…Buhari’s separatist policies caused agitations – PDP
Osinbajo, Ikpeazu , IGP in talks
The Presidency yesterday declared that Senate President Bukola Saraki lacks the powers and rights to fault the proscription and labelling of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organisation.
The declaration is a response to Saraki’s position on Monday faulting the South-east governors on the IPOB proscription as well as the Nigeria Army’s tag on the group as a terrorist movement.
Saraki had among others, said the positions would not stand because they were not in tandem with the nation’s due process.
“I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process. This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world that we are a country that operates by laid down process under every circumstance. So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool,” Saraki stated this in a 10-point statement.
Faulting the Senate President’s position, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, said the army’s decision was in order.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Obono-Obla specifically queried Saraki’s legal right and indeed that of the entire legislature to declare as illegal, any action taken by the executive or any of its agencies.
The presidential aide, who made some clarifications via a distinction between proscription and declaration, revealed that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, would soon apply for IPOB’s proscription in court.
He argued that the army, being an agency of the executive arm of government, acted within its powers by declaring IPOB a terrorist group for operational convenience.
“The military, as part of the executive branch of government, has the right to declare that IPOB is a terrorist organisation for the purpose of quelling the threat posed to national security and corporate existence of the country by the unwholesome and nefarious activities of the organization.
“So, there is nothing absolutely wrong or unconstitutional for the military, for operational reason, to declare IPOB a terrorist organisation. Declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation does not amount to proscription of IPOB. Proscription of IPOB will surely be in accordance with the procedure and processes underlined in the provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011.
“It provides thus: ‘Where two or more persons associate for the purpose of or where an organisation engages in: (a) participating or collaborating in an act of terrorism; (b) promoting , encouraging or exhorting others to commit an act of terrorism ; or (c) setting or pursuing acts of terrorism, the judge in chambers may, on application made by the Attorney General, the National Security Adviser or Inspector- General of Police, on the approval of the President, declare any entity to be a proscribed organisation and the notice should be published in official gazette.”
“The military never proscribed IPO, but only declared it a terrorist organisation, because of the way and manner it has been carrying out its activities.
“These include pelting stones and cocktail Molotov bombs on convoys of military vehicles, burning of police stations, killing of police officers, attacking and threatening Nigerians living in Abia State, who do not subscribe to its separatist and militants ideology, creating the Biafra Security Service and Biafra National Guard.”
PDP slams Buhari
But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed IPOB agitations on what it described as the APC-led government’s separatist tendencies.
The party stated that APC’s ‘harsh policies’ have been the catalyst for IPOB problem, and urged the party to do soul-searching and correct the anomaly.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who made the claims in a statement, counselled the administration to look inward with a view to unravelling the horde of difficulties it currently faces, rather than blaming the opposition for same.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is constrained once again to respond to the tirade by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who as usual, made an attempt at blaming a superficial opposition for the continuous gaffe of the federal government under the leadership of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We had advised not a few times, that the APC should look inward and seek solutions to its self-induced challenges in government caused by its unpreparedness for governance; but since the party seems set for self destruction, we shall not relent in helping to expose their ineptitude to the Nigerian populace.
“We noticed that the minister who is much known for his unbridled capacity for constant polarisation of the polity rather than ardency in the proper dissemination of government policies and information to the populace, tried once again on Sunday, to shift blames of the poor handling of the agitations of IPOB by the current government to an opposition that exists only in his imagination.
“It is disheartening that rather than accept blame for its ineptitude, the APC government has continued to blame “enemies” real or imaginary for their woes,” the statement read in part.
Worried by the allegation, the PDP scribe said the party is at a loss as to why the ruling party is blaming it for the agitations by members of IPOB.
“How on earth will a serious minded government blame opposition parties which they have conveniently labelled “looters” for the activities of IPOB? But we take solace in the fact that the APC might actually know the looters, as the party has clearly demonstrated its penchant for giving covers to people considered as corrupt.
“The recent release of 48 houses confiscated as proceed of crime back to a member of the APC who was standing trial for allegations of corruption readily comes to mind.
“Much as we will continue to harp on the one-sided corruption fight of this administration, we wish to urge the APC to look inwards in locating the looters using their ill-gotten wealth to sponsor separatist agitation against the government of the day,” the statement continued, noting that as an opposition party, the PDP is aware of internal intrigues within the ruling party.
“It is instructive to note that we are aware of the internal crisis rocking the amalgam of interests that formed the APC and the struggle for power within the government, as the noise of discontent keep rising on a daily basis from the party.
“Based on the above, it is no news that APC has been a problem unto itself which has affected the lives of the citizenry who daily gnash their teeth in regret for voting the APC into power in 2015.
“We wish to put on record that agitation for actualisation of the state of Biafra was a total silent voice while the PDP was in power because of the government of inclusiveness we provided for Nigerians who were made to experience what a genuine national government meant.
“We, therefore, make bold to further state, that the APC policies have been the catalyst for IPOB problem, and as such, the party should do soul-searching and correct the anomaly. No external enemy so to say, is working against this government. The government is its own worst enemy,” the party further stated.
Osinbajo, Ikpeazu, IGP in talks
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday had a separate closed-door meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The governor told journalists he briefed the vice-president on the IPOB crisis and other related issues in the state.
He said the visit of the governors of Borno, Kebbi, Katsina, Plateau and Sokoto states to Abia and other states in the eastern part of the country to preach peace was re-assuring.
“Well, I assured them of safety of lives and property of everybody that resides in Abia, whether you are an Abian or not an Abian. I swore with the Bible to protect lives and property and because I take such things seriously.
“I will continue to protect the lives and property of my brothers and sisters irrespective of where they come from. You know that the mainstay of our economy in Abia state is trade and commerce.
“I do not think it will augur well for our economy if we make our kitchen the theater of Biafra. A native wisdom in my place says you shouldn’t allow fight to ensue from your mother’s kitchen. It is my responsibility also to grow prosperity from my state,” he said.
The governor also dismissed allegations that the IPOB crisis was as a result of failure of leadership in the South-east, allegations should be investigated by people before making them public.
“Allegations are supposed to be investigated by investigative officers and I’m not trying to investigate such things, so is just the masses especially the press. You know, we are perception builders we should try to say things that are good about our country not things that are bad. I think there are enough reasons to see that under our circumstance that we may not be in Eldorado yet but there are concerted efforts and attempts to make our place a better place.”
He also called on all stakeholders to project the country in a positive light instead of engaging in meaningless agitations, saying “I do not see how as an Ibo man boxing myself into a smaller geographic entity without recourse of the most widely travelled people in Nigeria.”
“There are Igbo in Sambisa; what are you expecting of them if I narrow their geography of coverage? But agitation, marginalisation, infrastructure deficiencies, these are issues which are germane and they can be discussed, they can be spoken about, they can be addressed. But I do not know how in 21st Century how carrying arms in my kitchen will grow the prosperity of my people.”
