentation took place Friday, January 20, 2012 at the State Assembly complex, New Owerri. According to the proposal, 27 percent of the budget (N47,065,426,000) will go to recurrent expenditure while the remaining 73 percent of N127,250,972,000 goes to capital projects.

The budget proposal has a projection of over N88 billion for recurrent items, N86 billion for capital receipts and a receipt of over N50 billion from the federation account. Tagged “Budget of Rescue”, the budget emphasized that the state government would in the 2012 fiscal year pursue aggressively poverty reduction, infrastructural development, provision of employment for Imolites, as well as evolve the commercialization of the state Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals.

Governor Okorocha added that the 2012 budget would also aim at enhancing the internally generated revenue of the state, reducing recurrent expenditure, pursuing erosion control and free and compulsory basic education, improving health care, and providing adequate infrastructure for the citizenry. Another unique feature of the budget proposal is the “Imo Multi-city Development Programme” which provides for the upgrading of infrastructure in the following towns: Umuaka, Nworieubi, Anara, Ahiara, Okpala, Mgbidi and Akokwa.

The budget also proposed the relocation of the Imo State University, dualization of roads leading to the three cities of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri and their massive infrastructural development, construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in each of the 27 local government areas of the state, construction of four new markets at Owerri and zonal markets in Orlu and Okigwe, and the electrification of at least 10 communities in each LGA.

Earlier in his address, the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ben Uwajimogu, noted that the State House of Assembly is in synergy with the governor in every effort to rescue Imo from the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment. He added that in demonstrating this, the House had in recent months passed over 10 people-oriented bills, including the approval for a four-year capital development plan which is today manifesting in the massive road construction, building projects and free education for the people of the state. Hon. Uwajimogu assured the state that the House would support the executive in efforts to meet the needs of the people through the promulgation of good laws and effective oversight functions for good governance.

Reacting to the presentation, Hon. Simeon Iwunze, representing Isiala Mbano State Constituency, thanked the governor for his elaborate presentation but noted that the budget should take into cognizance income and utilization of the fuel subsidy deductions accruable to the state from the federal government.

Also, Hon Mrs. Pat Ekeji, representing Aboh Mbaise, and Hon Greg Okemili, representing Oru East, thanked the governor for proposing a budget that would touch the lives of the people and assured him of the support of the members of the Imo State House of Assembly.

Isunjaba: The Land, The People And Their Historical Origin

By John-Cliff NWADIKE

Isunjaba occupies a strategic position and very important place in the history of Igboland. It forms a cultural link between the Northern and Southern groups of the Isu clan. The area was and is still favourable for settlement of people from the beginning of Igbo history. It is fertile for crops like yam, cocoyam, maize, cassava and vegetables of all sorts. The Njaba River which has its source in Isunjaba provides the inhabitants with excellent drinking water as well as white chalk of superior quality (nzu). Thus, prospective settlers had both opportunities for subsistence and engaging in gainful occupations.

The roots of the Isunjaba town, like those of other Igbo areas, lie deep in the distant past. Though there are diverse tales of origin, most of the people appear to have lived in their present villages from the dawn of Igbo history, thus making the town one of the oldest in Igboland. According to the G. I. Jones Intelligence Report on Northern and Central Isu (NAE/MILGOV/13.1/27) published in 1934, Isunjaba is the head of the Isu group and is respected as such.

Besides, M. A. Onwuejeogwu maintains that nine major movements of peoples might be postulated to account for the present distribution and diversities of people and cultures in the Igbo culture area. One of such movements, according to him, is the Isu movement. This means that all other Isu communities which abound in Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta and Rivers States migrated from Isunjaba at one time or the other. Most of these groups, up till the present, revere the Eke-Njawa, the sacred python.

Isunjaba myths of origin can be divided into two different but related versions. The first version has it that the first Isunjaba man was created by Chukwu Abiama out of the Njaba River through the instrumentality of NJAWA. With time, he populated all the villages in the town through his son, Isu, who is said to have married a wife, ELILI. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Ebeke and Okporo.

The Njaba River

To foster a sense of oneness and kinship and to perpetuate and immortalize their forefather’s name, the sons of Ebeke called themselves ISUNJAWA, which is coined from Isu and Njawa, their grandfather and great-grandfather respectively. Thus, Isunjaba literally means Isu, son of Njawa – Isu nke Njawa. However, when the British had contact with the people in the early twentieth century, they erroneously referred to them as Isunjaba, which is Anglo-saxon version of Isunjaba and both are used to refer to a town that is currently in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State.

The second version of the origin of Isunjaba has is that the town was founded by a man called NJAMU (let me hide) or NJAWA. According to this version, Njamu was discovered by hunters at the source of a stream which they later called Njaba/Njawa. Njawa got married and his wife gave birth to a baby boy, and he called him Isu, which means Ishi (head). The wife also gave birth to another son called EZIAMA, and a third son, AMUCHA, which means AMUCHANAM. Unfortunately, this version does not tell us where the hunters came from and what actually brought NJAWA to the source of the river. It is also difficult to reason why the hunters preferred to perpetuate the name of NJAWA (by establishing a town with it) to theirs. Despite all these arguments, many elders still believe and hold this version only as a variant of the first.

With time, the sons and great grand-sons of Njaba/Njawa dispersed to other areas and founded communities which bear their names till date. Isu, being the most senior and Ojiofo of Njawa settled at the place of their birth – the source of the Njaba River.

At present, Isunjaba town is made up of twelve villages in the following order: Okwara, Uzoafor, Ihitte, Ndiuhu, Imeowerre, Umunwamiri, Ubah, Umuezealaibe, Duruaku, Umuoji Uzoafor, Ndimbara Onunkwo Imeowerre, Ndimbara Nzeneri Imeowerre, and Umuokwaraku.

At the early stage of its history, the village head of Isunjaba had far-reaching powers which enabled him to administer his people efficiently. He demanded and received prompt obedience from his subjects on anything at all. As a matter of fact, the first generations of Isunjaba rulers were men of repute, active and persuasive enough to be spokesmen of the town.

It is interesting to observe that a visit to the Okwaraezeobi’s palace (the traditional stool of Isunjaba) is a “veritable encounter with history: the cannons used in the pacification of Igboland by the British, pots of cowries used in the past as money, big traditional talking drums, carved traditional seats, old traditional war knives, the old storey building built in the nineteen twenties and historic photographs”. All these point to a people with long traditional history of organized and efficient leadership.

The judicial system also played an important role in the growth of the town. The Okwaraezeobi presided over the judicial set-up. In most cases, he was regarded as the final court of appeal in all cases, but a more efficient court was that provided by public opinion.

The socio-economic life of the people was regulated by religious sanctions, especially during the Igbu-Awa (New Yam Festival) which has been modernized and Christianized by HRH, Eze B. C. Osuala (Okwaraezeobi Isunjaba). Those sanctions provided effective checks on crimes. Offenders were dealt with through a number of religious sanctions. In some instances, the public could ridicule anyone who failed to observe social standards of the town.

The Isunjaba people were not war mongers. This is due mainly to the fact that the town evolved political and social mechanisms that averted the outbreak of wars from within and outside. However, to say the above should not imply that the people did not give good accounts of themselves during the few recorded wars that occurred. Enlistment into the local military machine was ad-hoc. Once the aggressors were taken care of, those who took part in the war went back to their homes and resumed their routine socio-economic life.

Another interesting aspect of Isunjaba history is the reverence the whole town accords the sacred python – Eke Njawa. This python is treated with utmost reverence by all the inhabitants of the town, irrespective of one’s religion and social standing. It is neither killed nor eaten. Strangers, including religions leaders, are not allowed to tamper with it. This explains why neighbouring and outside communities regard Isunjaba as a totemic entity.

Right from the inception of the town, the people, via their leaders, managed to organize their very limited resources in order to provide some basic services. The need for an efficient means of communication and transportation made the people to engage in the construction and maintenance of footpaths. These paths were swept and kept clean regularly as they led to the markets, streams, farms, and village squares. Markets were built and the elders ensured that they were kept clean. Some of these markets, especially the Nkwo Isu daily market, reflected the vitality and viability of the economic life of the Isunjaba people.

Another interesting aspect of Isunjaba social history is the Okorosha cultural dance which immensely helps to stabilise the town. The Okorosha institution is an exclusive affair of adult males. Only one woman in a village could be initiated into its fold as “Lolo Okorosha”. Such a woman must be responsible and wealthy enough to be selected for such an honour. After her initiation, she becomes free to come out when the Okorosha masquerades are performing both in the day and night (practice period). The Okorosha as such contributes greatly in regulating the lives of the people. The Okorosha masquerade performs parallel function of the modern police force and tax agents. They are used in collecting debts and fines, and as the spirits of the ancestors, they are immune to attack, physical molestation and police arrest.

In conclusion, it must be remarked that the average Isunjaba person believes that the town was created by Chukwu Abiama through the instrumentality of Njawa and Isu. The children and great grand-children of these early founders of the town called themselves and their place of abode ISUNJABA – Isu nke Njaba. It was the British, out of their ignorance, that later corrupted Isunjawa to Isunjaba. Ever since then, both names are used interchangeably and they mean one and the same thing and represent the same great and historic town in the heart of Igboland – Isunjaba.

*JohnCliff NWADIKE is a professor in the Department of History and International Studies, Imo State University, Owerri

Full Text Of President Jonathan’s Speech To Nigerians, 16th January, 2012

Dear Compatriots,

This is the second time in two weeks I will address you on the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. In the last seven days, the nation has witnessed a disruption of economic activities. Although, the economic imperatives for the policy have been well articulated by government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went ahead to declare a nationwide strike.

There was also near-breakdown of law and order in certain parts of the country as a result of the activities of some persons or groups of persons who took advantage of the situation to further their narrow interests by engaging in acts of intimidation, harassment and outright subversion of the Nigerian state. I express my sympathy to those who were adversely affected by the protests.

At the inception of the deregulation policy, Government had set up the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee to liaise with Labour and other stakeholders to address likely grey areas in the policy, but despite all our efforts, Labour refused the option of dialogue and also disobeyed a restraining order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

However, following the intervention of the Leadership of the National Assembly, and other well-meaning Nigerians, Labour accepted to meet with government, but this yielded no tangible result.

It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the protest. This has prevented an objective assessment and consideration of all the contending issues for which dialogue was initiated by government. These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy, and insecurity to the detriment of public peace.

Government appreciates that the implementation of the deregulation policy would cause initial hardships and commends Nigerians who have put forth suggestions and credible alternatives in this regard. Government also salutes Nigerians who by and large, conducted themselves peacefully while expressing their grievances. Let me assure you that government will continue to respect the people's right to express themselves within the confines of the law and in accordance with the dictates of our democratic space.

Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price.

Government is working hard to reduce recurrent expenditure in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance. In the meantime, government has commenced the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment projects: including the Federal Government- assisted mass transit programme which is already in place, and job creation for the youth.

Furthermore, the legal and regulatory regime for the petroleum industry will be reviewed to address accountability issues and current lapses in the Industry. In this regard, the Petroleum Industry Bill will be given accelerated attention. The report of the forensic audit carried out on the NNPC is being studied with a view to implementing the recommendations and sanctioning proven acts of corruption in the industry.

Let me assure Nigerians that this administration is irrevocably committed to tackling corruption in the petroleum industry as well as other sectors of the economy. Consequently, all those found to have contributed one way or the other to the economic adversity of the country will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

My dear compatriots, I urge you to show understanding for the imperatives of the adjustment in the pump price of petrol and give government your full support to ensure its successful implementation. I further appeal to Nigerians to go back to work and go about their normal duties as government has made adequate arrangements for the protection of life and property throughout the federation.

Government will not condone brazen acts of criminality and subversion. As President, I have sworn to uphold the unity, peace and order of the Nigerian State and by the grace of God, I intend to fully and effectively discharge that responsibility. Let me add that we are desirous of further engagements with Labour. I urge our Labour leaders to call off their strike, and go back to work.

Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must collectively safeguard its unity.

Thank you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

President,

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Nigeria: Protests/Strike Over Fuel Subsidy Removal May Linger

The end may not be in sight for the nationwide strike and protests which have been going on in Nigeria since Monday, January 9, 2012 over the removal of subsidy on PMS by the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government of Nigeria. This indication emerged Saturday, January 14, following the deadlock in the talks between the Federal Government and Labour represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Abuja. The deadlock, sources say, is due to differences on the methodology in finding a solution to the crisis.

A statement released by Labour and jointly signed by Owei Lakemfa, Acting General-Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, and John Kolawole, Secretary General of Trade Union Congress, said that Labour’s analysis of the situation was that tension was already very high in the land following the fuel price increase, the resultant strikes, rallies and street protests and the human causalities that have followed, and that a suspension of the new petrol price will reduce tension and return the country to normalcy.

“We decided to make a plea to President Goodluck Jonathan in the overriding interest of the country to suspend the PMS (petrol) price increases and direct that talks between government and Labour be concluded on the petroleum industry, especially at it affects fuel subsidy and pricing within a short time frame. We made a pledge that once the price increase suspension is announced, Labour and its allies will immediately suspend the strikes, rallies and street protests,” the statement said.

“The summary of Labour’s position at the meeting was that talks and consultations were on-going before government aborted them by announcing the 120-220 per cent increase in the price of petrol, and that it is necessary to return to the status quo in order to douse tension, return the country to normalcy and allow for a conducive atmosphere for consultations and talks. However, Government’s only offer was to reduce the new prices while declining to allow a phased price increase. We think that the government position will not return the country to normalcy. The Labour Movement pledges that whenever and wherever government invites us for talks, we shall be there without any conditionality,” it further stated.

On the objectives of the strikes and protests, the statement reiterated that the strikes, rallies and streets protests must be peaceful and that the objective was the reversal of the petrol (PMS) prices to their pre-January 1, 2012 level, and that Labour was not campaigning for ‘Regime Change’.

“The Labour Movement is wedded to democracy. Therefore, anybody or group that wants a change in the political leadership of the country at whatever level, should do so through the ballot box.

“The Labour Movement and its Civil Society allies are also saddened by the unprecedented loss of lives and injuries sustained during the indefinite strikes, rallies and streets protests that commenced from Monday January 9, 2012.

“We reiterate that those who visit violence on protesters and their masters who gave such evil orders will individually be brought to justice.

“We in the Labour Movement have done our duty to our country; we have made tremendous sacrifices including loss of lives; we have carried out the mandate of the Nigerian people; we can do no more.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, the indefinite strikes, rallies and protests continue nationwide from Monday, 16th January, 2012,” it concluded.

That Jonathan’s Mistakes May Bring Us Good Luck

By Chidozie CHUKWUBUIKE

Let us pray.

Almighty and ever living God, you see through the hearts of men. Look into our individual hearts in this our period of adversity and expunge the hypocrisy that has taken over our entire being. Give us the courage to overcome that other us that is a lie. Give us the boldness to disown the voice of our new education and reconnect us to our forthright and truth telling past. Our fathers told the truth even in the face death. Help us to be true sons and daughters of our fathers.

O God, you were there in the beginning and you know how this country Nigeria was formed. You know how Lugard whom they called lord banded together people who had no business being called one. Before Lugard and his brothers came, the Igbo bought groundnuts from the Hausa, the Hausa bought kolanut from the Yoruba, and the Yoruba bought palm oil from the Igbo. God I do not know the exact sequence but you know that each people had something they benefited from the other. They respected one another without any pretension to brotherhood. They pray to different gods, they speak in different tongues, and they even eat different foods. But Lugard and his cronies came and wanted to Lord them and therefore they must become brothers. And if we live to see 2014 we would have been brothers for 100 years. Brothers in hatred. Brothers in disdain. Brothers in bloodshed. O God is this the definition of brotherhood? But Lugard the lord had since gone and our own people have continued to wear the Lord of Lugard. They tell lies and pretend we are brothers. They only crave to continue eating what Lugard left behind.

In 1966 we massacred ourselves, in 1967 we fought a war but because we did not say the truth, the new Lugards brought us back together. Now here again we are, O God, on the brink of another war. I call on you, O God that answereth by fire, to come down and tear us apart. Let us disengage to engage. If it is Jonathan's bad decisions that will bring us to our senses and disintegrate us, then may he make multiple bad decisions. If Lugard were alive today, I would have asked him if there are no countries in his own part of the world that are less populated than Ijaw.

As I watched a truck load of my mangled kinsmen brought home from Kaduna in 1993, and my dismembered kinsmen at St Theresa's Catholic Church, Maraba, I cannot help but ask God not to let us meet 2014 as one country. They say when you buy a land after 99 years it reverts back to the original owner. O God, this is our time to return to our different roots, and begin to see one another with more respect. Do it for us, O God, do it and take the glory. Untie the lips of our legislators that they may begin to speak the truth and eschew the Lugardian lie. Amen.

Igbo Genocide In Nigeria: Igbovillers Lead Protest In London

The London protest

Members of Igboville resident in London, Friday, January 13, 2012 led a five-hour rally in London, beginning at Old Palace Yard SW1, to protest the genocide against Igbos in Nigeria which has been going on since 1945. For the sake of clarity, Igboville is the exclusive social network of Ndigbo Nigeria, at home and in the Diaspora, with the desire to, among other things, create a new and strong Igbo based on mutual trust, dignity and unparalleled unity. As part of the programme, the group also met the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to deliver a petition demanding an end to the ongoing Igbo genocide. The petition signed by Iyk JP Igwe, Chin Akano, J. Duke Anago, Chinenye Ufearoh-Onoh, Ejike Ikezuagu, Amechi Benson Ugwu, Larry Iloh, and Michael Chibuzo Okoli for Igboville members and Ndigbo, read as follows:

“1. Nigeria is an oil rich country and a regional power in West Africa. It is a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual country with a population of more than 160 million people. There are three major ethnic groups, the Igbo (also known as Ibo) and the Yoruba in the South, and the Hausas in the North. There are about 250 other smaller groups in the federation. The Hausa are predominantly Muslims, and live in the Northern part of Nigeria, the Yoruba are split almost evenly between Muslims and Traditionalists or Christians, and live in the South-Western part of Nigeria, and the Igbo, 99% Christians, live in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.

2. In 1914 the Southern and Northern protectorates of the British Colonies were amalgamated into one country - Nigeria - without due consultation with the colonies or national conference on nationhood convened for the people to work out their own destiny. The consequence is that the country has been plagued with mutual distrust between regions, tribalism, ethnic squabbles, sectarian violence, ethnic cleansing, sporadic violence and terrorism, civil wars, and increasing violence and terrorism in recent times.

3. The Igbos inhabit the South-Eastern (popularly referred to as the East) part of Nigeria with a population of over 50 million. They speak the Igbo language and are predominantly Christians. A land blessed with human and mineral resources including oil. The Igbos are very commercially inclined and extremely industrious. The Igbos as a people had an established democratic institution even before colonization by the British. They are very republican and egalitarian in nature, and coexisted peacefully with their neighbours prior to colonization.

4. Today, the Igbos of Nigeria have demonstrated to the world their commitment to peaceful coexistence by refusing to take up arms for self-preservation in the face of a targeted, determined and unrelenting genocide in the Northern part of Nigeria, by appealing to the UN and the International Community for immediate response and protection of Igbos (Ndigbo) of Nigeria. Today we have decided to bring to the attention of the International community the enormity of the crime against humanity, the despicable carnage, the pogrom, the ethnic cleansing going on in Nigeria today.

5. As you are reading this, the massacre is on-going with outrageous ferocity and wicked intent aimed at wiping the Igbos off the face of the earth. We continue to bury our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters in thousands every week, and every month. We have watched our daughters and wives publicly raped and butchered, pregnant women's stomach cut open and the foetus removed and killed, breast feeding mothers have had their breasts cut off and allowed to bleed to death. Hundreds have been burnt alive, and the world is silent.

6. Innocent and law abiding citizens whose only crimes have been their industriousness, mobility, and Christianity continue to face the threat of extinction everyday. We have been persecuted and have even fought back against our powerful persecutors for more than half a century now. Rather than bring us peace and security, the silent support of some International bodies has increased the advantage of our oppressors over us.

7. Today our persecutors are a Muslim sect based in the Northern part of the country, known as ‘Boko Haram’, loosely translated as ‘Western Education is Sin’. In the past they have been the Northern people, the Hausas, or the Federal Military Government of Nigeria. 

8. One common theme in Nigeria since 1945 is that Igbo life is not sacred; almost nobody is ever brought to book for the spilling of innocent Igbo life. Igbo murderers operate with impunity and even enjoy tacit support of the Nigerian government. In the market place, in the churches, on the streets, the blood of the Igbos are spilled every month. How long shall the world remain silent in the face of continued injustice?

9. We don’t usually think of history as being shaped by silence, but as the renowned English philosopher Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. We live in a world plagued by terrorism today. That evil terror has made its way to Nigeria and the Igbos are their primary victims. It is time for the international community to get up, say enough is enough, and crush this terror.

Igbovillers who led the protest

10. The Nigerian government is seemingly complicit with this terror group, because they have not shown the will to combat and destroy it. Rather they have made deals with the terror groups in the past, and actually offered amnesty to this terrorist organization. Must the world watch in silence? We plead for you  to come  to our aid now lest we perish. Igbos are on the verge of being extinct, and we have no support in Nigeria.

11. The Igbo story greatly parallels the Jewish experience; we are very industrious, religious, and live in migrant communities. As a result of our commercial success we are despised and mistreated by host communities. This hatred has led to taunts, discrimination, pogroms, ethnic cleansing and a civil war in which the rest of Nigeria ganged up to subjugate the Igbos. Politicians from other ethnic groups have used anti-Igbo sentiments to whip up support for themselves, and get their people to commit dastardly acts of violence against Igbos. Just like the Jews we have suffered enough today we say enough is enough.

12. To illustrate our point further, here is an excerpt of anti-Igbo proceedings from the Northern House of Assembly in 1964:

    

“On the allocations of plots to Ibos, or allocation of stalls I would like to advise the minister that these people know how to make money and we do not know the way and manner of getting about this business. We do not want Ibos to be allocated with plots, I do not want them to be given plots.”

- Mallam Muhammadu Mustapha Maude Gyar

“I would like you, as the Minister of land and Survey, to revoke forthwith all certificates of occupancy from the hands of the Ibos resident in the Region. [Applause from the assembly floor].

- Mallam Bashari Umaru

    

“I am very glad that we are in Moslem country, and the government of Northern Nigeria allowed some few Christians in the region, to enjoy themselves according to the belief of their religion, but building of hotels should be taken away from the Ibos and even if we find some Christians who are interested in building hotels and have no money to do so, the government should aid them, instead of allowing Ibos to continue with the hotels.”

- Mr. A. A. Agigede

    

“I am one of the strong believers in Nigerian unity, and I have hoped for our having a United Nigeria, but certainly if the present trend of affairs continues, then I hope the government will investigate first the desirability and secondly the possibility of extending the Northernization policy to the petty Ibo traders. [Applause].

- Prof. Iya Abubakar (special Member: Lecturer, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria)

    

“I would like to say something very important that the Minister should take my appeal to the federal government about the Ibos in the Post Office. I wish the members of these Ibos be reduced. There are too many of them in the North. They were just like sardines and I think they were just too dangerous to the region.

- Mallam Mukhtar Bello

    

“Mr. Chairman, Sir, well, first and foremost, what I have to say before this honorable House is that we should send a delegate to meet our honorable Premier to move a Motion in this very Budget Session that all the Ibos working in the Civil Service of Northern Nigeria, including the native authorities, whether they are contractors, or not, should be repatriated at once.

- Mallam Ibrahim Muse

   

“There should be no contracts either from the government, native authorities, or private enterprises given to Ibo contractors. [Government Bench: Good talk and shouts of “Fire the Southerners.”] Again Mr. Chairman, the foreign firms too should be given time limit to replace all Ibos in their firms by some other people.”

- Mallam Bashari Umaru

    

“It is my most earnest desire that every post in the region, however small it is, be filled by a Northerner. [Applause]”

- The Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sarduana of Sokoto

    

“What brought the Ibos into this region? They were here since the colonial days. Had it not been for the colonial rule, there would hardly have been any Ibo in this region. Now that there is no colonial rule the Ibos should go back to their region. There should be no hesitation about this matter. Mr. Chairman, North is for Northerners, east for the easterners, West for the Westerners, and the Federation is for all. [Applause}.”

- Alhaji Usman Liman

“Mr. Chairman, Sir, I do not like to take up much of the time of this House in making explanations, but I would like to assure members that having heard their demands about Ibos holding land in Northern Nigeria, my ministry will do all it can to see that the demands of members are met. How to do this, when to do it, all this should not be disclosed. In due course, you will all see what will happen. [Applause]”

- Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Cashash, Minister of Land and Survey

The quotes above are the mildest form of discrimination Igbos have faced since 1945, and are just a tip of the iceberg.

14. Against the background of the foregoing, we, the members of IGBOVILLE, a network of Igbos at home and abroad representing the larger Igbo community wish through this medium to bring to your attention the horror, and state of fear we have borne and still bear for more than fifty years. The federal government of Nigeria always and consistently turns a blind eye to the injustice and continuous violence meted out against us. The government controlled print and electronic media refuses to publish or at best under reports the horrific orgy of blood-letting going on in Nigeria as carried out by the Northern Muslims against primarily Igbos. The government at varied times under reports it as a religious conflict, and sometimes a diversionary measure is taken to deceive the world or confuse the people from seeing what is going on in the country.

15. Today, as these horrendous massacres persist, the federal government is busy with the issue of oil subsidy while a section of the country perishes. The world press focuses on oil while human blood, the blood of the Igbos wet the streets of the Northern states of Nigeria. Below is a brief narrative of the suffering of Igbos in Nigeria: Jos 1945; Kano genocide 1953; 1966 pogroms- over 50, 000 killed; 1967-70 - over 2,000,0000 killed during the bloody civil war; Kano 1980; Maiduguri 1982; Jimeta 1984; Gombe 1985; Zaria 1987; Kaduna & Kafanchan 1991; Bauchi & Katsina 1991; Kano 1991; Zangon-Kataf 1992; Funtua 1993; Kano 1994; Kaduna 2000; Kaduna 2001; Maiduguri 2001; Kaduna 2002; Beheading of Gideon Akaluka in December of 1996 in Kano; Saint Moritz killed December 2001; post-April 2011 Presidential Election: 10 youth-corps men & women and numerous citizens murdered because a Christian Southerner was elected; Jos Christmas Eve 2010; Madalla Christmas day 2011; Mubi January 6 2012; and the list goes on.

16. By the time you read this, more would have died. The situation is getting out of hand and the Nigerian government has shown that it lacks the will and the capability to protect the life and property of Igbos in Nigeria.

17. The federal government has tried relentlessly to undermine the premeditated, consistent, calculated ethnic cleansing as a religious conflict between Christians and Muslims. This has been the attitude of the government who through its unjust structural policies has continued in her agenda to punish the Igbos. The Igbos are now both politically and ethnically endangered species in Nigeria. Once a vibrant powerful ethnic group in Nigeria the Igbo is now a minority in the new geopolitical structure of Nigeria.

18. We cannot continue to watch as the security situation in Nigeria continues to deteriorate. Nigeria is a strategic ally of the West. The world must act now to avoid another civil war in the style of Rwanda and Sudan. Now is the time to act before the anger of the youths, as vindictive as it is take matters into their hands.

19. In the past two months alone, more than 1000 Igbos have been massacred in the North; one of the most gruesome being the attack on the Igbos on Christmas day, 25 Dec 2011, in which defenseless innocent worshippers at a Christmas service were bombed and more than 42 Igbos lost their lives.

20. After these bombings the evil Boko Haram sect gave all Southerners (i.e. Igbos) resident in the North a three-day ultimatum to leave the North or face their wrath. As the three-day ultimatum given to Southerners (Igbos) in the North to leave expired more than 100 Igbos have been killed, both in churches, on the streets, and churches as of January 8 2012. The death-toll will more than likely rise.

21. Today, by coming to you, we have demonstrated our resolve to pursue a peaceful resolution of this carnage. The Igbos are asking for the international community and the UN to intervene. We want a referendum, supervised by UN for the people to choose for themselves if they want to be part of Nigeria. We demand for self-rule where we can protect our citizenry from further slaughter since our lives and property are not guaranteed in Nigeria.”

With this rally, it is expected that the conscience of the international community will be pricked and that they in turn will rise up and act accordingly to save the Igbo people of Nigeria, who are at present considered an endangered species, from total annihilation.

Letter To President Goodluck Jonathan On The Fuel Subsidy Feud

By Uche Peter UMEZ


Mr. President,

I empathise with you and everyone knows that to preside over a country is not a rule of thumb, more so when that country is Nigeria with its mottled history and complicated destiny.

I do want you to succeed. Like millions out there, who have now taken to the streets shouting out loud so that you can remember your teenage backwater days, the pre-election days, the plethora of promises you offered when we groaned for a homegrown messiah. We are not working against you. Not protesting against your person, but against this policy that hungers for our BLOOD. In truth, we want you to succeed.

People have alleged that you are weak, because your expression and bearing seemingly cast you as one. But taking a stick-in-the-mud stance and adhering to it in the face of collective opposition is not a true test of strength. A man does not have to be strong-minded just so he could prove his character. Please listen to the cries of millions – cries which will haunt you after you have vacated the fortress of pomp and power. Ask your predecessors. Really, you do not have to tell the world that the spirit of Egbesu lives in you, and you can be just as headstrong as the others before you. There’s no need for that, for there is goodness in your name.

There's goodness in your name but it saddens me really that you, Mr. President, do not realise that some of your closest family members and friends want you to fail out-and-out; they cannot stand the thought of you becoming a legend because they will never get to such an enviable height, so they want to replace the good in your name with evil. Turn you into a villain, which I’m afraid you may end up assuming if you continue to heed wholeheartedly to them, without attempting to sieve counsel. Do you want them to succeed? Or have you not yet found out that even most of your post-election speeches do not read convincing and genuine enough and yet these same speechwriters earn more than all the English Language teachers in Otueke. I know you are too pressured to even notice the subtexts in those speeches, but please always read them with a critical eye when next your spin-doctors breeze into your study.

You are not weak, Mr. President. You have goodness in your name, so please shower our lives with goodness: this is the primary reason why some of us were attacked and some of our relations died in various parts of the country so you could become the President! No, it is not a sign of weakness to withdraw one’s decision. It’s not a sign of weakness to show concession, when it borders on the collective good. In the name of good governance and social justice, please reverse your decision on the fuel subsidy removal, it’s not only ill-timed it is cruel! You have been poor and now you are rich, and it’s only right you help the poor to gain a little bit of foothold in a sinking bog. Just a little bit. For now the much you owe the bulk of Nigerians, the bulk being the very poor on whose backs our country is marching in its quest for greatness, is to let the fuel subsidy stay. Governance in my own view is all about attaining the highest good and providing the most possible happiness for the maximum number of Nigerians. Not just for one's family and well-wishers.

Please be brave, Mr. President, and let the fuel subsidy stay. Let it stay. You are no coward, only a coward takes a hardhearted position in the wake of popular dissent. Let it not be said that we the people made a mistake in trusting you with our votes, let it not be said that we couldn’t discern the right smile from one full of wiles. Let it not be on record that the labour of your forebears has been vain, that nothing good would ever come out of the Niger Delta, that anyone who comes from a despoiled area is quick to despoil others. Let it not be said that our education hardens us to the realities of our time. Please let the fuel subsidy stay. Let it be known that history is at hand and always repeat itself in times of folly.

Thank you, Mr. President.