ABBA Town under siege By Chimamanda Adichie

 My hometown under siege
By Chimamanda Adichie
Guardian Newspaper, 20 September, 2019   

One night in July, the signboards disappeared. The people of Abba, my hometown in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state, woke up to see that the signboards were gone — the signboard that said ‘Welcome to Abba Town’ had vanished. The signboard mounted by the state government that said ‘Drive safely through Abba’ had vanished. Every signboard that announced Abba’s boundary had disappeared.

In a country where signboards exist to make communities visible, this was an act of erasure, a way of saying to a community: you no longer exist. An attack on a community’s autonomy. An aggression. But how could it have happened? There are laws, after all, and signboards set up by the state government cannot arbitrarily be torn down. It happened because the Nigerian police accompanied people at night to commit this illegal act. Witnesses saw them: the police vans, their flashing lights, their guns. And it happened because a Nigerian billionaire, Prince Arthur Eze, is financing a campaign of intimidation in order to win a land dispute.

Land disputes are depressingly common all over Nigeria – Awka-Amawbia, Umuleri-Aguleri, and Ife-Modakeke are some well-known examples – but perhaps what makes Abba-Ukpo different is the brazen meddling of a wealthy man. The land in question is called Agu Abba – a vast stretch of woods, farmland, and a market, Oye Abba, with roofed wooden stalls. All land cases are complex, but here is a simplified history of this case: In 1967, shortly after the Nigeria-Biafra war began, Abba sued a nearby town, Ukwulu, for trespassing on its land. A state high court ruled in Abba’s favour.

After the war, Ukwulu questioned the legitimacy of the ruling, as Biafra no longer existed. Abba then sued again in 1975. The case dragged on until 1985 when Ukpo, another nearby town, formerly a witness for Ukwulu, made a surprising volte face and joined the suit, claiming some of the land as theirs. The suits were subsequently consolidated and in 1999 a state high court ruled in Ukwulu/Ukpo’s favour. Abba got a stay of execution on the judgment. Then something strange happened: the record of proceedings in the case suddenly disappeared. The Anambra State government set up a panel of inquiry, which sat for three months and returned empty-handed to say they could not find the court records.

Abba filed an appeal but the appeal failed because the record of proceedings, which are indispensable materials for the determination of the appeal, could not be presented. Abba then appealed to the Supreme Court. In a lead judgment, Paul Adamu Galumje referred to the disappearance of the records and asked both parties to go back to the state high court and ‘sort out the mess.’

So Abba went back to file suit in state court, where the case is currently ongoing.

“Do court records just get up and walk away?” a spokesperson for Abba said. “We all know Prince Arthur Eze paid people to destroy the records. We don’t have money but we will fight him with the truth in court.”

But before the case could proceed in court, the siege of Abba began.

On June 19, 2019, Oye Abba market was full of people trading in vegetables and yams when police vans screeched in and policemen leapt out, shooting tear gas canisters, pushing and hitting traders and buyers, asking everyone to leave the market immediately. People ran. Children cried. Two weeks later, more policemen arrived at the market, destroying the wares of innocent people. And again a few days later. The terrorized traders then abandoned the market and set up on a busy intersection at the center of Abba, a less than ideal site, but the only option left to them.

While visiting my elderly parents in my hometown in August 2019, I saw the makeshift market at this intersection, some traders sitting on the bare earth, in the sun’s harsh glare. Something about that scene broke my heart – the smallness and sadness of it, villagers determined to keep on going, even though their market had been forcefully and illegally taken from them.

I began to ask questions and soon learned that it wasn’t just mass harassment of market traders, there was also a more targeted harassment of individuals who had spoken up for Abba in the land dispute.

On July 3, 2019 policemen from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Area 10, Garki Abuja arrived early in the morning and arrested three people from Abba. A woman was about to unlock her shop on the main road in Abba when policemen jumped on her and arrested her. A man was about to leave home for his construction work site when policemen barged through his door, scaring his family, and bundled him away. They were detained first at the State CID for one week and then were moved to Abuja where they were detained for two weeks.

“On what charges?” I asked a young man, a member of the Abba Youth, who has witnessed the events from the beginning.
‘They had a long list of charges, including conspiracy and attempted murder,” he said.

“Attempted murder of whom?”

“It’s all nonsense. They fabricated charges, based on zero evidence, and took them to Abuja just to intimidate them and make them give up our land.”

The point of these illegal arrests is indeed intimidation. But many in Abba were not cowed. The Abba town union organized a peaceful protest along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, on the spot where the signboards were torn down, to raise awareness about what was happening. They had no weapons, only their voices. Shortly after the protest began, the police arrived in large numbers. Some witnesses said there were at least 100 policemen, which in a small protest in a small town is akin to a hostile invasion by state machinery. The police fired tear gas to disperse the protest. The young man I spoke to was there, and told me how his eyes burned for days afterwards.

“There were so many tear gas canisters, up to 300, and they were brand new. We all know the police in this area don’t have that much. Who paid for the tear gas? Arthur Eze,” he said.

Abba Women also organized a protest to appeal to the governor for help. Hundreds of women gathered at the government house, all dressed in somber black, carrying signs, and singing mournful songs. Watching the video, one cannot help but be moved by these women, by their determination, their orderliness, their commitment to peaceful means of protest. They wanted the governor to step in and stop the police harassment of Abba indigenes. One of the cardboard signs they carried read: Stop police harassment of Abba. Another, to my surprise, read: Arthur Eze, emulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote. He does not use his money to intimidate people. He uses his money to invest wisely.

The Abba town union wrote detailed letters of complaint to the DSS, the state governor and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. An excerpt from the letter to the President reads: “It is no secret that the I. G. P. Adamu Mohammed is being used by a known moneybag in Ukpo, Prince Arthur Eze, to intimidate and silence Abba people like he did to their neighbouring Abagana community.”

As a child I was often skeptical of historical stories in which the homeland of the storyteller was always in the right. And so my natural skepticism made me ask why Prince Arthur Eze would engage in this violent campaign of intimidation, and whether perhaps he was being unfairly maligned. Where was the evidence? How could we be sure that Prince Arthur Eze was indeed responsible?

“Arthur Eze wants to build a university named after him, and Ukpo doesn’t have any land big enough and so he wants to take our land,” the young man said.

Prince Arthur Eze has a documented history of muscling his way into contested land – in the past few years he has used the police to terrorize another nearby town, Abagana, after which he annexed their land. But perhaps the clearest evidence that Prince Arthur Eze is the mastermind of the harassment in the Abba-Ukpo case comes from his own words. After the Supreme Court judgment, Prince Arthur Eze called the traditional ruler of Abba, Igwe LN Ezeh and asked for a meeting on May 21, 2019 at the Geneva Hotel in Okpuno, a town near Awka. There, Prince Eze made a proposal: if Abba agreed to abandon the court case and share the land with Ukpo, he would call off the police. Igwe LN Ezeh told him that Abba people wanted to conclude the case in court. There are witnesses to this meeting. It was after this meeting that the police harassment of Abba indigenes went into full force.

Today in Abba people live in fear. Rumours swirl every day. Somebody says there is a list of Abba people to be arrested. Another says the police are coming from Abuja to arrest the town union members. Another says the community school, partly located on the disputed land, will be completely demolished. Some fearful parents keep their children home from school. When a big car with tinted windows drives through Abba, the people worry. Some men skulk away. Who will be arrested today? Who will be harassed? Who will sleep in a cell tonight?

My 87-year-old father, a retired university professor, is bewildered. He is from a passing generation of principled Nigerians who do not understand how a single individual can buy and control the Nigerian police force. After my father heard of an Abba man abducted while driving through Ukpo, his empty car left abandoned by the roadside, he asked my brother to take a longer route to a Pharmacy rather than drive through Ukpo. He feared for my brother’s safety. I fear for my parents’ safety. I fear for my hometown now unfairly living in distress.

Most recently, on September 6, 2019, Abba people woke up to see a Caterpillar demolishing the structures of Oye Abba market, while armed policemen and mobile policemen stood guard. Abba people watched, helpless and hapless, as the economic center of their small community was destroyed. The Caterpillar also demolished the walls of the nearby community secondary school, only days before students are supposed to return to school. Now the school walls and the market stalls are
a jumble of broken wood and cement, and a symbol of a brokenness in our system. Abba-Ukpo might well be a provincial land dispute, but it speaks to larger issues in Nigeria. A wealthy individual has turned the Nigerian police into his private terror group. Those deemed protectors of the people have become their attackers. Those supposed to uphold the law are now the practitioners of a particular kind of lawlessness lubricated by crass wealth.

Not all members of the police seem to be so shamefully on sale — the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, and the Divisional Police Officers of Ukpo and Abagana refused to harass Abba because they believed it to be illegal. But the consequences for them were swift: they were unceremoniously transferred to other states.

I don’t know who has a legitimate claim to the land – it has for decades been known as Agu Abba and farmed by Abba people in the often-unwritten rules that govern customary land ownership. But that is what the courts should determine, in a process free from meddling. Court records should not disappear. No community in Nigeria should be terrorized by state machinery. No private citizen should have the power to turn the police on an entire community. Injustice is stalking Anambra state and the rights of every citizen should be protected. It is in protecting the rights of others that we protect our own rights, because we create a system of rights from which all can potentially benefit.

As I ended my conversation with the young man, he said, “Please don’t use my name. The police will come and abduct me and take me to Abuja. My family is poor. I don’t have anybody to bring me food in Abuja, not to talk of bailing me out.”

I was struck by his use of the word ‘abduct.’ Some members of the Nigerian police have soiled its name and its legitimacy. The Nigerian police has been used to cause great harm in Abba. The Nigerian police must now refuse to be used any longer. The Nigerian police must show that it is not for sale. The Nigerian police must stand up for justice and fair play. Stop the harassment of innocent Abba citizens, and let the courts decide.

“Adichie is a Nigerian author of Purple Hibiscus, The Thing Around

Your Neck, Americanah and others.

NIGERIANS BACK ON AIR PEACE

I Wept When Nigerians Sang The National Anthem On Their Return From South Africa  - CEO Air Peace, Allen Onyema,

“I put together over N280 million in other to bring these people back, Air Peace decided to bring them free of charge, nobody paid us a dime, we decided to do it free of charge for our country and for our people.”

“When I stepped inside the aircraft to welcome them, they mobbed me and started singing the Nigerian national anthem, there was nobody there singing about separation, they felt proud to be Nigerian, they rose in unison, that drew tears from me.”

Mr. Allen Onyema is the Owner of Air Peace.

He's  an Igbo man
He’s not a politician
He’s not a pastor 
He’s not a celebrity musician/actor
He sent in his plane ✈️ to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa 🇿🇦 to escape being killed in the xenophobic attacks.

NOTE: Nigeria government did not help her citizens rather an individual from Igbo extraction volunteerd to help evacuate all Nigerians risk being killed in South Africa.

No tribe can render such help apart from Igbos yet they fed you that Igbos hate themselves and you foolishly believed them.

Mazi Onyema is not the richest man in Africa, he is just an Igbo man with a beautiful heart.

THE WALK TO BIAFRA

We, the future and current stakeholders of the Igbo nation, need to read every word and punctuation mark in this article. 🤷🏼‍♂
It is utterly enlightening.
👇🏼👇🏼
Until we have achieved that state of being, the desired geopolitical region remains at risk. So we must pursue both tasks together.

And the State of Being is as follows:
We have to do as the Catalonians do in Spain.
When they realized that the Castelianos (Madrid) will never voluntarily or easily give them Independencia, the Catalonians (Barcelona) decided to turn inwards and develop their region Technologically, Economically and Infrastructurally - and now they are the economic powerhouse of Spain.

The same thing is with Bayern in Germany. When Germany was declaring itself as a nation, Bayern (Bavaria) had the choice to stay out and be a country on its own (like Austria did) . Instead it opted to stay within a greater Germany and become it's best part. Today Bavaria is the most technologically and economically powerful region in Germany - and it has the whole of Germany now as its primary and biggest market.

The same thing is with California in the USA.
It's not only the biggest economy WITHIN the US, it's also the 6th largest economy in the World!
However, this is only because it is within the US and can leverage on all the synergies that come with that, that it can be so powerful.
If it were suddenly to try to break away overnight to stand alone,  as a competitor against the rest of the US, things would not be so easy.

Nigeria does not fear IPOB as it is. *In fact, they WANT IPOB to challenge them, so they can militarily wage war on the Igbos.*
 IPOB at present is not the Biafra that Nigeria fears.
They fear the Biafra that becomes like Catalonia, like Bavaria, like California.
That's the Biafra they fear.
*So they NEED this militant IPOB to give them an excuse to come and reduce Ala-Igbo to a wasteland again and turn back the hands of our clock once more to Zero, like they did in the last Civil War.*
*Even if we don't want and don't start any hostilities, they will use the slightest excuse or provocation or accident to send in their troops. Britain will support them and in the end USA will establish a military base in Igbo Land, to keep the peace. And that is how we will become occupied territory.*

*We have to be smart, and shift the battle to the field where we can win.*

What I am saying is this: *yes we will continue to ask for Referendum, like Catalonia does in Spain, like Scotland does in Great Britain.*
*But it is not Referendum that will give us the Biafra we need. And of course It is not guns that will give us Biafra, that we know.*
*As Igbos, we have to conquer our chronic INDIVIDUALISM - and we have to pool our wealth, intelligence and efforts together to turn Ala-Igbo into a First World region, right here and now. But this is the most difficult thing for us because we are individualists! It is easier to protest.*

The second point is: Our Governors. As much as we don't like them, we have to work on them and with them.

*If IPOB mobilises the people against the Governors, the same way it is mobilising them against the Federal Govt, you will see how fast things will change.*
What will the governors do? Start shooting their own people? If any governor does that, where will that governor run to hide from the people's revenge? They have nowhere to hide. Your State is your home - so they MUST listen to the people. *If the people are united, (and IPOB can unite the people because IPOB is very powerful), they MUST start DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY from EVERY elected official in the South East.*

Demand that they invest in INFRASTRUCTURES. Roads and transportation. Potable water. Drainage systems. Housing. Health. Education. Tax breaks for small businesses. Regional economic integration. *Constitute expert groups accross every field from within and the diaspora to develop and advice on the framework for regional development.*

*Instead of going to Abuja, the Governors should come together, put money together from their budget and start building a second Niger Bridge. Start dredging the River Niger at Onitsha. Start developing the dry port at Abia. Start NOW and make it mandatory that EVERY South East governor prioritize regional integration. Taxes and tarrifs for business MUST come down to encourage investors.*

*Computer Village in Lagos is full of Igbos.
*The governors and leadership should put their moneys together and build TECHNOLOGY TOWN in Aba. Follow up on Geometrics power project in Aba by Prof Barth Nnaji, with a view to completely electrifying Ala-Igbo.*

*Put their money together and elevate Enugu Airport to a level HIGHER than Lagos or Abuja airport.*
Things like that. *Developing the Owerri Airport to a full international cargo airport and take advantage of the central location of Owerri in the South East.* Quality educational institutions are lacking in the East even though we constantly produce the highest number of applicants to universities. *Let us build more by collaboration with our foreign diaspora. They're the best in many parts of the world. Lets harness this advantage.*
*We need a world class Stock Exchange in Ala-Igbo. We can achieve that without the Federal government, because we own trading. Encourage our diaspora to work with government to establish and run QUALITY WORLD CLASS HEALTH CARE institutions in Ala-Igbo.*

*IPOB has already come up with a blueprint for an Igbo-wide democratic customary government, the people's government, very republican in nature, and this is good. THIS IS POWER.* Ironically, it might even be according to the Nigerian constitution. *If peacefully achieved, this can be the leverage with which to control the elected executive and legislative levels, if Nigeria stays together. And if Nigeria falls apart, then automatically we already have a framework state in operation.*

 However, IPOB must win Igbo people over by championing their welfare with their own governors and  officials. Threaten them with no re-election and criminal prosecution if they fail to serve their people. They must also encourage the training, standardization, integration and sharing of information by the different state security groups to stamp out crimes like robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, etc. We are Igbo. We are in the communities and we know those who are into crime. People MUST start explaining their sources of wealth. *IPOB can utilize its huge following to ensure crime is wiped out and good governance is entrenched in the South East.* Then *IPOB* and possibly Nnamdi Kanu, would ever be remembered kindly by history.

*If we are doing things like all these, Arewa will not need to issue quit notice - NDIGBO will come back in droves to build up Ala-Igbo.*

*Is it beyond the Igbo to venture into modern and very lucrative cattle rearing and be the leaders in all of Africa?  Are we not known to come late into any venture and excel beyond those in it for centuries?                                                                                                                                    *** *The governors in Ala-Igbo should AS A MATTER OF URGENCY introduce RANCHING across Ala-Igbo for prospective and enterprising *IGBO CATTLE FARMERS, after which they will enact, implement and execute ANTI OPEN-GRAZING LAWS in their States, then call on all indigenes and States security groups to participate in monitoring its implementation.*
*This will empower all Igbos and we will rid ourselves of these Fulani Herdsmen in no time.*
* *This is priority. Every passing day is too much.*

*Ekiti State did it.*
*Benue State has done it.*
*It's not impossible.*
*Why cannot the States of the South-East ALL do it as ONE?*
*Anti Grazing Law.*
*This will shake the Nigerian Govt more than asking for referendum.*

*IPOB has power. If they use it wisely they can bring about tremendous change in Ala-Igbo without a single blood shed. They are uniquely positioned by God at this period in time to use their massive following and break the individualistic Igbo trait to bring about change that will positively shape Igbo history for generations.* _If they misuse it by going the route of war, that didnt work decades ago, then it would be a great loss indeed._

If Nigeria stays together, Ala-Igbo can become the most advanced region of Nigeria if we START NOW.
If Nigeria breaks up, we have to be ready to survive on our own. *And at this moment, we are not yet ready. This is where we need to put our eyes into. Because the ball is already rolling.*

*What we want is for people to come and start investing in Ala-Igbo, from all over the world. They will do this massively if they see the political will and infrastructures being laid down in Ala-Igbo.*
_If that happens, everybody will protect Igbo land._ *Biafra will grow from within.* Let Nnamdi Kanu, all Igbo leaders and thinkers read this and run with it.

***I'm sending this to you so you can spread it to Ndigbo who are amongst your contacts so that this consciousness can spread and be built on. *Lets develop Ala-Igbo from within.*
Ka Chi Ukwu no n'Igwe n'edu anyi n'Uwa gozie okwu a ka o wee mee. *Yameenu.*

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PEACE MASS TRANSIT STARTS ASSEMBLING HIS OWN FLEET IN ENUGU

Peace Mass Transit Launches 100 Brand New Buses

Peace Mass Transit (PMT) Limited, the leading mini-bus transport company in the country, has readied a total of 100 brand new buses for injection into its fleet.

The buses are all products of newly established PMT Vehicle Assembly Plant, located within the Emene Industrial Layout headquarters of the company.

PMT Executive Director in charge of operations,Enete Ifeanyi Henry Clinton disclosed that the new buses would be assigned to drivers and  has already being deployed to all the PMT depots across the country.

More emphasis was placed on Calabar depot as the highly busy depot was given more buses from the newly injected 100 buses. 

Peace Mass Transit has an active fleet of 4,000 buses with at least 2,000 on the road daily. It regularly freshens up the fleet to meet customer expectations and also maintain its market leadership.

The launch of the 100 units of designer Peace Hiace is coming at a time most transport companies are closing down altogether, making losses and/or resorting to using of fairly used (Tokunbo) vehicles. There are no ‘’tokunbo’’ buses in the entire PMT fleet.

PMT Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi, maintains he runs the company as a “ministry” and not strictly as a business, and would, always do what it takes to keep the company as an industry leader, at all times.

“The brand new buses we are injecting cost almost N 17 million per unit, but I have a pact with both God and our huge clientele to offer the best possible services at all, times,” he stated after inspecting the newly assembled buses on Monday.

Customers are encouraged to book online through www.pmt.ng, or visit our website –peacegroup.ng

Chief Onyishi, Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) expressed gratitude to God and also to Nigerians who have trusted the brand (PMT) for over 20years. He urged them to keep their faith in the company and promised to always deliver beyond their expectations. 

“Our customers deserve even more and no less,” he added. “We will never take their patronage for granted because they have brought us this far.”
He reiterated that the introduction of the new buses was a “strategic fleet rejig” and in no way signified or suggested older vehicles had any maintenance issues or were about to be discarded.

“Our maintenance culture is top-notch and the team is manned by technicians and engineers some of whom were trained abroad. 

All PMT vehicle plying the highway, are regularly checked for maintenance, to avoid breakdown. All our vehicles run on strong quality tires which are replaced upon attainment of a certain mileage.’’

Special, distinguishing features of the new buses include, but not limited to EBS/ABS brake system combined, digital dashboard, factory-fitted speed limiter, on-board TV, and DVC player for customers’ non-stop pleasure.
According to the Executive Director, Ifeanyi, ‘’Multiple charging points and luggage controls are being provided, with all the buses fully air-conditioned, which includes protective seat belts for all passengers. 

Free Wi-Fi services for passengers are still in the works..

INSECURITY IN ENUGU STATE,CROWD RENTING & THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE:By Fr. Ike Odigbo Ph.D

Insecurity in Enugu State, Crowd Renting and The Conspiracy of Silence

By Fr. Ike Odigbo 

On thursday 1st August 2019 Fr. Paul Offu was murdered in Awgu area of Enugu State, an event which sparked off series of events of unprecedented proportion. Fellow priests took to the streets in solidarity to protest the high level of insecurity of lives and properties in Enugu State. Earlier in March Fr. Clement Ugwu was murdered in his parish in Ezeagu. Another priest Fr. Paulinus Ilo was ferociously attacked by gunmen. He is still in hospital. 

It is not just about priests. Scores of men and women are being daily hunted and killed. We all get updates on social media from victims and eyewitnesses of the deplorable condition of security in Enugu. Just a day after Fr. Paul was killed news went round of the kidnap of the traditional ruler of Umuobom community in Agbogugu, the same axis where the priest was killed. 


On August 8 2019, news and pictures flooded the internet of Traditional Rulers in Enugu giving a resounding vote of confidence on Enugu State Governor Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. It is only one week since Fr. Paul Offu was killed and hasn't yet been laid to rest when the so-called royal fathers are  displaying this show of shame. It is a conspiracy of silence by those who should rise to speak for their people.

Truth is that anybody who pretends that there is peace and security in Enugu is telling a huge lie. People are living on edge. Of the entire five States of the South East, Enugu is now the most insecure. No day passes without news of people being killed, robbed, kidnapped, hunted and raped. The governor knows this. The traditional rulers know this. They are merely on a shoddy game of face-saving. They are living in denial. 

The action of these traditional rulers is a correct reflection of the shape of Nigerian politics. Rather than rise up to solve social problem, politicians spend vast amount of human and financial resources to cover it up. They fail in their duty. Then they buy-out those who would speak out and then the problem incubates and grows to out of proportion. It is the same attitude in education, health, roads and now security. But because security is very sensitive, it is the most inflamable of all, because it is about life and death. 

It is a shame that Governor Ugwuanyi prefers image laundering than rising to his duty. He has this irritating habit of renting crowds to sing his praise. Of course he knows, that everybody knows, that it is quite easy to assemble all the royal fathers in a giffy. Its very simple. Just dole out cash and get then to violate their oaths and compromise their integrity, men who should be honest and upright. But that has been his tactics in the last four years: with teachers, civil servants, pensioners. Traditional rulers are in the payroll of government, so naturally they lose their independence. Hunger and abuse have made our people, usually honourable, to lose their shame. He who pays the piper they say dictates the tune.

These traditional rulers are also under strict instructions by the governor not to 'disturb' the peace of fulani herdsmen who live in the bushes of Enugu State. They are to restrain their people from any possible confrontation with the fulani. Whoever fails to live up to this will be deposed. In other words, the traditional rulers are indirectly selling out their own people while pretending to defend them. News is everywhere of their dealings with fulani men. But that's a story for another day. Its the character of Nigerian politicians, the traditional rulers and town union executives now also have the virus. 


Anyone who thinks what am saying here, that traditional rulers are under firm control of the governor, is fictitious should recall what happened in Nenwe months back. Nenwe youths mustered the courage to drive away fulani people and their cattle. The video was trending online. The next day, the traditional ruler of Nenwe in a press briefing at which the governor himself and representatives of the fulani cattle rearers were present, publicly denounced the action of Nenwe Youths. Governor himself spoke. 

The impression being created is that everything is ok. But nothing is farther from the truth. Had it been that the Nenwe example was not denounced and criminalized, that is, the eviction of troublesome fulani, it would have been a worthy template for other communities. But here we are, back to square one. But its good for the governor to know that indeed things are not ok. People of Enugu State and those who live and do business within it are in danger and the evidence is there for anyone to see. 

It is arguable that next to Benue, Enugu has borne more of the brunt of fulani herdsmen attack. While all the states that are facing this insecurity problem are adopting a combative approach, Enugu is living in denial. Anti open-grazing law should have been passed. Same with anti-kidnapping law. Regular denunciation of herdsmen antics in strong terms and outright rejection of Ruga or related fulani gimmicks should be coming from the governor. He should copy Dave Umahi or Yesom Wike. He should speak out because it weakens the enemy and makes his own citizens strong and confident. Now, we are a laughing stock. 
Gossip is making the round that the governor is intentionally towing the line of political correctness due to personal reasons. He wants to continue to the senate after his governorship, to complete his political round-trip. He doesn't want the harassment of EFCC when he leaves office. His personal ambitions is not my problem, but the insecurity in Enugu. The way he is going, with rising insecurity in the land, I doubt if he will complete this second term. 

This write up is not a general assessment of the governor. It is strictly on security. The people want to be safe. Or at least they want to see the governor, the chief security officer, doing something tangible. Crowd renting does not solve problem. It worsens it by creating false hope. Its like dressing and bandaging an infected wound. What you get is puss and gangrene. When there is no security there is no peace and there is no rest. We as priests are on the side of the people and we live up to our duty when we remind the governor to do his job. But if the people can't get peace, why should the governor expect to have it?

(GRAPHICS  BY BLOGGER)

WHO IS AN IGBO MAN?

 READ  CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU CALL US RITUALISTIC OR TERRORISTIC, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT LIKE THAT. 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

Samuel Ifebi:

1. The Igbo man is that man that will leave his Father's land.... Come to your Father's land and turn you into his tenant.... Peacefully ooooo

2. The Igbo man doesn't like so much noise, if you're not taking money.... You're making noise... He believes in "Ego n'ebi okwu"...

3. The Igbo man goes to Obodo oyibo. He doesn't know anybody there. Give him 6 months, he will start sending cars back home.

4. The Igbo man can wear slippers, use Nokia torch phones and may even be riding ladies machine but the figures that is in his bank account will be enough to write a full maths textbook.

5. The Igbo man gets rich. Go to the village, pick village boys, train them in business, settle them, the boys become rich, goes to the village do the same thing..... It is not magic..

6. The Igbo man, where you see nothing, he sees market. You're looking at an evil forest, he's looking is an estate, you're looking at a village girl, he's seeing a sales girl. You're looking at shit, he's seeing manure.

7. The Igbo man is not a ritualist. He's the man that kept going when others turned back. He's the man that enters a country where they say nobody survives. He's not risk taker, he's Risk itself!!

8. The Igbo man loves 'Njakili' (healthy jests) no matter how rich you're, if your mouth is not sharp, you will always be a subject of Laughter among your peers especially in "ime affia" or Umunna meeting"

9. The Igbo man believes in Training his children properly with good morals no matter how wealthy he is.... He will still nurture you to stand up for yourself because he understands he won't be here forever.

10. The Igbo man is not lazy.... He toils day and night in order for his children not to go through what he went through...

11. The Igbo man wakes up with money in his mind.... That's why they don't greet "Good morning".... They greet "Money nwannem"12. The Igbo man Prefers a Customer to a girlfriend..... He can walk away from any girlfriend because a particular customer came to the shop... 
13. The Igbo man knows how to do "Uto Nwanne" They love and appreciate themselves in diaspora.... That's why an Igbo can stand and spray a friend 2million naira.... Because they believe that "ihe imere nwanne gi but nga jidere m"

14. The Igbo man speaks Oral igbo..... If igbo man sings praises to you as his wife in dialect, you will melt and melt again

15. The Igbo man believes in "Iru uno" (going back home) .... No matter how busy an Igbo man is, he must take his family back home at times.

16. The Igbo man believes in "biri kam biri"... Live and let live... He obeys the rules of your land. Just allow him do his business, make his money and go... He can even marry your daughter just to have his way.. 

17. The Igbo man, when he enters an occasion, he doesn't need your food or drinks to be happy... He only needs the MC to recognize him and hail him by his titles, ife emebe!

18. Finally Any country you enter and you don't see The Igbo man..... Just know that you're no longer on earth, you are at underworld... 

God bless igbo indigenes..#copied
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OBIJIAKUSONS RUGA...SOME.QUESTIONS

UNMASKING THE RUGA PROJECT OF  OBIJACKSON IN OKIJA, ANAMBRA STATE.

We have closely followed up and painstakingly watched the movements of Obijackson a Son of Okija Community and the Chairman of NestOil for couple of months now, and we can confidently confirm to you that this man is an Agent of Federal Government assigned a duty by the Fulani Cabal to;

1. Acquire massive lands from Communities in  disguise for Ruga
2. Build and handover to the Terrorist Fulani Herdsmen for settlement around Southeastern States

Without fear or favor, we wish to make it known that Obijackson in the past months, has acquired massive hectares of lands running into thousands. This lands are inside Southeast Forest areas and forcefully taken without the consent of the Communities.
His first place of conquest was Ubahu Ofe mmiri, Okija.

Next was Ogheregbu Okija. In this Community he forcefully took over 500 hectares of land and the Building plan shows that he is going to build over 650 structures with Schools from tertiary to University level, Hospitals, Banks, Markets, Civic centers, Police station etc with great road network and every basic amenities provided. The Express road connecting to this settlement has already kicked off with work going on very speedily.

In trying to achieve this, he destroyed farms and cash crops belonging to land owners. Under the supervision of Obijackson, old women and youths are molested because they tried to challenge the encroachment and destruction of their farms.

A close look at this project, one needs no soothsayer to affirm that this is exactly the structure of RUGA as published by Shehu Garba, President Buhari's Spokesperson.

In the past days, Obijackson has moved into Umuhu Community and there is a fight amongst the people, some sensing that he has ulterior motive while others simply don't care.
Obijackson moves around all these areas with armed military men harassing and intimidating the owners of the Land.

Questions that are begging for answers are;

• Whose Children is Obijackson building schools inside the forest areas for?
• Who is he expecting to use Civic centers built inside the forest area?

• Who intends to use the Banks and Police stations located  inside this forest areas?

• Why is Obijackson providing every basic amenities for this new town inside the Forest, when he has not provided one for his Community that lacks every basic social amenities?

We appeal to every sensible Igbo man in places of authority to take this matter up and stop Obijackson before he settles the Terrorists into Ala-Igbo.

Udo diri ndi choro udo. 

#NoToRuga
#NoToFulani
#EndNigeriaNow
Copied from.BiafraTV

TINUBU SUGGESTS FOSARANTI KILLERS COULD BE IGBO KIDNAPPERS & NOT HERDSMEN

Nnamdi Kanu blasts Tinubu...

You cannot sacrifice the blood of your brethren on the shrine of your greed, conceit and unbridled 2023 presidential political ambition. You are a disgrace to the noble Yoruba ancestry. You allow your self-centred avarice and ego to stifle the aspirations and destiny of your people.

I must remind you today that your Fulani masters will never do for you what you are slavishly doing for them. You know in your heart of hearts that murderous Fulani herdsmen are culpable in the brutal murder of a Yoruba daughter and that Igbos had no hand in the Ore Highway Massacre. An influential Yoruba newspaper (PUNCH) reported that nearby villagers, who are Yorubas, informed police that the killer Fulani herdsmen have their base in a nearby forest. These are eye witness account from Yoruba people living in the surrounding areas where the tragic incident occurred. Or are you saying the villagers can no longer distinguish between a gun wielding Fulani terrorist and an Igbo man?

Your unguarded utterances only succeeded in doing more harm to the Fosaranti family, insulting  the memory of their daughter and will be seen for what it is, an affront to the dignity of the Yoruba race. You are a  Fulani Lackey!!!

Reacting further, Kanu said; The fate of Afonja and loss of Illorin a Yoruba territory to the Fulani conquistadors in years gone by should have taught you and your likes a bitter historical lesson but it seems you are hell-bent on repeating the mistakes of the past.

You are devoid of shame, honour and dignity which are the hallmarks of a true statesman. The Fulani that you serve so foolishly will never shed one drop of Fulani blood for an indimi like you. They will never concede “their” Presidency to a lewd unequal.

To them you are another camouflage muslim, a filthy infidel from the south, a contaminated version of Islam not worthy to be seen or regarded as an equal. Have you ever wondered why no Yoruba Muslim including yourself can never be allowed to lead a Jummat prayer in any mosque in the north?

Because you, along with other Yoruba Muslim are not and can never be considered equal to your  Fulani counterparts. Is it not a shame that Yorubas like yourself submit to the authority of the Sultan of Sokoto as the supreme leader of Muslims in Nigeria in perpetuity, yet no Yoruba man will ever occupy that throne. So you see, you will remain their slave forever and ever.

Quislings like you in the service of Fulani Caliphate abound in Igboland too, but we continue to expose, ridicule and sanction them because we are ever conscious of the consequences of their actions on present and future generations. The Fulani killing machine you serve so slavishly will continue to Taqiyya you and dangle the fruit of a false presidential promise like a receding mirage. Your hatred for Igbo people will precipitate the downfall of the Yoruba race unless you are stopped. Mark my word!!!

BRING BACK IGBO 'RUGAs' NOW

Bring Back Igbo "Rugas" Now  by Aniedobe


My grandfather, 1895 to 1985, worked as interpreter for ndiocha at Nkwere Farm Settlement in Anambra State in the 1940s. It is now defunct.

My father worked as an Electrical Engineer at Nkalagu Cement Factory but as a kid who grew up in Nkwere farm settlement, the farm settlement mentality never left him. He was full time civil servant and part time farmer.

He cultivated everything we ate from melon to okra to vegetables to corn to yam. We had a poultry of over 1000 birds. We sold okuko and eggs. We also raised ewu Igbo. At some point, we had over 200 goats.  He was a one man farm settlement.

Our house at Nkalagu was paradisaical. We were surrounded by the best species of cashew, mango, guava, sugar cane, oloma. We had a mini plaintain plantation. Banana was everywhere. And our house was lined by hibiscus flowers.

My father couldn't have done it without Ezilo farm settlement about 20 miles from Nkalagu.

Like Nkwere farm settlement, Ezilo farm settlement was an agricultural settlement complete with farms, poultry, ehi Igbo, ewu, vegetables, fruit trees, and worker's quarters. Just like my grandfather lived and raised his kids at Nkwere farm settlement, farm workers also lived with their families at Ezilo farm settlements.

Anyone could stop by to buy  goats and ehi or yam or whatever they had to sellat the farm settlements.

But their mission was even greater than that. Working with the Departments of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicines in the University of Nigeria,  the farm settlements were a repetoir of best practices and reservoir of best cultivars and species.

We got our guava and mangoes and cashews seedlings and Popo and other fruits from the farm settlements. My father trusted their brand as the best.

A worker from there visited and administered antibiotics to our chicken in the poultry. He helped us set it up and mentored to us in the poultry business.

Whenever my father had any questions, he went to Ezilo farm settlement to get expert advice.

For instance, there was a time when our goats shrank in number due to high mortality. Disease was wiping them out. No apparent reason. Emma, a farm settlement worker came to our rescue. Too much inbreeding he stated Emma brought nkpi from farm settlement and our goat population revived. From then on, we began to hire nkpi from the farm settlement for genetic diversity.

What happened to these brilliant concepts called farm settlements? 

They all died. Too much politics. State creations  displaced many trained workers and replaced them with state indigenes who didn't know their left from their right. Crude oil killed the rest. It was easier to collect rent from the center than to grow a viable economy.  So those farm settlements died.

During Okpara regime and even Ukpabi Asika regime, civil servants were encouraged to farm. Food was abundant. Ehi Igbo was available. Farm settlements were very much part of the local economy. Ndigbo were food sufficient.

And then things fell apart.

Today ndi Fulani are trying to Rugarize us all because we killed our own Rugas.

It is time to bring back Igbo Rugas. Farming is big business. Let's learn our lessons and get right back into it. Every local government in Igboland should have a farm settlement starting from yesterday.  In addition to raising our own ehi, ewu and okuko, a trillion naira business by the way, vegetable oil from aku is one of the highest prized vegetable oils. Cassava flour in America is priced like gold. We were once the fastest growing economy in the world. Today, we live in fear of losing our homelands all because we can't stop eating ehi Fulani and start feeding ourselves.

Aniedobe

THE IGBO NATION INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

OHANEZE NDI IGBO SHOULD BECOME MORE FOCUSED AND PRAGMATIC IN DRIVING THE IGBO NATION INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

It is over a year now since Ohaneze Ndi Igbo announced the establishment of a committee and secretariat led by the irrepressible Professor Chukwuma Soludo and Mao Ohuabunwa to help drive the Igbo upnation integrated economic development master plan. 

However, since the inauguration of that committee and secretariat, we are yet hear or read much from them about their Igbo nation regional economic integration programs and agenda. We are yet to see any properly articulated concrete, time-lined and measurable projects design, structuring, funding and implementation strategy in the various sectors they listed on the day of their inauguration.
We have not seen or read again any further arrangements, strategy or tactical initiatives to ensure the infrastructure, political and socioeconomic integration plans for the Igbo nation.

WAY FORWARD:
It will be in the best interests of the Igbo nation for Ohaneze Ndi Igbo to maintain a 24/7 functional and fully funded secretariat that is staffed/ manned by top notch / highly knowledgeable development economists and professionals versed in designing, structuring and funding variant models of PPP projects/infrastructure development initiatives for Ala Igbo. 

This secretariat working with the Soludo led committee will develop a medium to long term multi-sectorial infrastructure and economic development partnership blue print for the states that have significant Igbo population under robust and properly defined PPP arrangements. 

The blueprint shall contain holistically/comprehensively what we plan to do, how to do it, when to do it, what resources required to do it, how to source for those resources, stakeholders to be involved and responsibilities and integrated partnership roles expected from our state governors. 
Ohaneze Ndi Igbo must design very transparent and accountable ways of funding this secretariat and her other activities. 

For instance, how do link up the whole of the Igbo nation from Asaba to Igwe Ocha via Onitsha-Awka-enugu Abakiliki-okigwe-umuahia-aba and via Onitsha-owerri –mbaise-obowo to Umuahia. Via Owerri to Igwe Ocha by Rail?. How do we ring-fence Ala Igbo via well planned/laid out rail infrastructure development master plan that is PPP driven.

How do we develop new roads or expand the existing road networks across the Igbo nation to become world class?
How do we deepen the exploration and processing of the natural resources that the Igbo nation is blessed with, eg. Coal, Lead, Oil and Gas, Gypsum, barite, clay, limestone etc.? 
How do we bring the consular presence of the US, UK, EU, China, etc into Enugu and Owerri? It does not make sense for my aged mum to travel to Lagos or Abuja for her visa and immigration needs, when she can secure such services in Owerri or Enugu. 

How do we create truly international sea and air gateways in and out of the Igbo nation?  It does not make sense for my aged mum to fly to Lagos before she can get a British airways or Air Peace flight to the UK or US or Dubai. It does not make much sense. When should we have this implemented and how and what resources/partnerships do we need? 

How do create industrial hubs and clusters in Ala Igbo to ensure that we become the integrated, commercial, trading, manufacturing and industrial hub for sub-Sahara Africa , following the signing of the Africa Free Trade Agreement, AFTA by Nigeria? 

How do we support our entrepreneurial brothers, who practically imports every consumable and hardware items into Nigeria to get their global suppliers and vendors from Europe, America and Asia to set up factories for the manufacturing of those same commodities in Ala Igbo under robust MPPP arrangements? 

What enabling business and investor friendly arrangements do we put in place in Ala Igbo?

How do we support the vision of buy and patronize Igbo nation manufactured products first before others, just like the Jews? 

How do we make the Igbo nation the Health, Education and Entertainment Tourism Capital of Africa? 

How do we develop other critical sectors like Power, ICT hubs, Housing in Ala Igbo in very integrated and holistic sense?

How and what do we do to protect Ala Igbo from enemies within and external. Ensure and make Ala Igbo the most secure region in Africa?

How do create and develop a leadership selection/succession culture in Ala Igbo that puts the best, most selfless, most creative , most passionate and honest amongst us into leadership positions  to help us drive the Igbo renaissance ?

How do we restore to its full glory the long fading Igbo culture and tradition of industry, hard work, enterprise and loathe for evil and stealing.  It used to be the most shameful thing in Ala Igbo to be tagged “Nwanne Onye Oshi” or “Nwanne onye aka na akpa or nnapu”, not to talk of being the thief yourself. 
How do we restore our lost glories as the greatest and most progressive/enterprising ethnic nation created by CHUKWU OKIKE ABIAMA.? 

Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, led by Dr Nnia Nwodo must never drop the ball. This is the time to rise up and galvanize our people. Sustained enlightenment, consultations, reach out, reconciliations, and practical works are needed now.  He must drive the vessel with utmost focus, consistency and uncompromising boldness. This is not the time to park the car to take a nap. 

We are facing very tough existential threats today, just akin to what we faced between 1966 to 1970.  That Ohaneze Secretariat must work and work for 24/7, churning out ideas and pursuing it to execution working with all stakeholders within and without. 

God Bless Ala Igbo

OBIARAERI, Nnaemeka Onyeka

THE END OF FULANI & THEIR LOW NUTRITIONAL VALUE CATTLE IN 5 YEARS

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN EVERY CHALLENGE: THE RESULT OF RUGA IS THAT BUHARI HAS PUSHED IGBOS INTO CATTLE BUSINESS , NOW NO MORE  CATTLE BUSINESS FOR THE FULANIS. 

Bye Bye to Fulani Cows in South East and South South. Now is the era of Computerized Cattle Ranching with Israel Top Agricultural Innovation here in Igbo Land     

If you push Igbo youths towards cattle rearing business,forget it, the market price of cattle will crash within 24 months. Better don't turn their attention towards dat side. So dat ur Fulani brothers will be making the small profit they are enjoying currently. You never imagine how many brands of cow u will have Wen Igbo  business men mean the business. Be making noise until you start seeing Ogbuawa Cattle Nnewi, Cutix Cattle Nnewi, Chikason Cattle Lagos , Innoson cattle Nnewi,  Orange cattle Akokwa. Oga ndi Oga cattle Abbatete, Holy Ghost Cattle Enugu, Ebube Cattle Ukeh, Top Rank Cows,  Bolton White Ehiii. Ellington Cows. Ibro cattle, Oshanga cattle, Osumenyi Cows, Ifeanyi Ubah Cows , ObiJackson Cattle Okija, Overdo Cows Aguleri, Arthur Eze Cattle Ukpo , Osadebe Cows  Atani ,  Chijioke Cows, Nwamaobi Onyenze Cattle Ogidi, Umu Obiligbo Cow Nteje, manobi Cow Neni, Phyno Cows, Flavour Cows, Charlie Loz Cattle Awka Etiti  ,  Emeka Morrocow Cattle, Mama Ada Cattle, Nwanyi Awka Cattle ,  Enyiukwu Cows, Efab cattle  and some u haven't imagine . Don't push them biko. For d sake of your Fulani children's children but now you have awaken their consciousness toward that direction. Federal Government of Nigeria should be ready to release 100Billon to the Igbos for modern cattle ranching business. Mpiawa azu Special , No wasting time
#Lets teach Buhari and his brothers how to do cattle business. 
No cattle Route
No cattle colony alias RUGA
No destruction
No Fighting
No Farmers clashing
No Herdsmen and villager clash   

Igbos lets demand our own 100Billon for cattle business.

BOYCOTT FULANI BEEF .DON'T PAY FOR THEIR BULLETS

 *NATIONAL COWMEAT BOYCOTT PROJECT*

There was a united outcry against RUGA; and it was suspended. So, who says the people cannot unite for a cause?

Now, let's take this united action to the next level, to achieve a bigger success.

The date is *JULY 21*.
From this day, all lovers of life; all who are worried about the killings of innocent Nigerians by the heartless Fulani herdsmen, will team up to embark on the project to break the backbone of these arrogant people who have more regard for their cows than human lives.

We will cripple their cow business and prove to them that humans own the land, not cows.

All forms of cow meat will be boycotted:
beef,
suya,
cowleg,
cowtail,
ponmo or cowskin, etc.


Please, for ourselves and our generations unborn, consider this action a national call and a service to humanity.

Share this as widely as possible, for maximum participation and impact.

Beyond Ruga: Fulani's War on Nigeria

 Beyond Ruga: Fulani's War on Nigeria 

How many of you know that the civil war in Central African Republic started because the Fulani's who were less than 6% of the population did a coup to seize power.

The president then began installing Fulanis in top govt positions. All business, economic, military positions were held by Fulanis. Churches were attacked and ransacked. Lands were taken and grabbed by the Fulani's.


Then the indigenes planned and strategised. One solemn night, they attacked. Killing hundreds of soldiers guarding the president with Dane guns and matchetes. Some accounts say they butchered the soldiers like cows and goats.

The president fled the country and a civil war broke. Over 80% of the Fulanis have fled CAR. Those that remained, their cows were slaughtered and their lands given to the rightful people.

So the question is, what is happening to the remaining 80% that were driven out of CAR? Remember that the CAR civil war broke out in 2013 and the expulsion of Fulanis began in 2014. 


If you're good in basic maths you'll realise when Fulani herdsmen started killing in Nigeria was in 2015 right. Good.

Also remember that El Rufai said that the people killing weren't Nigerians. Remember? He was right. They aren't. They're Fulani nomads and they're looking for land. 

Nigeria is the perfect place for them to conquer. The south is divided and their Nigerian brethren have already conquered the North. The only reason they couldn't conquer CAR was because they country was united against the Fulani from the onset. Although new powers are looking to gain control in the country.


If Nigerians will learn from history, no Fulani man should be allowed to rule this country. And even if by chance they rule, they must never be given the powers that have been given to PMB. PMB govt resembles the strategy deployed by the Fulani in CAR. Where the Fulani will head all important govt agencies.

Those who fail to learn from history, are already doomed to repeat it. 

Copied with thanks from Daniel Honour