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PRESS RELEASE
CONSTITUTE INTERIM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, OR…
The League of Eastern Activists and Democrats (LEAD), an umbrella body of pro-democracy groups in the old eastern region of Nigeria led by the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) is sad to note that, for a third time since 1999, the people of the old Eastern region were not freely allowed to choose their leaders.
Recall that massive riggings, monumental frauds and state sponsored violence marred the April 14, 21, and 28 polls conducted in the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The LEAD has no doubt that the disenfranchisements of the people of the old Eastern region by the INEC is part of an unwritten agreement between Obasanjo and the northern cabal after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war, to ensure that only political leaders who will not only aid in them in the on-going plundering of the oil wealth of the region but also in subjecting their people to perpetual bondage participate in the governance of the country at all levels, especially the presidency. This is why Easterners like Donald Duke, Orji Kalu, Peter Odili, and Victor Attah were humiliated out of the presidential race before the primary election of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year. The LEAD condemns this in its entirety; for a situation where some members of the Nigerian disunited union are not allowed to have a shot at the presidency is slavery.
Accordingly, the LEAD demands as follows:
1. The immediate recommendation of the National Assembly for the removal of the Chairman, INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero for their complicity in the daylight robbery of the mandate of the Easterners in particular and Nigerians in general;
2. The impeachment of President Olusegun Obasanjo for conniving with anti-democratic forces to truncate Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy and the subsequent take-over by Vice President Atiku Abubakar;
3. The constitution of an interim national government to be headed by Senate President Ken Nnamani on May 29, 2007; and
4. The convocation of a sovereign national conference of ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders in the Nigerian project. The conference will discuss the conditions, including rotational presidency, resource control, etc. under which the various ethnic nationalities in the country are to live together.
It is the studied opinion of the LEAD that only elections conducted in the aftermath of the proposed conference can truly express the collective will of the popular masses and ultimately save our great country from imminent collapse.
But if, as feelers from the presidency shows, these demands are not met, the LEAD shall mobilize the people of the old Eastern region against Yar’adua’s presidency by:
i. Not recognizing him and others as our leaders;
ii. Disobedience to any laws made by the incoming National Assembly;
iii. Taking over total control of the oil wealth of the Eastern region; and
iv. Constitution of a parallel government called Central Government of the East (CGE) to administer the affairs of the Eastern region From July 1, 2007. The CGE shall be made up of representatives of the pro-democracy groups, student bodies, trade unions, etc in the Eastern region.
As a prelude to the above, the LEAD is planning to organize peaceful demonstrations. It is scheduled as follows:
May 27, 2007 – Protest at the National Headquarters of the INEC;
May 28, 2007 – Protest at the Force Headquarters, Abuja; and
May 29, 2007 – Protest at the venue of the swearing-in ceremony of the custodians of the stolen mandate of the people led by Yar’adua and Jonathan.
Each of the protests is expected to be participated by not less than 90,000 people, mostly naked men and women (drawn from Abia, Akwa Ibom,Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states, which make up the Eastern region). Therefore, anybody or groups that want to participate in the mass non-violent protests should contact the LEAD on or before May 23, 2007.
But the LEAD is aware that the Obasanjo-led mal-administration, which derives pleasure and joy from the anguish and death of its governed will, in its usual characteristic, deploy heavily armed bloodthirsty security men to frustrate the people of the Eastern region from exercising their inalienable right to freedom of assembly. Yet, realizing that the salvation of the oppressed (Easterners) lies, not in the hands of the oppressors (Obasanjo, Yar’adua, etc) but in the hands of the oppressed, the LEAD is undaunted. It shall like the Biblical Moses liberate the Easterners from the hands of Pharaoh Obasanjo through non-violent resistance.
As we await the mass protests, let us thank GOD in advance for extinguishing dictatorship from the political sphere of Nigeria.
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