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| Buhari has declared war against peaceful citizens of Alaigbo! ADF issues public statement against Operation Python Dance II |
PUBLIC
STATEMENT
ALAIGBO DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION (ADF)
ON
THE
MILITARY INVASION OF ALAIGBO
i.
A few days ago the
social media was awash with display of movement of tanks and other heavy
military equipment into the South-East, the heartland of Alaigbo.
ii.
This has been
followed up and confirmed by the Press Briefing by the Chief of Training and
Operations, Army Major General DD Ahmadu on what he calls Exercise Egwu Eke (Operation Python Dance)
iii.
According to him, the
operation involves the deployment of a whole Division of the Nigerian Army,
composed of five Brigades based in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States,
all in the South Eastern States.
iv.
The
operation is being
conducted with the involvement of other security agencies such as Department of
State Services, the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense
Corps, all of whom are to engage in raids, cordon and search operations,
anti-kidnapping drills, road blocks, check points and show of force, etc.
v.
It will be recalled that on his return
from sick leave, President Muhammadu Buhari had declared war on all those
demanding Restructuring and Self-determination, with his main focus on the
self-determination movements in the Alaigbo terrotories. The Arewa Youth and
some of their elders had gone from their Quit Notice to Ndigbo to circulating
hate speeches aimed at inciting their people to another orgy of pogrom against
Ndigbo. They had also called President Buhari to declare war against all those
seeking, justice, equality and freedom.
vi.
Hundreds of Igbo farmers and their
children have been killed, their women and daughters raped not only in Alaigbo
but in several other non-Fulani areas of Nigeria. In all these the Nigerian
Police and other security forces had looked elsewhere while those atrocities
have been committed against them by Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated
weapons.
This is
Military Invasion and Occupation of Alaigbo, nay, Declaration of War against
peaceful citizens of Alaigbo!
vii.
This is indeed an
invasion of Alaigbo by the Arewa-controlled and dominated Nigerian military which
recently witnessed unimaginable retirement of a great number of Igbo
high-ranking officers. This is a Nigeria in which the South East is completely
excluded from membership of Nigeria’s highest Security Council, in clear
violation of the federal character principle as enshrined in the subsisting
Federal Constitution.
viii.
This show of force is
another attempt to demonstrate to the World that ALAIGBO and the rest of
Nigeria is a conquered territory.
ix.
This occupation of a
peaceful law-abiding Igbo nation is unconstitutional by the extant Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
x.
This is another level
of insurgency and terrorism to complement the insurgent Fulani AK47-weilding
herdsmen who have been terrorizing, taking over and destroying our farmlands,
sacking our ancestral homes, killing our men and women, raping our women and
daughters, insulting and attacking our Christian faith; all these are done with
the connivance of the Security authorities of Nigeria.
The
duty of the military is to protect the country from external aggression.
Maintenance of Internal Security belongs to the Police.
xi.
The responsibility of
internal security is that of the Police and non-military agencies.
xii.
The President’s
powers to deploy the Nigerian Armed
Forces are provided for in Sections 217 and 218 of the Constitution
xiii.
The circumstances and
conditions under which the Nigerian Armed Forces can be deployed are as follows
-
a.
For the defense of
Nigeria from external aggression,
b.
For the maintenance
of the territorial integrity of and securing the borders of Nigeria from
violation on land, sea and air.
c.
For suppressing
insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when
called upon to do so by the President, subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
xiv.
It is, therefore,
clear that the planned invasion and occupation of the South-East, the heartland
of Alaigbo is a flagrant breach of the Constitution and as such an impeachable
offence.
With the hate songs against the
Igbo that have flooded the airwaves in Arewa North and the hanging Quit Notice
on the Igbo from the North, ADF sees this military invasion as a coordinated
and deliberate action to proactively cripple any opposition and cow and
emasculate the Igbo heartland as a complement to the planned annihilation of
Igbos in the North by the Arewa Youths during the same period.
xv.
With the burden of
history, especially the events of 1966- 7, and under the menacing present
ominous circumstances, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), as a Corporate
body of patriotic citizens , shall :
a.
Challenge the planned
military invasion and occupation of Alaigbo in the Court of law and seek
declarations, by the courts, that the action of Mr. President is an
infringement on the Constitution, as amended.
b.
Since the planned
invasion clearly infringes on the powers of the National Assembly, ADF shall
call on the National Assembly to stand up and defend her Constitutional
authority and integrity. And if the invasion and occupation proceeds as
planned, the National Assembly shall be called upon to commence impeachment
proceedings against Mr. President.
c.
Call on civil
societies, women and youth in Alaigbo to engage in civil and peaceful
demonstrations throughout Alaigbo in protest against the invasion.
d.
Call on various Igbo
groups, the traditional institution, the church and other elders of Igboland
including Ohanaeze Ndigbo to raise their voices against the invasion of
Alaigbo.
e.
Send further protest
representations to the International Community on the latest attack and
occupation of Alaigbo.
f.
Call on other
patriotic and well-meaning citizens and nationalities in Nigeria to come to the
aid of the Igbo nation at this time of another planned pogrom against Ndigbo.
What else can we call this except FASCISM enveloping the entire Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
xvi.
The elders of Alaigbo
and all patriotic Pan-Igbo organisations should liaise with the Governors in
Alaigbo in spearheading an Emergency Political Conference of Ndigbo to
holistically address the future of Alaigbo and deliberate on the continued
threat and assault on our fundamental rights of self-determination and peaceful
existence as a freedom-loving people
xvii.
Meanwhile, all Igbo
groups worldwide should device means of continuing to inform the International
Community about what is happening to their people at home and thereby seek
their sympathy and intervention, where necessary and possible, to help save
Ndigbo against another looming genocide in Nigeria.
PROF T. UZODINMA
NWALA PROF. NATH
ANIEKWU
ADF President ADF Secretary
DR
DOZIE IKEDIE
Chairman, ADF Board of Trustees
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