I have read many horrible news and reports today about Nigeria\u2019s bloody
\nMonday, May 30, 2016 and cannot imagine how such a solemn celebration to
\nmark and honor Biafra fallen soldiers who gallantly fought to defend their
\npeople and land against worst pogrom and genocide unleashed against them
\nby Nigeria and their co-conspirators should degenerate into such bloody
\nviolence including those arrested or massacred while praying inside a
\nCatholic Church at Nkpor near Onitsha yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Biafra Heroes Memorial Day remembrance is an event that began in 2004
\nbecause of the neglect of the Nigerian State to cater for the well-being
\nof Biafra veterans after the war ended. Many of the Nigerians who fought
\non Biafra side continue to live in penury and thousands have passed away
\ndue to poverty and refusal of the federal government to re-integrate them
\ninto the Military Force.<\/p>\n
Biafra Memorial Day, for most part, has been a peaceful event that is
\ncelebrated by Ndigbo around the world. This year, because of its historic
\nimportance, was celebrated in so many nations around the world including:
\nGhana, South Africa, U.S., Britain, Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland,
\nIsrael as well as in Malaysia, Dubai and other Islamic nations without any
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
But in Biafra land in Eastern Nigeria, hundreds of peaceful celebrants and
\neven bystanders were either arrested, injured, or killed with life bullets
\nbeing fired at them by Nigerian DSS, Navy, Army, Police, and Boko haram
\njihadists in order to disorganize them. This is really sad indeed. Is
\nthis the end of freedom and democracy in Nigeria?<\/p>\n
The Nigerian State must understand that freedom cannot be tampered with in
\na constitutional democracy. By the way, Biafrans can never be enslaved,
\nIslamized or exterminated in Nigeria. They can scatter, live in exile, in
\ncaptivity, but can never be exterminated from the face of this earth\u2014just
\nlike the Israelites. Nigerian essayist, Poet and Nobel Price winner,
\nProf Wole Soyinka, eloquently said, \u201cBiafra is spirit\u201d and a spirit does
\nnot die.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m alive today because of the heroic efforts and sacrifices made by those
\ngallant Biafran soldiers to defend their people, their land and the unborn
\nfrom what Prof. Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, called: \u201cAfrica\u2019s most expansive and
\ndevastating genocide of the 20th century and the inaugurator of
\ncontemporary Africa\u2019s age of pestilence.\u201d According to the erudite scholar
\non Africa\u2019s genocide, \u201ca total of 3.1 million Igbo people, a quarter of
\nBiafra nation\u2019s population at the time, were murdered during those
\nharrowing 44 months,\u201d while the world watched. What an evil and wicked
\nworld!<\/p>\n
Fast forward 50 years later, the same human rights abuses\u2014marginalization,
\nrepression, oppression, killings, massacres, pogrom and genocide are still
\ngoing on in Nigeria today. Nigeria\u2019s online news media are awash of
\nreports of arrests, violence, and killings of Biafrans by a combination of
\nDSS, Navy, Soldiers, and Police, who are peacefully marching, singing and
\npraying to honor their fallen heroes who died defending them against the
\nworst pogrom and genocidal war in Africa.<\/p>\n
Every sensible, caring and honorable Nigerian must ask why. Why is the
\npresident\u2019s armed forces massacring peaceful protesters? Why is the
\nNigerian soldiers shooting down innocent and defenseless citizens? Why is
\nthe president\u2019s army squad killing young citizens from the East? What is
\nhe afraid of? Past governments have always ignored Biafra Heroes Day
\ncelebrations since 2004.<\/p>\n
Today, every where you turn in Nigeria \u2013 people are being killed like
\nchicken. What\u2019s going on in Nigeria? What does President Buhari wants to
\nachieve? He vowed to die for the unity of Nigeria. Does he think, he can
\nachieve such illusion by arresting, imprisoning, killing and massacring
\nthe young generation and go free in this 21st century world? Does he
\nthink through his actions or inaction as the leader of the so-called giant
\nof Africa? Are his advisers advising him wisely or are they deceiving and
\ndamaging him and his presidency? Does the President know the implications
\nof what he\u2019s doing? Does he want to lead Nigeria into disintegration and
\ndismemberment? Is this a setup by the West or what?<\/p>\n
Currently, guerrilla war is going on in Niger Delta creeks. The federal
\ngovernment has just deployed a fleet of five warships, 100 gunboats and
\nfighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta, in response to continued
\nbombing of oil and gas pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Last
\nweek, I read that British submarine is nearing the seashore of Riverine
\narea. Nigerian soldiers are being deployed in droves to Niger Delta
\nregion to crush NDA and other freedom and militants groups forming
\neveryday in Nigeria\u2019s oil rich islands.<\/p>\n
Buhari has vowed to crush MASSOP, IPOB and NDA and will not live to see
\nBiafra realized. He also vowed to die for the unity of Nigeria \u2013 simply
\nbecause of the oil blocks and wealth – he and his northern oligarchy are
\ncontrolling.<\/p>\n
The President has been cruising the world asking for weapons to crush
\nBiafra agitators, Niger Delta militants, his political enemies and
\nopposition, while Fulani herdsmen insurgents with Boko haram jihadists are
\nstill rampaging and massacring many innocent and defenseless citizens
\nacross many states in Middle Belt, Southwest, Southeast and South-south of
\nNigeria with impunity, taking over their farmlands and villages.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the New York Times warned and cautioned President
\nObama not to sell warplanes to Buhari because of his human rights abuses.
\nIn February, President Obama donated 30 military tanks\/trucks to Nigeria.<\/p>\n
IPOB leader, Nnamdi kanu is still incarcerated. Shiite Muslim leader,
\nSheikh Zakzaky is still be held. Political enemies: Dasuki and Metuh are
\nbeing held by EFCC. Fani Kayode, the outspoken critic of the President is
\nalso being held by EFCC. Gov. Foyose of Ekiti State, another critic of
\nthe President is being threatened and the entire SE\/SS leadership are
\npractically silent for fear of reprisal – except the elderly ex-governor
\nChukwuemeka Ezeife, who speaks out from time to time. Yet, well known
\nex-governors who emptied their States treasury are presently serving in
\nthe President\u2019s cabinet or enjoying their loots.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian Army has vowed to descend hard on Niger Delta Avengers while
\nBoko haram jihadists and Fulani herdsmen are still unleashing mayhem in
\nthe NE and SW. Boko harm has re-taken some of the local government areas
\nin Borno State. The Fulani herdsmen are still massacring defenseless
\nfarmers and villagers with impunity. Yesterday, the OPC leader, Mr. Adams
\nsaid that he\u2019ll not be able to defend the Yoruba land anymore from Fulani
\nherdsmen who continue to massacre local farmers in the area. His group of
\nvigilantes have been called terrorists, while Fulani herdsmen insurgents
\nwith AK-47 and assorted weapons are not reprimanded even though the global
\nterrorist watch group has named Fulani herdsmen the 4th deadliest sect on
\nthe planet.<\/p>\n
On May 29, 2015, the ex-military dictator, Mohammadu Buhari came to power
\nafter defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan on April 29,
\n2015 to be come the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after
\nthree failed attempts. While ex-president Jonathan was hailed by all
\nNigerians and world leaders for accepting defeat and congratulating Buhari
\neven before the presidential election result was announced, Buhari\u2019s win
\nwas greeted with euphoria that he\u2019s the messiah that Nigeria has been
\nwaiting for to fix Nigeria. His stance against corruption and war against
\nindiscipline during his military regime in the 1980\u2019s were only his known
\ncredentials.<\/p>\n
President Buhari and APC leadership promised Nigeria change \u2013 outlining
\nseventy-five promises to deliver to Nigerians in their administration.
\nToday, is one year President Buhari and his deputy, Prof. Osibanjo took
\noath of office and not a single of those promises has been delivered yet.
\nRather, the country is mired in lawlessness, barbarism, impunity, lack of
\nvision, and corruption of the highest order, executive rascality,
\nextremist regime, hypocrisy, genocide, human right abuses, violence,
\nkillings, and massacres.<\/p>\n
Since Buhari came into power one year ago, the nation has been thrown in
\nenormous suffering, violence, killings, massacres and worst economic
\ncrisis of our time. Today, one gallon of petrol sell N184 from N68 it was
\nselling before he took office. Naira is at 368 to $1 and poor masses are
\ndying of hunger due to food scarcity, high inflation and worst economic
\ncrisis since 1999.<\/p>\n
How did Nigeria with so much human potential and abundant natural
\nresources degenerate into a state of lawlessness, hopelessness, and
\nbarbarism. How is that Nigeria \u2013 a nation with so much promise of
\nprosperity and greatness has degenerated into lawlessness and hopelessness
\nbecause of ethnic hatred, tribalism, State injustice, government
\ncorruption and rascality, religious ignorance, intolerance and violence.<\/p>\n
Millions of Easterners have embraced a call for Biafra Independence from
\nNigeria because of marginalization and neglect by the federal government.
\nDespite my personal belief that Nigeria can be great, yet, I believe in
\nthe promise of Biafra more because Nigeria has not given me anything but
\nsuffering, insults, bondage, enslavement, captivity, marginalization, and
\ndeath.<\/p>\n
Why would anyone from the East continue to call himself or herself a
\nNigerian in a nation that arrests and murders her best brains? Nigeria is
\na nation that murdered one of her best journalists and writers \u2013 Dele
\nGiwa, hangs one of her brightest scholars and intellectuals – Ken
\nSaro-Wiwa, kills one of her best leaders and billionaire \u2013 Chief M. K. O
\nAbiola, kills her attorney general in his own bed room and until now no
\none has been arrested or punished for the crime, imprisons her freedom
\nfighters \u2013 courageous leaders fighting fro justice and equity.<\/p>\n
This is a nation that continues to exile her brightest minds, scholars,
\nengineers, doctors, educationists, scientist, poets, writers and media
\nprofessional, philosophers, social thinkers, human rights activist,
\npro-democracy activist, and its young citizens.<\/p>\n
This is a nation with institutional tribalism against its own people,
\ndiscriminating against the potential segment of its own people, and goes
\non rampage killing her innocent and defenseless citizens.<\/p>\n
This is a nation that does not maintain its infrastructures or build new
\nones but prefers to embezzle and launder public money overseas, money
\ncapital destined for Federal projects, State programs, community and rural
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
This is a nation that fails to educate her young generation, a nation that
\nhas disregarded education which is the foundation, pillar and engine of
\neconomic growth and prosperity. This is a nation where their billionaires
\ngives millions of U.S dollars to American and British universities while
\nno university or equipped university exists in his own State.<\/p>\n
I weep for Nigeria. Nigerians are under tyranny, extremist regime and
\nfull-blown dictatorship. There is no democracy in Nigeria now but
\nmilitary dictatorship. Nigeria is degenerating into anarchy and
\ndisintegration.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne Nigeria\u201d is a myth. How can Nigeria be one and continue to live
\ntogether when variant tribes distrust and hate one another so
\npassionately.<\/p>\n
This amalgamation of Nigeria is a forced union and a British contract that
\nexpired in 2014. The amalgamation contract must be re-negotiated. It is a
\ncritical document that needs to be dusted and reviewed again and urgently
\naddressed by Britain and world powers before Nigeria degenerates into
\nanother brutal civil war.<\/p>\n
If the global community wants to live in peace and harmony, the human
\nrights abuses and genocide that\u2019s going on in Nigeria must be stopped now
\nand the national question addressed.<\/p>\n
The urgency is now. Sincere and courageous Nigerians, African leaders and
\nworld powers must speak-up now and condemn the extremist genocide regime
\nof this government and call the President to order before Nigeria
\ndegenerates into another civil war \u2013 which will be more catastrophic than
\nthe 1967-70 civil war.<\/p>\n
Nigeria has become simply a den of death, of sorrow, sadness, pain,
\nsuffering and hopelessness \u2013 a lawless and failed nation. Nigeria has
\ntruly become an embodiment of a degenerate people and \u201ca degenerate
\nsociety\u201d according to the powerful statement of an erudite scholar and top
\ndiplomat, the late Dr. Joseph Nanyen Garba.<\/p>\n
In the words of late Dr. Julius Kambarage Nyerere, former Tanzanian
\nPresident and African statesman and leader, once said, \u201cNigeria has
\nchronically chosen to be moving steadily back to the cave, when its
\ncounterparts and peers of 60s and 70s are busy finding their ways into the
\norbit or moon\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nigerians are screwed \u2013 and it\u2019ll take courageous, true, and authentic
\nleadership or revolution to fix Nigeria.<\/p>\n
May the souls of those Biafran soldiers who gallantly fought to defend us
\nfrom worst genocide and pogrom by Nigeria and her global co-conspirators
\nmade up of evil empires of Britain, former USSR, Egypt, Arab countries as
\nwell as the rest of other nations that did nothing to stop the worst
\ngenocide in Africa\u2019s history \u2013 continue to rest in perpetual peace in
\nheaven. I salute you and honor your bravery and noble sacrifice. Amen.<\/p>\n
To be continued\u2014<\/p>\n
Dr. C. K. Ekeke, is a public theologian, author, activist and leadership
\nlecturer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have read many horrible news and reports today about Nigeria\u2019s bloody Monday, May 30, 2016 and cannot imagine how such a solemn celebration to mark and honor Biafra fallen…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n