26012020 - How bad an example was set in Zamfara

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PAGE 18— SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2020 BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE, Umuahia As Afaraukwu kinsmen of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, prepare for the burial of their traditional ruler, Eze Okwu Kanu, and his wife, Ugoeze Sally Kanu, there are speculations on whether Kanu will return home from the United Kingdom (UK) to pay his last respects to his parents. It is customary in Igbo land for children living outside the community to return home for the burial of their parents. There are fears, however, that the Federal Government may arrest the IPOB leader over his agitation for Biafra for which he is being prosecuted for treason. Following his arrest and detention for treason, he was arraigned before an Abuja High Court which granted him bail before he disappeared when troops stormed his community only to resurface in the UK. A British/Nigerian, he claimed there was a plan by the Nigerian authorities to kill him. Although Afraukwu is calm when Sunday Vanguard visited the community last week, there were fears that any attempt to arrest Kanu if he returns home for the burial may cause another round of trouble. Sunday Vanguard gathered that since after the military invasion of Kanu’s home in September 2017, the police had maintained a security post at the entrance of Afaraukwu through Factory Road, Umuahia. Afaraukwu hosts Abia Government House, Ojukwu Bunker, state police headquarters as well as the headquarters of other security agencies in the state. Residents expressed the hope that the Federal Government would allow Kanu to return home to bury his parents in line with custom. But the Kanu family, through their spokesman, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, said the family had not taken any decision on whether the pro-Biafra group leader will come home for the burial or not, stressing that even if he does not come, their parents would be given befitting burial. IPOB also, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, stated that it will disclose whether Kanu would be coming home for the burial or not. PARENT ARENTS’ BURIAL ON FEBRUAR ARY 14: 1 Kinsmen divided over Nnamdi Kanu’s return But the Commissioner of Police (CP) for Abia State, Mr. Ene Okon, has vowed to arrest Kanu if he steps foot on Abia soil for the burial. The CP explained that the police would need no further order from the court to arrest the IPOB leader since he had already been declared wanted by a court of competent jurisdiction. In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, some chiefs of Afaraukwu said they would have loved Kanu to return as is customary so that he could take part in the burial rites for his parents. Others warned that his return may trigger another crisis that could lead to another invasion of the community by security agencies. They noted that the community was yet to recover from military invasion of Kanu’s home which allegedly claimed over 20 lives in September 2017. A native of Afaraukwu, Chinwe Abaraikwu , said that as the first son of the family, it will be a taboo for the IPOB leader to be absent from the burial of his parents. His words; “Nnamdi Kanu is our beloved son. As the first son of his parents, custom demands that he should be around during the burial of his parents. His father was a traditional ruler of the community, and tradition demands there are certain rites he, as first son, should perform. •Deceased parents “But the issue is whether the Federal Government will not arrest him if he comes back for the burial. You know the police have been threatening to arrest him anywhere he is sighted. “Last time, the police even came to search the palace believing that Nnamdi Kanu was back.” Others believed it was better for Kanu to remain abroad than to return for the burial and get arrested which may lead to a repeat of the mayhem witnessed in 2017. “He was declared wanted by the court and the police have been threatening to arrest the IPOB leader if he returns to Abia. It will be better that Kanu to stay wherever he is, for the sake of peace in Afaraukwu. If he returns for the burial, the police and A native of Afaraukwu, Chinwe Abaraikwu, said that as the first son of the family, it will be a taboo for the IPOB leader to be absent from the burial of his parents. •Nnamdi Kanu army may use it as an excuse to kill more people during the burial”, one of those who spoke to Sunday Vanguard anonymously said. “Seeing what happened when soldiers invaded his house, how would anybody ask Nnamdi Kanu to return home for his parent’s burial? Let those at home bury the dead, than the IPOB leader coming home and get into trouble”. Meanwhile, a youth leader of one of the pro Biafra groups who preferred anonymity said arrangements had been concluded to mobilize youths to provide security for Kanu if he returns for the burial. “Nnamdi Kanu is the people’s general. We will provide security for him if wants to come for the burial. He should come home, no harm will come to him”, he said. “We the youths of Biafra have concluded arrangements to protect should be return home for his parent’s burial and nothing will happen to him. Kanu has not done anything that could warrant his being declared wanted.” The Afraukwu community appears confident that despite whatever action the military or police may take if the IPOB leader comes home for the burial, they will turn out en masse to give their monarch a befitting burial.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 26, 2020, PAGE 19 BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF APGA: A: I am the legitimate National Chairman —Njoku Chief Edozie Njoku was elected as the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Owerri, last year, but was stopped from assuming leadership by court injunctions. In this interview, he speaks on the decision of the person, who instituted the suit leading to the injunction, Victor Oye, to discontinue his case. Njoku also speaks on his plans to rebuild the party. By Levinus Nwabughiogu ast week, it was reported that you have Lreturned as the National Chairman of APGA. Can you tell us what transpired? APGA conducted two parallel conventions. One was done in Owerri and another one held in Awka. APGA agreed to hold the convention in Owerri on May 31, 2019. This decision was made in 2018. Congresses took place in May. The results of the congresses nationwide were completely against Oye. He decided to schedule an emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting. They excluded many BoT members like Bianca Ojukwu and Chief Victor Umeh. After the convention in Owerri, Oye’s tenure should have ended on June 6, but on June 5, he filed a case in Abuja to restrain me from carrying out my functions as national chairman. Did you win at the convention? I won and emerged as the national chairman. At the convention, we had legitimate delegates. Why did he obtain an injunction that I should not be recognised? He withdrew the case when he saw he could not substantiate his claim. Didn’t he know I am now the legitimate national chairman of APGA when he withdrew the case? Have you met with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and what are they saying? This thing just happened last Thursday. We would write to them. What about some other stakeholders of the party? Are they aware? All the stakeholders of the party believed that justice would prevail and we are glad the controversy is over now. APGA is controlling only one state, Anambra. Has the governor also been put on notice? The governor is the leader of the party. He is our BoT Chairman. A lot of discussions are ongoing. I wouldn’t like to speak about them. You were quoted to have said that you would bring back all who left the party. How do you intend to achieve that? I said I would ensure those who left return to the party. I mentioned the name of Ugo Agbala as an example. He is from Enugu State. Someone asked if I would work to bring back Chekwas Okorie and I said yes. I don’t think the party treated him fairly. I haven’t had any discussion with Peter Obi. He is an old member of APGA. It would be very nice if he returns to the party as an old member. Let us conclude the work we started in APGA, but I think Peter Obi is quite comfortable in PDP. Have you had a one-on-one with people like Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu? Yes, we have had many discussions but she is not happy with so many things that happened. I don’t think she has any problem with the party. Her real grouse is about the person who paraded himself as the party chairman, who she considered incapable. Do you think the judgement of the court or the lifting of those injunctions has actually gone down well with the other faction? I think that because of the way Oye joined the party, he feels being the national chairman is a right. It is a privilege that should be given by members. If members of the party decide that they don’t want you or decide that they don’t want me to be their national chairman one of us should be honourable enough to give up that position. Whether he is happy or not, he should look at the way things are. You can’t force yourself on people. Have you met with the members of your faction after the last court ruling? Yes, we have been having meetings. We are actually touring all the zones starting from next week. In all the six geopolitical zones, national officers are going around to know what really is on the ground because we cannot really take anything for granted. All the stakeholders of the party believed that justice would prevail and we are glad the controversy is over now •Njoku Talking about structures on the ground, most people feel APGA is as good as dead. They seem not to be happy with the relationship with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC… APGA is more or less a sleeping giant and it is unfortunate that we didn’t have the right leadership when people wanted to rebuild APGA. The party was not really formed just for the Igbo cause. It was formed for the marginalized. Wherever you find that you needed a platform to express yourself, APGA is the answer. Isn’t the party subsumed in APC now? No, it is not subsumed in APC. I don’t have any problem with parties merging or having an understanding, but it should be done with the blessing of the party faithful. A few people at the top just decided that they were going to support the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. That was how APGA started supporting the PDP. It was also done in the Buhari era. Similarly, in this era, a few people just got up and decided to support the APC. Does APGA stand a chance in future elections? Every party stands a chance if the right thing is done. When you have no plan nothing will happen. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. We do not plan in APGA. We have to rebuild the party without sentiments. We should look for the best without sentiments and we will have a party that does primaries. If we succeed in doing that, many people who may want to join the PDP or APC will come to APGA. Do you also subscribe to the idea that all election matters should be concluded before swearing-in? I think it is a very good idea. For example, what happened in Imo State is going to affect the state because a lot of projects were actually awarded by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha. Now, what would happen to the Read more on www.vanguardngr.com Ojukwu gave me staff of office in Chekwas Okorie’s presence —Ukaegbu All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, chieftain, Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu, speaks on the crisis rocking the party and the call for election in Abia North among other issues. Excerpts: BY UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE •Ukaegbu our party, APGA, has been torn apart by Ycrisis. What is the way forward? APGA has no elected official across the federation. There was an attempt albeit illegally to organize congresses to elect national, state, local government and ward officers of the party which was apposite to the APGA Constitution. The tenure of the last executive expired on the 15th of May 2019. A High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State ordered thennational executive of the party to hold a national convention and other congresses on or before 15th of May, 2019 which was their last day in office. Under the APGA Constitution, only the sitting executive committee can conduct elective congresses. The APGA Constitution also envisages a situation whereby the executive may not be able to conduct elective congresses within its tenure. In such instance, the Constitution provides for convocation of a national convention solely for the purpose of extending the tenure of the executive committee by not more than 90 days. In this instance, this was not done, the party waited for the expiration of their tenure. But rather than seek for extension after their tenure, they proceeded to organize congresses after a court had found that their tenure had expired. Another court in Kwale , Delta State, struck out the congresses they held. And as of today, APGA has no valid ward, local government, state, zonal and national officers. Anybody parading himself as such is fake and deceiving the public. Conversely, owing to the order of court in Abia State, I remain in office pending the determination of the substantive suit we filed. The order of the court pronouncing me Chairman is now subject to a suit at the Court of Appeal. Until this order is set aside, I remain in office. Therefore, I’m the only remaining officer of APGA across the federation. Other offices have expired by effluxion of time. I am technically the Acting National Chairman of APGA and I have written to INEC informing them about the state of affairs in the party as well as my desire to proceed to convene the relevant congresses and convention to elect new officers of the party. Way forward for APGA The way forward is to return to the APGA Constitution and the visions of the founding fathers of the party. I’m in touch with most of the founding fathers of APGA, they are not happy with the sordid state of affairs in the party. Some of them have left, but I have a special covenant with APGA, and without risk I hold the sacred ‘ofo’ of the party given to me on the 17th of January, 2004 by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu at Ikot Ekpene of contradiction, I hold the sacred ‘ofo’ of the party given to me on the 17th of January, 2004 by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu at Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State and witnessed by the founding chairman of APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie and Chief Onwuka Ukwa. That ‘ofo’ resides with me till date. I can’t abandon it for anything; this is why I remain in APGA. And this is why I am committed to putting the party back on track on the vision of its founding fathers. On Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Gov. Willie Obiano I leave him to be judged by history. If he is doing well, it is up to him. If he is paying Ojukwu in good coin, it is also up to him. Why has APGA not won any state beside Anambra? This is not true. APGA won Imo State in 2011. In 2015, we were on the verge of winning Abia before the forces of darkness truncated that victory. It is still the same forces of darkness that had kept the party in limbo. The struggle for the soul of APGA and to reposition the party started after the 2019 elections .I know before the 2021 polls in Anambra, we will get our acts together. APGA will show why it is a mass oriented party. We are sure of not only retaining Anambra, but also overriding the South-East. Abia North no longer has representation in the Senate following the imprisonment of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. What is your take on the matter? There is nothing strange in Abia North not having a representative at the Senate. I rely on the pronouncement of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division while ruling on Kalu’s application for bail. One of the grounds Kalu relied for bail was that he ought to be allowed to go and represent his senatorial district who voted for him. And the judge reminded him that his senatorial district knew he was under trial and they also knew the likelihood of his conviction and voted him. So, the senatorial district knew the risk they were taking by voting and this can no longer be used as an excuse for bail. The senatorial zone took the risk and now they are suffering it. The only unique thing in the case of Kalu and Abia North is the reluctance of the Senate to apply the basic laws under Sections 66 and 68 of the Constitution which talk about the issue of eligibility for membership of legislative houses in Nigeria. From December 5th when he was convicted, Kalu ceased to be a member of the Senate. This is the law of the land. Under which law are people saying he should be allowed to exhaust his right to appeal? Those canvassing such views are relying on the provisions of the Electoral Act, but they forgot that the Constitution supersedes the Act. The provision of the law that an elected member will remain in office until he exhausts his right of appeal only relate sto the challenge to the seat which he occupies, not when it rests on his qualification to assume office. The Nigerian Constitution provides qualification for a person to be a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives. One of the qualifications is that you must not be under a sentence from any court in Nigeria bordering on fraud or financial misappropriation. Therefore, with his imprisonment by the court, Kalu has lost the qualification to continue to sit in the Senate or receive allowances. This is the position of the law. It was not made to victimize Kalu, it was stated clearly in our law books. Are you not worried that the matter took more than eight years before conclusion? I am not worried; the issue is that in Nigeria we are yet to determine if we really want to fight corruption or condone it. And the APC led Federal Government is guilty of double standard in the anti graft war. If government is really committed to fight corruption, the Senate won’t have said they will continue to pay Kalu’s salaries and allowances until he exhausts his right of appeal. In America, would a convicted senator remain in his position Read more on www.vanguardngr.com
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