IPOB “Proscription” And Hypocrisy Of The Ruling Class

When the Nigerian Army declared a journalist and two human rights defenders wanted last year for alleged links with the satanic Boko Haram sect I pointed out that it was an act of illegality on the ground that the Terrorism (Terrorism) Act 2011 as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 has not conferred any such power on the Nigerian Army. In a prompt reaction to my criticism the suspects were immediately transferred to the State Security Service which interrogated them and released them on bail.

Last week, I had cause to advise the federal government to direct the Nigerian Army to withdraw from Abia state and allow the Nigeria Police Force to deal with the reported criminal offences alleged to have been committed by Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by him. Regrettably, the advice was ignored while the Nigerian Army and the governors of the south east have purportedly proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra.

It is submitted, without any fear of contradiction, that neither the Army nor the governors are empowered to proscribe or label the IPOB a terrorist organisation. In banning the IPOB the Chief of Army Staff and the governors did not avert their minds to section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2011 as amended which provides that a terrorist organisation can only be proscribed in the country on the order of the federal high court based on an application made by either the National Security Adviser, Attorney-General of the Federation or Inspector-General of Police with the approval of the President.

However the alleged intimidation of innocent people by IPOB on account of ethnicity or religion should cease. Since the burning of police stations, killing and harassment of some innocent traders from the northern part of the country allegedly carried out by the IPOB cannot be justified under the law the suspects should be arrested. The suspects should be charged to court to serve as s warning to criminally minded people who may want to direct their frustration at fellow victims of the oppression and poverty unleashed on them by the ruling class.

No doubt, the IPOB members are free to associate for the protection of their interests by virtue of section 40 of the Constitution. But they have to agitate peacefully in a way that the rights of other citizens to live peacefully in the south east zone are respected. Even if the IPOP has decided to declare a war on the State its troops cannot attack unarmed civilians under the Geneva Conventions. Therefore, in the ongoing face off between the State and the IPOB both sides must ensure that unarmed people are not attacked or intimidated.

The federal government is duty bound to ensure the protection of the life and property of every citizen as the fundamental right to live peacefully in any part of the country is guaranteed by section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution. To that effect, all efforts must be made by the federal government to prevent reprisal attacks on innocent people in the northern part of the country.

In calling for dialogue between President Buhari and Mr. Kanu former President Obasanjo ought to have apologised publicly for the military invasions of Odi in Bayelsa state and Zaki Biam in Benue State ordered by him. The basis of the call should have been explained since President Obasanjo charged Niger Delta militants, leaders of ethnic militias and separatist movements with treason which led to their prolonged detention in prison custody. Convinced that President Obasanjo has realised that the criminalization of such agitation did not achieve its objective, his suggestion for a dialogue should be seriously considered by the federal government and the south east governors.

It is also interesting that President Goodluck Jonathan is calling for a meeting of the Council of State to resolve the crisis. For goodness sake why was such a meeting not called before soldiers were deployed in the Niger Delta to deal with militants? Or did President Jonathan call any meeting before deploying soldiers all over the country for the 2015 general elections in defiance of the judgments of the federal high court and the Court of Appeal?

Instead of suggesting irrelevant meetings, the root causes of the increasing loss of faith in the corporate existence of Nigeria by unemployed youths and other poverty stricken people should be urgently addressed by the ruling class.

As a matter of urgency, the underdevelopment of the nation caused by the mindless corruption and criminal diversion of public funds by unpatriotic public officers hapless should be addressed. With respect to the deployment of members of the armed forces by the President the national assembly should enact an enabling law as required by section 217 of the Constitution.

Furthermore, the national assembly should pass a bill to enable the federal government to disburse the funds that have been recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from the looters of our commonwealth for job creation and the provision of social services. As long as the people are denied the dividends of democracy the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria will remain an empty shibboleth.


Finally, it is high time the debate on restructuring was restructured to accommodate the interests of the working people, women, students, youths and our army of unemployed youths. In other words, the planned devolution of powers from the centre to the federating units have to be fully democratized. Otherwise, irredentist movements like IPOD will continue to preach the gospel of hate, ethnic nationalism, bigotry racism and xenophobia.
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  1. YOU ARE VOTED AN ILLITERATE IN POWER,WHAT DO YOU EXPECT. THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT BEST THEY KNOW HOW TO DO. NO LISTENING TO AN INTELLECTUAL OR A TECHNOCRAT. IF YOU LIKE 2019 IS COMING,YOU CAN STILL VOTE FOR ANY PAST PRESIDENT,JIHAD HEAD OR EX-MILITARY HEAD. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN...OYO

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  2. This is d very first time I find myself agreeing with Falana on his submission. I never thought I would see the day he would speak the truth to power without angling for a brief

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  3. Mr femi falana has said it all. Obviously it requires a great deal of mental task to run a country, especially one like Nigeria, but we voted in a man who has issues with his secondary school certificate to lead us in the 21st century.

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  4. In fact, every one in his cabinet is mentally deranged. No planning, nothing at all, and they seem not to care. All of them in the cattle breeder's government are quarter baked. What do they even discuss in their FEC? what do they even know to discuss? No wonder the fulani cattle breeder will always cancel FEC any how. I am completely ashamed of this country. Colossal waste. Laggards in government. People who cannot run a small provision shop running the affairs of Nigeria. Really unfortunate. Thank Almighty for the Igbo's who have made us to see how incompetent and clueless this president and his team are. Sorry for this country. Its high time we all agreed to this restructuring thing, so that we all know where we are. I have seen that some people are drawing others back. Useless man. The most illiterate president in the world.

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  5. During GEJ era when PDP was desperately exploring every unimaginable and absurd strategy that they could use in discrediting the Presidential Ambition of PMB, they decided to explore the propaganda of labelling PMB as the one who vowed that Nigeria will become ungovernable if he should loss the 2011 Election.

    Now the unfathomable thing as happened, PMB has been overwhelmingly voted to victory by majority of voters across Nigeria.

    PMB is fighting corruption (When the Righteous Minded Bears Rule, the People will always have hope and the Nation will earn it's well deserved respect among other Nations), the Nations Economy that was destroyed is gradually being repaired and restored, several PDP Era Atrocities and Other PDP Era Acts of Treasury Looting and Plundering as being exposed on virtually daily basis.

    Now, it appears the only Strategy available to PDP and their Cohorts that they can use in fighting PMB is by Systematically making the Nigeria Ungovernable for APC and PMB.

    Through PDP's Strategy of making Nigeria Ungovernable, they have floated IPOB (people should carefully go through the history and background activities of Nnamdi Kanu), sponsoring all manner and forms of Civil Unrest, raising Militants and all sorts of Criminality in a Democratic Dispensation.

    Henceforth in Nigeria, PDP and their Cohorts should be held responsible for all forms of Societal Unrest that threatens the Peace of Governance in Nigeria.

    We give glory to God that despite all their manners of evil and devious strategies, God has helped Nigeria so far. We can see the light down the tunnel, God has helped us out of Economic Recession that PDP and their Cohorts irresponsibly and brazenly steered the ship of dear Nation Nigeria into.

    This Change shall indeed work for Nigeria by that special grace of almighty God and to the shame of every hidden or visible enemy of progress in Nigeria.

    May God complete the deliverance of Nigeria from utter backwardness in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

    May the Lord continue to frustrate and reduce to oblivion all the known and secret enemies of Nigeria in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen.

    May the Lord erase all the known and secret enemies of Nigeria like human fart in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen.

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