HURIWA uncovers smear campaign against ex-COAS Buratai 

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Wednesday, said it has uncovered a systematically hatched and well coordinated media campaign by some Abuja moneybags who have insisted on smearing the reputation of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.). 

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, urged the media not to fall for the sponsored coordinated attacks against Buratai despite that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission has not indicted him of any corruption allegation. HURIWA regrets that some online media have already been bribed to disseminate falsehoods against General Buratai. 

Recall that the ICPC busted the Wuse house of a military contractor and made some startling discoveries but despite that the anti-graft agency made clarifications as to the owner of the house, some groups have continued to call on ICPC to change the outcome of the investigation so as to name Buratai as the owner in clear violations of the global best practices and the ethics. These groups are apparently purchased and paid by the said retired military General who is a senior Aide of President Muhammadu Buhari.  

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “We have on good authority that a retired military general working directly in the office of President Muhammadu Buhari  has been sponsoring a campaign of calumny against retired Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai with a criminal attempt to link his name with the ownership of the house in Wuse in which it was said that ICPC found some amount from a military defence contractor. 

“HURIWA also have on good authority that the retired military officer in Presidency allegedly released N10 million to some Abuja and Lagos-based groups with extensive contacts within the Nigerian press to continue the campaign of calumny against General Buratai all in an attempt to sully his image. The reason for doing is his perception that Lt.Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai may have been pencilled down as potential running mate to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress given that the former Army Chief since retiring has devoted substantial part of his time and resources supporting and building up the All Progressives Congress in all nooks and cronies of the North East, North West and North Central regions of Nigeria and is not known to be fanatically attached to his religion but he is a profoundly regarded nationalist.” 

“The retired general is apparently threatened by the rising profile of General Buratai has he is being pencilled down as potential running mate to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The military retired General who is bankrolling this campaign of calumny is also accused of several heists of public funds which he has denied publicly. 

“HURIWA warned that civil society organisations should live by the ethics of professional conducts and not be used by moneybags to achieve selfish motives. Besides, HURIWA said a coalition of activists determined to restore sanity and professional ethics of the media practice are meeting to institute a class suit to try to stop some notorious media houses from spreading fake news.” 

“General Buratai is also encouraged to pursue legal action against defamatory reports against his person.”

June 29, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

Alleged Arrest Of APC Candidate By EFCC In Lagos: HURIWA Cautions APC

“The alleged arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Mr. Lanre Sanusi, who is contesting for Amuwo Odin Federal Constitutiency House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over fraud–related crime after a logistics company, called 4runner limited made a petition against him should be of interest to the ruling All Progressives Congress so someone with a baggage ethically and morally is not presented as a candidate for a very critical position of a National law maker”. 

This is even as the Prominent Civil rights advocacy group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) through its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko has asked the national hierarchy to probe the report that a company known as  4runner Limited, which is a shipping company, alleged that they had a deal with Mr. Lanre to transport COVID-19 materials, including face masks; hand sanitizers, amongst other items for a sum 33,000 United States Dollars  even as information made available alleged that after the shipment arrived Nigeria from the United States of America, Sanusi Lanre allegely refused to pay the company by not picking their calls and not responding to their text messages.

HURIWA affirmed that if it is verified that the  shipping company also stated in their petition to the EFCC that it later found out the covid-19 relief materials were illegally diverted from Dallas City Government Hospital with the aid of Sanusi Lanre’s accomplice who were truck drivers at the hospital and that 4runner Limited lamented to the anti-graft agency that Lanre’s alleged fraudulent activity has affected the company’s reputation and cost it huge monetary damage, then the All Progressives Congress should substitute his name with the legally allowed person with the next highest number of votes at the party primary election. 

HURIWA said it is preposterous if the APC will sponsor someone with such a huge crime related allegations hanging on his neck to seek for elective post to become a National law maker just as the Rights group said may be the APC is not aware that millions of Nigerians are fed up with political corruption such as this. 

HURIWA said it appears that the National leadership of APC did not investigate why the Lagos Assembly rejected his Lanre Sanusi’s alleged nomination for commissionership in 2019. This is because we think that the character and reputation of candidates should be of concern to a ruling party like APC that wears the toga of integrity and credibility. Why did the party looked the other way when Prince Lanre Sanusi appeared before the party’s screening committee?

HURIWA said: “The candidature of this man allegedly in conflict with the law shows that certain forces working within the  APC’s National headquarters may be fraudulent and compromised. How would you defend this before the politically conscious Nigerians? Clearly the Party’s screening exercise was cosmetic and pure deceit. How would electorates trust your party?”

“The height of the fundamental issues bedevilling the said Lanre Sanusi’s political aspiration is the recent report in some sections of online media and various media organisations. This is presently destroying the party and will definitely affect the chances of your party at all levels. Going into election with a damaged image candidate would cost your party the victory expected, assuming the allegations are verified”. 

“As Civil Rights practitioners, we  in HURIWA monitored the party’s screening from the federal,state and NASS to come to a conclusion that your party is a fraudulent and criminally minded unless and until the National hierarchy can take steps to ensure that persons with questionable characters or persons in conflict with the law are not presented and sustained as candidates in the 2023 poll in Nigeria until they get clean bills of records”, HURIWA affirmed. 

HURIWA TO INEC: NULLIFY EKITI GUBER POLL FOR BRIBERY:

Frontline Pro-democratic and civil society organisation- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the Ekiti State governorship election that began since Saturday morning because of overwhelming evidence of financial inducements,  corruption of the electoral process and absolute compromise of the ingredients of a free, fair and transparent election. 

HURIWA condemned the major contenders for the position of Governor of Ekiti State for their alleged involvement in the compromises and criminalisation of the electoral process in the State which the Rights group maintained has vitiated the constitutional principle of respecting the will of the electorate which the group said can no longer be attained going by the widespread reports of brazen and open trading, buying and selling of the votes of the electorate even as the Police and other law enforcement agencies are also bought over. 

HURIWA is miffed that even Biodun Oyebanji, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, was captured by an eagle eyed media practitioner allegedly giving money to an electorate at his polling unit at ward 06, unit 03, Okelele Area of Ikogosi-Ekiti.

Oyebanji reportedly gave money to the electorate while voting was ongoing just as he arrived at his polling unit alongside his wife. 

The Rights group has asked the Economic and financial crimes Commission to arrest the candidate of the APC and for the electoral commission to cancel the poll because whatever results from a process that is muddied by corruption and bribery can’t be said to be credible, free and fair nor can it be classified as transparent. HURIWA carpeted the EFCC for lacking good enough intelligence to stop this distortion of the electoral process in Ekiti State. 

HURIWA also noted that members of her association that voted in the exercise reported widespread buying and selling of votes by the major contenders such as the APC, SDP, PDP even as the Rights group mentioned that evidences abound in the media and from credible sources of how agents of mostly the All Progressives Congress went about negotiating, buying and paying openly for votes even as some voters were seen arguing about the fact that some polling agents of the APC failed to pay them the agreed sum after they cast their votes for their candidate as negotiated. 

HURIWA in a media Statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said the only credible line of action by the Independent National Electoral Commission to take immediately is to annul the election and reschedule another fresh poll during which time proper security vetting of the security apparatuses and security persons to monitor the electoral process and ensure zero tolerance to bribery and mortgaging of the electorate. “If INEC doesn’t cancel this immoral and open buying and selling of ballots, then INEC itself is compromised heavily”. 

SMK: A Man Whose Time Has Come

By

Sefinatu Umaru

Sunday Marshall Katung, also known as SMK, is a jurist, an astute businessman, consummate politician and philanthropist. He has worked in both the private and public sectors and has been a long standing, dedicated and loyal member of the esteemed People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He is a man with the burning desire to use his professional skills, experience and political sagacity to provide effective representation for the people of Kaduna South (otherwise known as Zone 3) Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

To achieve this goal, he traversed the length and breadth of the eight (8) local governments that make up Zone 3, meeting and consulting with various political stakeholders to sell his candidacy. He utilised social and traditional media, direct contact and reminded party faithful of his previous achievements as a former member of the Federal House of Representatives.

His efforts culminated in victory at the just concluded senatorial primaries. The primary was adjudged to be free and fair by all contesting candidates, delegates and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that was on hand to monitor the exercise.
There were unusual jubilations and backslapping by his supporters, well wishers and his campaign team comprising cerebral, disciplined, dedicated and hard working patriots.

Just as he and his team were returning to the drawing board to strategise for the election proper, however, news started filtering in that SMK induced delegates, had outstanding tax issues and delegates were not properly accreditated. These were initially brushed off as rumours, until surfacing of a letter written to the party leadership by some party members loyal to one of the defeated contestants.

First and foremost, SMK is an experienced lawyer who understands the implications of not filing taxes properly or evading taxes. As a politician seeking office he knows that proper tax filing is not only a mandatory requirement at least at the political party level but also a civic duty. Moreover, he is domiciled in Abuja, and therefore pays taxes to the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) who issued him a tax clearance certificate to that effect. Why KADIRS finds its way into a matter it has no jurisdiction over is curious and suspect.

Secondly, a politician does not need to induce voters to vote for him or her when he is amiable, charismatic and runs an issue based campaign focusing on pertinent issues plaguing his Constituency. SMK is a man of the people and has served the people of the zone both as a commissioner and federal legislator. So he is on ground.

And finally, delegates present had their membership cards and were verified before gaining entry to the venue, if it were not so, the election would not have held and his competitors (bar one) would not have congratulated him or conceded.

Knowing the capabilities of rival parties, it is unfortunate that the PDP in Zone 3 instead of uniting and putting its best foot forward, members are conniving to bring down an extremely popular candidate with frivolous petitions and allegations.

I find it curious that the contents of the letter found its way to a petitioner against SMK from the camp of one of the contestants. This happens to give credence to the suspicion that at least a staff of the agency is fully involved in the conspiracy to rubbish the integrity of the senatorial candidate. This is a sad development for the Senatorial District, not just for SMK whose time God has made to come.

It is also sad that a government agency with no jurisdiction on the matteris being used as a tool to witch hunt an illustrious son of Southern Kaduna.

Delegates have spoken. A significant portion of stakeholders and party members are behind SMK.

For SMK, he will surmount this particular challenge as his time has come to contest for the senatorial seat of Zone 3, and by the Grace of God, He will march to victory come February 2023.

British Parliamentary Debate On Terror In Nigeria: Building Upon False Narratives Whilst Blinded By Vested Self-Interest

Being a Rejoinder by Tony Nnadi on behalf of NINAS Secretariat, to the Debate in the British Parliament following the Pentecost Day Terror Attack on worshipers at a Catholic Church in Owo

– issued June 10, 2022.

Reviewing the video recording of the Debate in the British Parliament in the immediate aftermath of the June 5, 2022 Terror Attack on worshippers at a Catholic Church in Owo, the overall impression is that of a determined effort by Britain to distort, obfuscate and possibly deflect attention from the self-evident complicity of the Government of Nigeria under the watch of their ward, Muhammadu Buhari, in the widespread Campaign of Terror being perpetrated by Fulani invaders against the indigenous peoples of Nigeria. 

Guided by its own vested interests, that cock and bull Debate in the British Parliament is built on the long-disproved false narrative about farmers/herdsmen clashes, prompted mainly by the consequences of climate change. 

This false narrative avoids the true nature of what the problem is, which in the main, is the murderous Fulani Conquest Invasion as well as the complicity of the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (a Fulani man), his Government and the high command of the Nigerian Military over which Buhari presides as Commander-In-Chief.

All the remediation actions and propositions by the British Minister taking the questions in Parliament, manifestly revolved around the jaundiced tales of the Government of Nigeria which is deeply complicit in the escalating violence. 

These contrast sharply with what the United States (US) did in getting to the root of the Nigerian terror crisis  by interfacing with the victims of the terror attacks as well as speaking with people in Nigeria who could have more insight into the nature and true cause(s) of the violence, including incidentally, myself.

I happened to be in the Delegation of Nigerians invited to the 2019 Round of International Religious Freedom Ministerial Roundtable on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, (June-July 2019) following the January 2019 Emergency Press Conferences on Nigeria at the National Press Club in Washington DC organized by a coalition of US Evangelicals, and facilitated by ICON, to call global attention to the widespread ethnoreligious killings going on in Nigeria. 

The aforementioned US Probe of the ethnoreligious killings in Nigeria, established a Fulani ethnic agenda, disguised with the garment of religion (Jihad) compounded by the complicity of the Buhari-led Government resulting in US Policy Actions on Nigeria which began with Nigeria being placed on a Special US Watch-List in December 2019 and the subsequent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in March 2020, amongst other actions.

NINAS will make an audiovisual response to that misleading British Parliamentary Debate on the Terror currently ravaging Nigeria. 

In the meantime, the public is invited to view on YouTube, two recent NINAS Broadcasts in its Alert Series under titles:

(1) “Train Terror Attack Demands: Evidence of Government Complicity”

( https://youtu.be/nx003Uu1fHA ) 

(2) “Nigeria: The Pyramid of Evil” 

( https://youtu.be/2lHGQl8nGa8 )

which relate to the subject matter and which both predate the Owo Terror Attack.  

These two videos above speak to the backdrop of the British vested interests and complicity of the Government of Nigeria and so what we see in the aforementioned British Parliamentary debate is basically a spin of the Caliphate, being marketed by their British Principals.

Tony Nnadi

NINAS Secretariat

June 10, 2022.

MUSLIM – MUSLIM TICKET : THE CASE OF NASIR EL-RUFAI’S GOVERNANCE OF KADUNA STATE

By
Emmanuel Gandu

EXCERPTS

[ Nigeria and Nigerians have been so much bastardized and killed respectively by religious intolerance that any sacrifice to reclaim our humanity, and country from the brink will not be too much.]

INTRODUCTION
The search for credible candidates that would bring democratic fortunes to Nigerian political parties have led to the emergence of alliances and scheming leading to issues like having a Muslim – Christian ticket, or Muslim – Muslim ticket.
Interestingly, the Moshood Abiola – Baba Gana Kingibe Muslim – Muslim ticket gave Nigeria the most nationally acceptable, best, and free election in history – the 1993 June 12 election that was annulled by General Ibrahim Gbadamasi Babangida.

However, Nigeria cannot dream of another Muslim – Muslim ticket because the country today is so polarized and divided along religious, ethnic, tribal and regional lines that it will come with catastrophic consequences.
Unfortunately, this is more so because Muhammadu Buhari (2015 – date) has put a knife on the things that held us together and we’ve fallen apart.

SOME CONSEQUENCES OF THE MUSLIMS-MUSLIM TICKET IN KADUNA STATE
(1) Development projects are concentrated in the Muslim dominated parts of Kaduna town, and also in Zaria.
These projects include major roads, township roads, neighborhood roads, flyovers, and markets.
(2) On the contrary, the Christian dominated parts of Kaduna town, and indeed the entire Southern Kaduna is totally neglected and abandoned.
The only semblance of road construction/renovation is the Muslim settlement in and around the Emir of Kafanchan palace.
(3) The 17 year old Kaduna State University have five Mosques on the Kaduna campus while Christians have no single Church.
Efforts by the Christian community to erect a structure was resisted with a June 6 2022 demolition allegedly supervised by military/security who collected the hand set phones of the few Christians present at the time of demolition.
(4) Kaduna State government declared a Friday work free day for its work force. If this was for the purposes of equity since Sunday is also a work free day which to me is commendable, then it behoves on the person who preaches equity to be fair and just to all concerned in all cases.
He who talks about equity must come with clean hands.
(5) Kaduna State has witnessed a dangerous and an unending religious crisis than any other state in Nigeria.
This got to a higthtened with catastrophic consequences from 2016 – date.
Consequently, killing in the name of God by both adherents of Christianity and Islam in Kaduna state became the norm rather than the exception.
Regrettably, cases of religious related attacks and killings are reported on daily basis, with government seemingly overwhelmed.
(6) This Muslim-Muslim ticket may be a catalyst for a feeling of superiority of Muslims over Christians who feel that they are in charge.
On the part of the Christians, they may have a feeling of a second class status and therefore resign themselves to any situation meted to them.
Consequently, this superiority and inferiority complex is the gunpowder for violence at any slightest provocation.
(7) It may be argued that Nasir El-Rufai’s concept of introducing the Muslim-Muslim ticket was to eliminate the age long dichotomy in the state, but it seems like the people from either of the two divides might not have been ripe for such a radical change.
Whatever it is, time and posterity will judge and or vindicate.

CONCLUSION
The experience of Kaduna State, and as highlighted above should not only serve as a lesson for all political parties in making the choices of their candidates for executive positions, but also as a guide in the governance and policies of state.
Nigeria and Nigerians have been so much bastardized and killed by religious intolerance that any sacrifice to reclaim our humanity, and country from the brink will not be too much.

                   Peace ?
                 11/6/2022

Atyap Nation Is Not Working Against The Candidacy Of SMK-ACDA Says

…Says rumour going round that Atyap nations is against Sunday Marshall is malicious

The Atyap Community Development Association, ACDA has cleared the air on allegations going round the social media and some quarters that the Atyap nations is against the candidacy of Honourable Barrister Sunday Marshall Katung, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 Kaduna south senatorial election.

The group in a statement issued and signed by it national President, Mr Samuel T. Achie on Wednesday called on the public to disregard such rumour, describing it as malicious.

The statement reads in parts;

“Gentlemen of the press, it is my singular honour to welcome you all to this briefing on the political happenings in our land. Let me congratulate all the successful aspirants on the concluded primaries of the parties at all levels. It is our prayer that God in His mercy will help us actualize our dreams of voting the right candidates in the general election come next year. I want to call on all Atyap sons and daughters to make sure we all have our PVCs to enable us vote for the candidates of our choice from the president to the state assembly members unhindered.

“Let me say it here that the news making the round in social media and other quarters that the Atyap nation is working against the candidate of the PDP Hon.  Sunday Marshal Katung is not true and must be regarded as fake news and unfounded.  Atyap people have enjoyed very cordial political relationship with all our neighbours Bajju inclusive. In particular the support we had for our son late distinguished senator Isaah Balat for one term and senator Danjuma laah for two terms in the senate. In the light of the above, I want to on behalf of the entire atyap say we are gratefull for the show of love. We will not relent in maintaining this good and cordial relationship with all our neighbours.

“I also want to call on all stakeholders in this game of politics to thread with care so that we don’t make more enemies than friends when we are supposed to be united to fight a common course of southern Kaduna liberation and economic emancipation. I plead with those making unguided statements to stop henceforth, as it will not do us good in any way. The Atyap land is above any individual and should be accorded the desired respect due.

“In conclusion I call on all atyap sons and daughters to remain resolute and united in maintaining cordial relationship with our neighbours.

Recalll that Barrister Sunday Marshall Katung in April defeated the incumbent senator, Danjuma Laah and 5 others to emerge the candidate of the PDP in next year’s general election.

1999 Constitution Of Nigeria: Power Of The Peoples Against Power Of Politicians

Ndidi Uwechue

31 May 2022

Firstly, it is not correct to describe Nigeria as a “nation”. It is a pseudo-country. Country – because it is an amalgamation of several ethnic NATIONS, where each indigenous ethnic nation could have been a country in its own right. Pseudo – because this country is based on a false Union Agreement.  That is, the 1999 Constitution that creates the Union is a forgery, and was not obtained in the correct way that a Constitution ought to be.  It is actually Military Decree 24. In their Communiqué after a meeting about security and the future of Nigeria on 13^th December 2021, attended by former President Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Rev. Pam Yakubu, Gani Adams, Madam Ankio Briggs, and many others, the 1999 Constitution was described as, “Oligo-military in nature and not representing the collective interest of Nigerians…”.    

In fact, General Abdulsalami Abubakar who was involved in foisting that forgery upon Nigerians wrote a statement on 5^th May 1999 saying that the 1999 Constitution is a Schedule of a Military Decree as follows:

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree No 24 of 1999, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria

Now therefore, the Federal Military Government hereby decrees as follows:-

1.         (1) There shall be for Nigeria a Constitution which shall be as set out in the Schedule to this Decree.

(2) The Constitution set out in the Schedule to this Decree shall come into force on 29th May 1999.

(3) Whenever it may hereafter be necessary for the Constitution to be printed it shall be lawful for the Federal Government Printer to omit all parts of this Decree apart from the Schedule and the Constitution as so printed shall have the force of law notwithstanding the omission.

2.     This Decree may be cited as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Promulgation) Decree 1999.

Secondly, it is not correct to say that Nigerians are just now faulting the fraudulent 1999 Constitution after 23 years of its existence. It is simply that the mainstream media has been one-sided in its reporting: broadcasting what politicians want to be put out into the public space, yet being silent when it concerns what the ordinary peoples are doing, and what they want for themselves, like Self-Determination for their ethnic nation. For, soon after the 1999 Constitution was imposed, some Nigerians with a conscience and a sense of right and wrong like Chief Anthony Enahoro and Professor Wole Soyinka among several others, complained and were involved in finding a way to terminate this fraud starting with the post-NADECO period of 1999, and spanning through PRONACO (2005 – 2006). Then MNN took over (2006 – 2018) which became the NINAS Movement from 2018. As MNN, indigenous peoples of Lower Niger, Yoruba, and Middle Belt Blocs had rejected and Repudiated the 1999 Constitution during their Solemn Assemblies (2015, 2017 and 2018 respectively), and also during the Lagos Declaration of 2011, and the Freedom Park Proclamation of 2018. Besides this, Lower Niger Congress (LNC), the lead Self-Determination organisation had regularly published what the peoples wanted and were doing to terminate the sham 1999 Constitution, on their websites, plus on the NINAS website.

What we see is that since the fraudulent 1999 Constitution was imposed, politicians of the NINAS Territory ie, the South and Middle Belt have been playing the role of God by usurping Sovereignty and preventing Self-Determination, to instead place upon the peoples the yoke of under-development, corruption, and terror, which are the consequences of the 1999 Constitution. Having so far been successful at denying their peoples the right of Self-Determination, politicians think that they can continue with this status quo, and carry on with the treasonous action of swearing an Oath of Office to uphold a forgery (the 1999 Constitution) in their people’s ancestral lands. It involves politicians of the NINAS Territory being in denial that Nigeria became a Disputed Project from 16^th December 2020 when a Constitutional Force Majeure was proclaimed by the NINAS Movement. It involves continuing to be in denial that there is a Union Dispute still unresolved since 1966 when the Military coups terminated the Federation of Nigeria, and which Union Dispute is seen in the outright lies of the Preamble of the 1999 Constitution. In fact, since politicians of the South and Middle Belt have chosen to uphold and defend the swindle called 1999 Constitution, they then have to add falsehood onto falsehood to keep that illegitimate Document operating in their people’s ancestral spaces.

What will be unfolding over the coming months is this: Who is more powerful – is it the politicians of the NINAS Territory who insist that their peoples do not deserve their inalienable right to Self-Determination? Or is it the peoples who will rise up to put a stop to the lies, frauds, and treachery of their politicians? 

The non-violent NINAS Movement has put a solution on the Table where nobody needs to get a bloodied nose. Politicians would have to suspend their politicking (they can carry on again later when new authentic Constitutions have been made in the proper way), and halt preparations to Elections 2023 as that would renew the life of the illegitimate 1999 Constitution that has been Repudiated. Instead, there would be a TRANSITIONING PERIOD with a Transitional Government as well as a concurrent Sovereign Transitioning Convention (this writer’s description, NINAS will provide the right terminology at the appropriate time). During the Transitional Government current office holders would remain in their positions. The Sovereign Transitioning Convention would be similar (but not identical) to South Africa’s CODESA. It is at this Transitioning Period that the Union Dispute would finally get resolved, and indigenous Ethnic Nations of the NINAS Territory would decide by Regional Referendums whether to re-commit to the Union of Nigeria, or whether to go for something else – new unions with compatible neighbouring ethnic nations. 

Ndidi Uwechue is a British citizen with Igbo heritage from the Lower Niger Bloc. She is a retired Metropolitan (London) Police Officer, she is a signatory to the Constitutional Force Majeure, and she writes from Abuja.

PDP IS FINISHED FOR PLOTTING ANTI IGBO AGENDA-: SAYS HURIWA

A leading Pro-democracy and Civil Rights Advocacy Group- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has accused the current hierarchy of the leading opposition political party in Nigeria- People’s Democratic (PDP) of engaging in a choreographed SUICIDE MISSION by hatching and implementing  active but corrosive and toxic anti- Igbo antics by withholding the zoning of the Presidency in 2023 to the South East to assuage the longstanding systematic and systemic marginalisation of the South East of Nigeria in the political scheme of things.

HURIWA also accused the Rivers State governor Mr. Nyesom Wike of inflicting irreparable damage to the sole of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by hijacking the party’s National secretariat due to the overwhelming selfish ambition he is nursing to corner the slot of the candidacy of the party for the 2023 Presidency just as the Rights group accused political weaklings amongst some corrupt minded Igbo elites of conniving with the Rivers State’s governor to plant IGBOPHOBIA amongst the highest echelons of the PDP. 

HURIWA said the fear of the unknown is driving Governor Wike’s horrific ambition to seize the Presidential slot of PDP because he is mortally afraid that should his arch political rival Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi gets the Presidential slot of the APC and wins the 2023 Presidency then certainly,  he Governor Nyesom Wike could face political persecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged financial indiscretion as the governor of Rivers State since the last 8 years. The Rights also carpeted the Rivers State governor for criticising Mr. Peter Obi for quitting the heavily cash compromised PDP. 

HURIWA which commended the former governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi for displaying highest sense of conviction and political principles to walk out of the collapsing political house called PDP due to the stinking CASH-AND- CARRY animalistic tendencies within the leading opposition political party the PDP which is bent on chasing away the South-East of Nigeria from her fold because having used and dumped the South East of Nigeria,  the party now wishes to become a slave of the North or of Mr. Nyesom Wike. 

HURIWA affirmed thus: “These two tendencies of Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike have combined to ensure that South East of Nigeria does not get her deserved pride of place in the party they had laboured for over the past twenty years even at the risks of suffering some of the harshest policies of marginalisation and political apartheid from the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for the last 7 years because the South East has since 1999 been voting enmasse for the People’s Democratic Party”. 

HURIWA has also commended the immediate past Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for abandoning the PDP because of the anti-Igbo sentiments and the antics of divide and rule just as the RIGHTS GROUP said the PDP has lost the support of the South East of Nigeria and will pay dearly for this sabotage of the political right of the South East of Nigeria.  

HURIWA recalled that the Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe had tendered a letter to the Senate President indication that he has just resigned from his position even as this was sequel to his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which he was elected to the Senate in 2019. Abaribe announced his resignation in two separate letters – one addressed to his Ward Chairman and the other to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, dated 24th and 26th May, 2022 respectively.

HURIWA praised the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Mr. Peter Obi for showing courage and determination to stand for justice, truth, social and political ideological principles and for taking a long walk away from the house of scam that the People’s Democratic Party has suddenly become even as the Rights group told the PDP that its only redemption is to concede the slot of the President of Nigeria in the 2023 General election to the South East of Nigeria in line with the provisions of the constitution of the party.

HURIWA said zoning of offices by political parties is a fulfillment of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended which speaks to the issue of respecting FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLES in the allocation of offices and projects in the federation.

HURIWA said it offends the principles of natural justice and national unity that Igbo that has one of the three largest population of Nigeria has been treated with the short-end of the stick through the connivance of the Hausa/Fulani North and some reactionary elitist elements of the South West extraction for their selfish agenda which is undermining National cohesion.   

BUHARI GOVT BREEDING POMPOUS CORRUPT NORTHERNERS WITH SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT – HURIWA 

Civil rights advocacy group, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA(HURIWA), on Monday, lambasted the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for breeding extremely corrupt government officials especially of northern extraction who feel a sense of entitlement.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said with the gargantuan and unprecedent corrupt practices perpetrated by government officials under Buhari, Nigeria might not find money to run the next government. “It is becoming inevitable that with the highway robberies of public funds perpetrated by officials holding strategic national offices from the core Northern States like the President,  Nigeria may need to borrow from China to be able to pay the first few months’ salaries of incoming President after May 29th 2022 if this administration won’t scuttle the election  by this deliberate permission and tolerance of heightened state of insecurity in the Country”. 

The group said many occasions have suggested that Buhari’s anti-graft fight is a grand charade as the regime was only a breeding ground to purloin Nigeria’s commonwealth. “People are wondering if the Northerners holding strong positions in the central government are not looting to set up their earthly paradise elsewhere other than this Nigeria that they are running down and killing with staggering Crimes of corruption and brazen brigandage. If this proposition is incorrect, why then are Northern officials in government going ahead with massive looting even when a few of them have been exposed but nothing much by way of prosecutions have been done?”

HURIWA cited the promotion of former acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, from a commissioner of police cadre to that of an assistant inspector general of police despite that he was sacked for alleged graft-related reasons and alleged abuse of office- allegations that till now are been hidden from public view and the report of the investigative panel headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal for which billions of public funds would have been spent,  has remained a mystery and then from the blues the main character who was dismissed from the EFCC was then promoted to AIG in retirement even when the entire South East of Nigeria got just one AIG amongst serving officers.

The group also pointed to the recent alleged graft purportedly perpetrated by another northerner in the person of the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who is being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged fraud to the tune of N80bn and at least 17 properties in choice places in Nigeria and overseas. 

Also, according to Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Buhari squashed a putrid egg against Nigerians’ faces with the pardon granted ex-governors of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye; and Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame.

The two former governors were jailed for stealing N2.7bn in total and are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Many civil society organisations had censured the President and noted that the pardon of Dariye and Nyame would encourage corruption.

Recall also that another northerner, the then Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman, was suspended last year for alleged corruption to the tune of billions of naira but she is not prosecuted but left to flex around but not returned to her post and no words to the members of the Nigerian Public. 

HURIWA also said Nigerians must not forget that another northerner and a top police officer, DCP Abba Kyari, is in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged narcotics-related offences and alleged corruption of unimaginable proportion also traced to international fraudster, Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi. But government has done everything imaginable to refuse to extradited him to the USA but the same government has extradited Other Nigerians from the South to the USA to face charges over alleged fraud of less than the amount for which the disgraced police officer is being sought by the FBI by for which the Northern born AGF has done everything to undermine the extradition application of the Government of the USA.

While the United States wanted Kyari to be extradited to the US, the Nigerian government has tactically delayed him in Nigeria here, a form of protection and under the extant extradition treaty, if the application lingers for upto a year, it will become status barred meaning the suspect being sought in USA can no longer be surrendered. 

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “Nigerians are tired of the grand deception of the Buhari regime. It is disturbing how corruption has toppled the administration’s campaign promises and the fact that virtually all the top players in government are suspected of corruption. 

“Look at corruption in humanitarian affairs ministry. The corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The Accountant General’s office. Corruption in the way All Progressives Congress members bought N100 million presidential forms by proxies. Truth be told, Buhari and the APC has killed any anti-corruption it met in 2015 with the cash for tickets policy it introduced towards 2023.

“We are afraid that the country won’t find money to run the next government going by the extremely heightened levels of corruption in the APC administration. Nigerians must reject any party deep in corruption in the next election and must vote in accountable leaders.”

May 23, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).