….‘You’ve shown ethnic bias

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, yesterday, told the Federal Government to hand off the case against its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and release him unconditionally, accusing the government of ethnic bias against its leader and Ndigbo.

IPoB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled “IPoB calls on Nigerian government to hands off and stop ethnic prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but release him unconditionally at the court on Tuesday, September 24, 2024” described Kanu’s continued trial as political and ethnic persecution by Tinubu- led government.

The pro-Biafra group also accused the Tinubu-led Federal government of Nigeria of  violating international law by continuing the trial of a kidnapped and renditioned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was kidnapped and renditioned by his predecessor from Kenya to Nigeria.

IPoB’s statement read, “The noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, led by the great leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, hereby draw the attention of the public towards the kangaroo persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government.

“We view President Bola Tinubu led  Nigeria government’s continued kangaroo persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in another court sitting on 24th September 2024, as ethnic persecution. The continuous illegal Court trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is nothing but political and ethnic persecution by the incumbent government of Tinubu, despite the Court of Appeal judgment that discharged him which is still subsisting, yet the Nigerian government has  continued   his trial.

“The Nigerian government lacks prosecution powers against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, more so when there is the subsisting judgment of the Court of  Appeal which Nigerian government has not vacated.  Kanu’s continued detention and trial violates the International laws, especially, the manner he was kidnapped and rendition from Kenya to Nigeria.

“Even the Supreme Court of Nigeria condemned his kidnap and renditioning from Kenya to Nigeria. However, because of  the threat from  the  executive government, the Supreme Court Judges have been afraid to affirm the courageous judgment of the Court of Appeal.

“The Court condemnation of the kidnapping and rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is enough evidence that the Nigerian government is lawless and in violation of international laws. Let it be known to the Nigerian government and their judicial accomplices that as long as IPoB is concerned our leader is being illegally detained and persecuted for a peaceful Biafra self-determination struggle in line with the UN laws and African and People’s Right Chatter.

“IPoB worldwide is bringing to the attention of the public and the International community that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, did not commit any crime known to law both locally and internationally. This position of the law has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria which dismissed all frivolous charges against him and ordered his unconditional release and compensation.

“We, therefore, declare that his continued court arraignment is a political and ethnic persecution by the ethnic bigotry government of Nigeria. Irrespective of all the national and intercontinental Court judgments in his favour, the lawless Nigerian  government has refused to release him.

“Even when his health is deteriorating in the illegal solitary confinement of DSS, the Nigerian government is adamant towards his release, as the courts have directed.

Only God can restore Nigeria’s fortunes —Ebonyi CAN

Chairman of the

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ebonyi State chapter, Rev. Scamb Nwokolo, weekend, stated that the fortunes of the country can only be restored by God’s intervention through prayers.

Nwokolo, who stated this during the fasting and prayer summit organised by the state CAN, urged all and sundry to embrace God with the faith that He, God Almighty has a lasting solution to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political problems.

The Chairman described the prayer summit as an annual event of the Association since 1999.

He said: “This opportunity brings people together, especially the Ebonyians, to reflect in prayers how the state was created.

“The only thing that will make the state move forward is to have God Almighty at the centre of all the dealings of Ebonyi.

“While living in a critical situation in the country like today, the only thing that can give people hope is to go into intercessory prayers to God Almighty.

“God can, through prayers, restore us, and we can make progress, find more favour in the side of Ebonyi State.

“With prayer to God, in socio-economic wise, and political wise, the state will continue to experience uncommon transformation.”

The South East CAN Chairman, Rev Fr Abraham Nwali, who was the Guest Speaker at the event, charged the Nigerian leaders and other citizens of the country to  embrace God while tackling socio-economic and other challenges facing them.

Nwali cautioned that every human effort without God’s support and interventions would contribute nothing towards the restoration of the nation’s economy.

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, who was a special guest of honour during the summit, urged the Christian community and other religious groups to embrace God, remembering their leaders and the entire nation in their prayers to attract a better windfall in this critical situation.

Nwifuru, represented by the Chief of Staff, Prof Emmanuel Echiegu, assured that his administration would continue working together with CAN to deliver his administration’s agenda for the betterment of Ebonyi people.