NEWS
Insecurity: Ohanaeze Accuses PMB of Heaping Blames on Victims
By Edozie Obasi-Eze
Pan Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed concern that President Muhammadu Buhari would be heaping blames on the victims of incessant killings in the southeast, instead of living up to his responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic.
Admitting that the escalating security situation in the southeast was cause for concern, the umbrella Igbo body, in a statement on Monday, decried a recent position attributed to the President as both uncharitable and mischievous, which could poison undiscerning minds because it insinuated that non-indigenes and security officials were being killed by the terrorists in the South East.
Recall that President Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Sunday said, “President Muhammadu Buhari condemned in strong terms the recent attacks against non-indigenes and law enforcement officials by terrorists in the South East.”
He went ahead to urge “community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings and to stand up and defend the ethos of the nation’s cultural and religious heritage.”
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has taken exception to the position of President Buhari, in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘Insecurity in the South East: Buhari is blaming the victim,’ President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Amb Prof George Obiozor, made it clear that Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemned the killings and violence imposed on the South East by President Buhari’s administration, of which he cannot turn around to blame the victim.
Prof Obiozor barred his mind in the statement released by Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze National, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia.
He maintained that any attempt to appropriate national problems to the South East of Nigeria would amount to taking ethnic prejudice to the extreme.
In the words of Prof Obiozor, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide joins the Presidency and indeed the good people of Nigeria in condemning this dastardly act that occurred at Imo State, South East of Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze has repeatedly explained that amongst the Igbo, human life is very sacred. The sanctity of life is so elevated that killing a human being in whatever circumstance is considered an abomination. In fact, it is not in the character of the Igbo to kill in whatever disguise.
“These recent developments are indeed very much alien to the reflexes, culture, and norms of the South East. And we have often called on the Nigerian security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to book as a deterrent to others.”
Ohanaeze, pointed out that any failure on the part of the Nigerian security agents to fish out the criminals cannot be blamed on the Igbo, wondering why the situation in the southeast was being treated as an isolated case.
“Ohaneaeze Ndigbo, however, frowns at the statement by the Presidency, which is nuanced against the South East as a haven for terrorists that attack non-indigenes and law enforcement officials, implying that the insecurity persists because the leaders have not forcefully spoken.
“This is very unfair to the Igbo, especially when the presidency knows the root cause and the nature of the insecurity in the South East.
“It needs to be added that the solution to the insecurity in the South East lies in the enormous powers of the presidency.
“The above remarks by the presidency appear to have ignored the prolonged open war with the Boko Haram in the North East; the Banditry in the North West, especially in Katsina State; the Fulani Herdsmen invasion of several communities in the Middle Belt region; the Church massacre at Owo; the daily kidnappings on our highways; the Kaduna-Abuja train abduction, etc,.”
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In the statement, Prof Obiozor reminded the Presidency that they spoke differently when the district head of President Buhari’s hometown was taken captive and freed after two months.
“Paradoxically, when the district head of Daura, the hometown of Mr President, was kidnapped and was freed after two months, Mallam Garba Shehu was quoted as saying that the ‘incident was evidence that Duara was not receiving preferential treatment and that insecurity was a national problem.’
“In other words, when insecurity manifests in the North West, it is a national problem; but when, on the other hand, it occurs in the South East, it is blamed on the inability of the ‘community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings and to stand up and defend the ethos of the nation’s cultural and religious heritage’,” he added.
According to Prof Obiozor the Igbo remain the most nationally spread of all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, despite the persisting insecurity.
The statement further averred that “The Igbo possess the greatest wanderlust as well as the most hospitable dispositions amongst the various ethnicities in the world. The non-indigenes in the South East enjoy untrammeled friendliness, inter-ethnic assimilation and a conducive business environment; what happened to the non-indigenes in the South East is most regrettable as part of the current national calamity.
“One would think that the inevitable consequences of the orchestrated mendacious propaganda, dubiety, subterfuge, sabotage, and serial alienation against the South East of Nigeria are already staring us in the face.”
In what appears like an attempt at identifying some of the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria, Ohanaeze wondered, “How do we fight insecurity by appointment of service chiefs based on ethnocentric and religious considerations as against the best global practices of military competence?
“Put differently, how can the South East be excluded among the over 16 service chiefs in the Nigerian armed and paramilitary forces and expect insecurity not to fester? And how; and how; and how…..? And when the chickens have come home to roost, we resort to blaming the victim.
“The famous psychologist, William Ryan, espoused that blaming the victim is an atrocious ideology that tries to justify social injustice against a group. The oppressor deliberately creates an unjust chaotic environment for the oppressed; and blames the victims for the inevitable crises that flow therefrom.
“In conclusion, it is very uncharitable, if not mischievous, to poison undiscerning minds by insinuating that non-indigenes and security officials are killed by the terrorists in the South East.
“On the other hand, to appropriate national problem to the South East of Nigeria is an ethnic prejudice taken too far. Invariably, banditry in the North Central persists because their leaders have not forcefully spoken. Rather, they are publicly celebrated and turbaned or still offered the Sheik Gumi option.
“Both history and current events in the country must have shown that unjust policy against the just shall ultimately vindicate the just,” Ohanaeze stated.
Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.
Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.
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“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.
“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.
Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.
“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.
He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.
“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.
His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.
Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.
Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.
NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.
The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.
Rufai Oseni has challenged political analyst Olabode Sowunmi over the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount, questioning whether the intervention amounts to a return of fuel subsidy despite claims that the discount is being borne by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
The exchange occurred during an edition of The Morning Show on Arise News, where Oseni questioned Sowunmi about the financial implications of the petrol discount and other measures introduced to cushion the impact of fuel prices.
Oseni argued that several elements of the government’s intervention could be regarded as forms of subsidy, insisting that NNPC’s ownership structure must be considered when determining who ultimately bears the cost.
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“No matter how you try to explain it away, a subsidy is a subsidy,” Oseni said.
He challenged the argument that the discount should not be classified as a government subsidy simply because NNPC was responsible for providing it.
“We’re talking like NNPC is not owned by [the government] and heavily equity-based by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated,” he said.
Oseni identified the 30-day discount, forward sales of crude oil to domestic refineries, a proposed price ceiling, the removal of road levies and the consideration of an excess-profit tax among the measures he believed could amount to different forms of subsidy.
He argued that forward sales of crude oil to domestic refineries, with increased volumes as production grows, could help shield petrol pump prices from fluctuations in the international market.
Oseni also questioned the proposed negotiation of a price ceiling of ₦1,350 on landing and ex-country costs, arguing that government intervention to moderate prices contradicted the principle of allowing market forces to determine them.
“You are not supposed to come in to do this. Let me go back to your words: forces of market supply and demand should do this, but you have now come in to do this. That’s another form of subsidies,” he said.
He further cited the removal of road levies and cooperation with state governments under new tax laws as part of the measures requiring scrutiny.
After listing the interventions, Oseni demanded that Sowunmi explain their financial implications and identify who would ultimately pay for the petrol discount.
“But tie this with the most important question, actually, that you skipped: How much will this cost NNPC, and who pays for it? Don’t evade that question. Tell us the cost item and how much, who will pay for it,” Oseni said.
Sowunmi Defends His Position
In his response, Sowunmi argued that a government subsidy should be determined by whether the government bears the difference between the total cost of a product and its selling price.
He explained that a subsidy occurs when the government assumes the financial burden created by the gap between the cost of a product and the price at which it is sold.
“In the case of the discount that has been announced, it is borne by NNPC. So that cannot be…” Sowunmi said before Oseni interrupted.
Oseni challenged the distinction, insisting that NNPC’s ownership made it necessary to establish whether the cost could ultimately be linked to the government.
“Wait, not—who owns NNPC? Please answer. No, no, a straight question, and you can go ahead. Who owns NNPC?” Oseni asked.
Sowunmi responded that he had been invited to contribute to the discussion and should be allowed to complete his explanation.
“You asked, you asked NNPC because you believe—you asked me a question because you believe I have something to say. You cannot—you cannot tell me how to talk, so just be…” he said.
Oseni subsequently repeated his question about NNPC’s ownership, prompting Sowunmi to urge him to exercise patience.
“Basically, you need to be a bit patient and just…” Sowunmi responded.
The available transcript ends during the exchange, with no further explanation of the financial arrangements or conclusion to the discussion provided.
Human rights defender and Amnesty International volunteer, Lawrence Zongo, has been released from the custody of the Nigerian Army in Jos, Plateau State, after spending 10 days in detention.
His release comes after Amnesty International and the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement demanded his immediate release, raising concerns over his alleged incommunicado detention at the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division headquarters in Jos.
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“Zongo is out,” a source privy to the information said on Thursday.
Zongo was arrested on October 5 while visiting relatives receiving treatment at a military hospital within Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks, the headquarters of the Army’s 3 Division.
He had reportedly gone to the facility to assist family members who were attacked by gunmen in Meyango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Sunday night.
Sources familiar with the incident said one of Zongo’s first cousins died from injuries sustained in the attack before he arrived at the hospital late Monday morning.
Following his arrest, sources alleged that Zongo was held without charge and denied access to his lawyers and family members.
Sources also claimed that he was wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses when he visited the military facility, suggesting that this might have contributed to the soldiers’ decision to detain him. However, the claim had not been independently verified.
On October 8, Amnesty International raised the alarm over what it described as the arbitrary and incommunicado detention of its member, demanding that the military either release him immediately or hand him over to the appropriate civilian authorities.
The organisation said efforts to gain access to Zongo had been unsuccessful and called on the Army to clarify the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
On October 13, the Take-It-Back Movement’s Plateau State chapter also demanded his release, alleging that he remained in military custody without a clear explanation.
The movement said its members and executive committee representatives had discussed the matter during an appearance on JayFM Jos, insisting that the military should disclose the offence Zongo was suspected of committing and provide evidence justifying his continued detention.
The group also called for respect for Zongo’s fundamental rights and urged the Army to follow established legal procedures if there were allegations against him.
His release comes after days of pressure from rights advocates and activists over the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
The Nigerian Army’s reasons for detaining Zongo and the circumstances surrounding his release were not immediately available.
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