Inside Nigeria
IPOB Not A Terrorist Organisation – Ohanaeze
Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo socio-political organisation, says the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a terrorist organisation.
On Friday, the defence headquarters (DHQ) declared IPOB a “militant terrorist” organisation. It claimed the group at different times attacked soldiers with sticks and stones in Abia state.
A few hours after the declaration, south-east governors proscribed IPOB.
But in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Saturday and signed by John Nwodo, Ohanaeze asked the army to immediately terminate its siege on the south-east.
“That the decision of the Nigeria army to commence Operation Python Dance in the south-east at this point in time is regrettable and called for immediate termination of the exercise. The military option is never the solution to problem of nation building. We refer for instance to goings on in Spain, Scotland and other parts of the world to reaffirm that only through dialogue can the national question be resolved. Consequently we condemned all acts of violence in pursuance to freedom of expression,” the nine-point communiqué read.
“That Imeobi resolved that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation. There are processes under extant national and international laws, especially the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011, as Amended in 2015 to determine whether a group is or not a terrorist organisation.”
Ohanaeze said the continued policy of marginalisation of the south-east was the basic cause of the renewed agitation by the separatist group.
It described the loss of lives during the military intervention as “unfortunate and deplorable”, adding that “it is the sole responsibility of the police in every democracy to maintain law and order and protection of lives and property of its citizens”.
“A united Nigeria under a restructured federal system of government that guarantees justice, equity and farness is the best system for this country,” it said.
“Accordingly, Ohanaeze is mandated to organise a special summit soonest of Igbo nation in support of the restructuring agenda.”
The designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation by the DHQ implies that the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu can be killed. Though the declaration is not backed by law. [TheCable]
BiafraUnited
September 17, 2017 at 10:59 pm
My heart is filled with sorrow not just for the military ethnic cleansing, but for the fact that our stupid governors are behind this. I am so sorrowful.
MAUREEN OJO
September 17, 2017 at 11:39 am
CAN OHANAEZE MAKE US UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY STAND EXACTLY.FEW DAYS AGO THE USELESS GOVERNORS OF THE SOUTH EAST TOLD US THAT THEY WERE PRESENT IN THEIR STUPID MEETING WHICH THE AFTER EFFECT OF IT BECOMES THE NIGERIAN ARMY TAGGING IPOB A TERRORIST ORGANISATION .CAN THEY BE BOLD TO TELL US IF THEY ARE FOR THE ENTIRE IGBO MASSES OR AGAINST OUR FREEDOM.THE KILLING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR COUPLE OF DAYS NOW IN IGBOLAND,I WAS THINKING THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF OHANAEZE,THE GOVERNORS OF THE SOUTH EAST,ALL IGBO MEMBERS OF APC AND THE SO CALLED ELDER/ ELITES IN IGBOLAND ARE DEAD THROUGH THE FULANI HERDSMEN ATTACK SINCE NO ONE HEAR THEM SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE KILLING OF THEIR CHILDREN.WHAT A SHAME. ORJI UZOR KALU SAID THAT IF ANY IGBO MAN IS KILLED IN THE NORTH THAT HE ‘LL LEAD THE WAR SO I ASK,WHERE IS HE NOW?THE KILLING IS EVEN IN HIS STATE.HOW I WISH WE HAVE BRAVE ELDERS LIKE THE YORUBAS. OH OJUKWU WHY DID U DEPART FROM US SO QUICK?