Igbo Corner

Election: Nigerian professionals roar; to University — withdraw Yakubu’s professorship; to world bodies — slam visa bans; to Buhari — you failed us woefully; to Labour — join us

Published

2 years ago

March 3, 2023

Nigerian professionals, under the auspices of Professionals for Good Governance and Social Justice, aka PODP, has expressed vehement anger and dissatisfaction over the recently-held presidential election on February 25, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, of deceit and irregularity.

Professionals for Good Governance and Social Justice made the remarks in a statement signed by its Convener, Dr. Ben Chukwu, MBBCh, FMCS, on the February 2023 elections.

Addressing Professor Yakubu’s alleged rescality, PODP expressed deep disappointment and asked the University that appointed him as professor to, as a matter of urgent national interest and security, withdraw his professorship.

The group stated: “With a heavy heart and a deep feeling of disappointment, we, the members of PODP, hereby state that the election results announced at early-hours of Wednesday, the first of March, 2023 clearly do not reflect the will of the people. We cannot in good conscience accept these results, and we know that most Nigerians feel the same way.

“Sometimes in November 2022, the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, called a press conference to debunk the leaked information that INEC had planned not to upload the raw data at the Polling Units into the BVAS. He went all the way to Chatham House in UK to reiterate this very point.

“At home, he had, on more than fifty occasions, asserted that INEC would upload all data straight from the Polling Units into the INEC server through the BVAS. The INEC Chairman himself broke the very fabric of the Electoral Act. He unflinchingly lied to Nigerians.

“He neither addressed the irregularities nor acknowledged the vociferous concerns of Nigerians but went ahead to announce his cooked-up electoral figures.

“Educated Nigerians are wondering how a Professor who supposedly has conducted researches and understands the implications of data accuracy, could announce a winner from an obvious mumbo-jumbo of figures that, at best, were shamefully incorrect.

“Nigerians are wondering what Professors like him actually profess, and what the Ivory Tower portends in their eyes. Professor Yakubu’s conduct has no doubt embarrassed Nigerians, especially his colleagues in the Ivory Tower. His unconscionable behavior has undermined the trust and respect for our Citadel of Higher Learning, and has caused irredeemable damage to his professional reputation and that of his colleagues.

“May he ever be remembered as the INEC Chairman who had greatness thrust upon him but who, flagrantly, flung it away, choosing to plunge over 220 million Nigerians and entire Africa into the worst humanitarian crisis, possible bloodshed, setting Nigeria decades back into the annals of global analogue history because of his selfish gains.

“We therefore call on the University that appointed him professor to as a matter of urgent national interest and security, dissociate themselves from corruption, malpractice and criminality by withdrawing such title from such bribe thirsty and integrity bankrupt deceiver like Yakubu.”

Speaking to international bodies and governments, who fielded their various agents and “witnessed the sham called presidential election”, PODP urged them to slam visa bans on those “who have actively participated in scuttling the people’s will”.

Failure to do so, it said, they will be aiding a global crisis as millions of Nigerians will flood the West in search of succour over the transmigration that may ensue in the event of breakdown of law and order.

PODP said: ‘

“The international Observers have witnessed the sham called presidential election. While we cover our faces in shame and tears, we call upon you to go beyond the terse statements you have put out.

“We urge you to convince your Governments to issue visa bans on all who have actively participated in scuttling the people’s will. If you do not, we assure you that you will inadvertently be aiding a global crisis of transmigration as millions of Nigerians will flood the West in search of succour.

“Your economies will take a hit, and some may not survive it. We enjoin you to make hay in helping to diffuse and rectify the imminent catastrophic upheaval currently brewing, the like of which has never been witnessed in Africa.

“We call on UN, EU, AU and all world leaders to act fast to avert this imminent crisis.”

The group further lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari over his failed promised of a free, fair and credible election to the world at the United Nations in New York, noting that he failed Nigerians woefully.

“Our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, when you told us you wanted to leave a legacy of free and fair election, when you went to the United Nations in New York to proclaim what you’d love to be remembered by, we not only believed you, we hailed you.

“We immediately, in our usual forgiving spirit, put behind us all the misrule and abuses to which your government had subjected Nigerians. You won our hearts so much that many of us stood solidly behind your Naira redesign, believing it was in the interest of common Nigerians.

“When the military rolled out its amoured tanks nationwide days before the election, we further hailed you, believing they were coming to protect our votes, our lives. But alas!

“You lied to us. Your military men were nowhere to be found in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin, and several flashpoints where voters were freely and easily disenfranchised. PMB, you failed so woefully to favourably ingrain your name in the annals of the history. You failed to position yourself as the Father of a New Nigeria.

“Nigerians have, without doubt, worked assiduously over the past few months to bring about real change in our country. We have knocked on doors, made phone calls, and held rallies to spread our message of unity, hope and progress.

“We have put in countless hours of hard work, and we have done everything in our power to ensure that our voices are heard.

“Clearly, the results of this election do not reflect the true will of the people. We have seen too many blatant irregularities, too many instances of culpable voter suppression, and too many cases of daredevil fraud.

“We have seen ballot boxes snatched and carted away, sometimes with the active support and cover of the Police. We have experienced thumb-printed ballot papers set on fire right in the presence of helpless voters. We have recorded polling stations opening late and closing early, and voters turned away at the polls.

“This is definitely not the democracy we believe in. This is not the Nigeria that we know and love,” PODP regretted.

PODP also sympathised with fellow Nigerians over the dashed hopes and urged them not to stand idly by while their voices are silenced and rights trampled upon.

“We must rectify the wrong, and we must do so with every fiber of our being,” it assured.

Furthermore, Dr. Chukwu urged various Labour unions — NLC, TUC, ASUU, NASUU, NMA, NBA, NANMS, NUPENG, NANS, NURTW etc. — to join the struggle and demand that every vote be counted, and that every voice be heard.

He said: “We call on all professional bodies and organized unions, especially, NLC, TUC, ASUU, NASUU, NMA, NBA, NANMS, NUPENG, NANS, NURTW etc. to join us in this redress. We must come together as a country and demand the restoration of our stolen mandate.

“We must demand that every vote be counted, that every voice be heard. We must demand an end to the ignoble corruption, barefaced lies and outright deception that have plagued our politics for far too long.

“We know that this is a difficult moment for all of us. But we cannot give up hope. We cannot give up on our vision of a better future, a better Nigeria. We cannot let the forces of darkness and despair triumph over the forces of light and hope.”

To the electorates, therefore, he urged to stand up for what is right, reject the election results, and demand a new result that truly reflects the votes by the people in the 25th February election.

Finally, to the “Obidients”, an acronym for the supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) flag bearer, he said:

“Come Saturday, March 11, Nigerians should troop out in greater numbers to vote Labour Party. One way to validate that we won the last election resoundingly is to vote massively for our Gubernatorial and State Legislature candidates nationwide.

“At the Polling Units, ensure you photo or video record the collated results before departing the Polling Unit, showing details of location, number, faces, and names of officials.

“Remain to count and defend your votes. It’s your right.”

PODP can be contact via: pggsj250223@gmail.com. Read more.

—

©Copyright 2023 News Band

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Analysis

Nigeria is radicalizing the Igbo, one injustice at a time ~ by Abolaji Rasaq

Published

3 months ago

May 21, 2025

kevin 'Jakpor

There’s something about persecution that does two things to a people: it either breaks them, or it makes them beasts of survival.

For centuries the Jews… they were hunted, hated, and humiliated by empires. But they didn’t vanish.

They evolved. They adapted. And today, the Jews are arguably the most powerful tribe in the world economically, intellectually, and politically. Ruthless when necessary.

They are unapologetic about their survival. Now, look at the Igbo. A tribe known for industry, resilience, and brilliance.

A people who just want to live, do business, and thrive. But Nigeria doesn’t want that. Nigeria wants control.

Nigeria wants submission. And the one thing the Igbo have never known how to do is bow. And that’s the real issue.

So what does Nigeria do? It sidelines them. Isolates them. Provokes them. Bombs their villages under the guise of security.

Locks up their agitators. Shuts down their businesses. Mocks their pain. Ignores their history. Prevent them from voting. Play politics with their education. Sponsored bigotry on them.

And then Nigeria pretends to be surprised that there’s growing radicalization in the East?

Let me be clear: The Igbo didn’t start this fire. Nigeria did.

And history, the very same history we keep refusing to learn from, has shown us that when you keep pushing a tribe that knows how to survive, they evolve into something stronger, something unstoppable.

It’s happened before. With the Jews. Europe tried to exterminate them. Instead, they became the backbone of global finance, media, tech, and diplomacy.

You don’t touch a Jew today without consequences. You don’t push them to the wall and expect them to stay quiet.

Now Nigeria is doing the same to the Igbo, pushing, prodding, provoking.

But here’s the warning: when you push an animal to the wall, it doesn’t stay calm. It fights back. It bites. And this time, when it bites, don’t act shocked.

But this isn’t just about the Igbo solely. Nigeria has perfected the art of creating monsters, then acting surprised when they bite.

The Niger Delta? Radicalized. The region was exploited for oil, polluted beyond repair, and ignored until their youths picked up arms.

The Fulani terrorists? Radicalized. Left behind by the same government that claimed to represent them, now manipulated by religion and resentment.

The Almajiri? Radicalized. Abandoned by an elite that used their poverty as a vote bank and then left them to rot.

The Agbero? Radicalized. Uneducated, weaponized, and unleashed as tools of political chaos.

Even the middle class is slowly being radicalized, not with guns, but with hopelessness. That, too, is a ticking time bomb.

A nation cannot continue to marginalize its most brilliant tribe and expect peace.

The Igbo are not docile. They are not quiet. They are not forgetful. They are survivors, and survivors don’t beg for space forever. At some point, they take it.

The Igbo didn’t set out to be radicals. They were made into one by a country that won’t stop seeing their confidence as a threat.

You can’t keep pretending unity means silence. You can’t keep preaching peace while planting injustice.

The Igbo are not asking for too much, they just want to live, build, and grow.

But if you insist on turning their dignity into defiance, their enterprise into enmity, and their survival into sedition, then you are creating a monster.

And if history has taught us anything, it’s this: when a persecuted people decide that survival is no longer enough, when they decide to stop running and start resisting, they don’t just fight back. They win.

Nigeria must understand this: you cannot keep pushing people into a corner and expect submission.

When you back a lion into a wall, don’t expect it to purr. It will roar. It will claw. It will tear through anything standing between it and freedom.

So here’s the final warning, for those who still care to listen: Nigeria is radicalizing the Igbo.

But worse, Nigeria is radicalizing everyone. And it won’t end well.

When the fire spreads, when the rebellion multiplies, when the beast we created begins to fight back, don’t act shocked; no tribe will be left untouched.

Don’t pretend it wasn’t preventable. We all made it happen. You don’t corner a lion and expect peace.

Abolaji Rasaq is a public affairs analyst.

Post Views: 41

Igbo Corner

Crisis hits Nnewi over Uruagu PG election, as BoT members protest, resign

Published

4 months ago

May 9, 2025

kevin 'Jakpor

Palpable crisis is brewing in Nnewi over the election of the President General of Uruagu Community in the industrial town of Anambra State, with a business mogul and owner of Organiser Plc., Chief Innocent Okoli, accused of upsetting the apple cart.

The crisis has led to protests and resignation of members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

One of the resignation letters sighted by News Band was from a legal practitioner, J. N. Obi, Esq.

Barrister Obi, until his resignation served as the Secretary of the Executive Committee and member, Uruagu Board of Trustees.

Tendering his resignation letter, Obi cited brazen violation of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union.

The letter was referenced OB/03 /296/2025, dated May 8, 2025, and addressed to His Highness. Obi A. C. Obi (Ogidi IV).

In the letter entitled “Letter of resignation as member, Board of Trustees (B.O. T) Uruagu Nnewi. Obi announced his resignation based on the following reasons:

Article 8. 9 (a) of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union. 2022 (As Amended) states and I quote:
“The Board shall “Ensure the observance of this Constitution”.
Article 14.4 of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union 2022 (As Amended) states and I quote:
“Each ward shall submit a list of the Electors In writing to the Secretary General of the Union, one month before any election.
“The submission of the list of the Electors shall be done by the Ward Chairman In consultation with the Ward’s Obi.”
“The election sought to be conducted on Saturday, 10th day of May 2025, did not comply with the above provisious as it was on the Union’s general meeting of the I3th day of April 2025 that the expiration of the tenure of the Executives was announced.”

The legal pratictioner, however, noted that the election to be held on May 10 will not be up to one month.

He, therefore, resigned his membership of B. 0. T for failure to abide by the above provisions of the Constitution as stated above.

On his part, the former President General of Uruagu Nnewi, Chief Ambassador Charles Nwonye, decried series of illegalities in the proposed election championed by Chief Okoli.

He recalled the efforts of past and present stakeholders to ensure that Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union is recognised as a legal and responsible entity in the state.

He, however, speaking in a voice note obtained by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), regretted:

“It’s very, very unfortunate that those counsels that instituted Uruagu Development Union are no longer alive.

“They were the ones who were known for speaking out the truth. But at the same time, we will not all keep quiet.

“I, hereby, wish to bring the following to the attention of all Uruagu indigenes, scattered all over Nigeria and in the diaspora that four years ago, a similar thing happened.

“Uruagu Nnewi Constitution was also flagrantly violated four years ago.

“At the end, a lot of stakeholders asked the former Executive Committee to resign and leave en masse.

“The Constitution, however, allowed them to recontest.

“The Executive Committee then honourably resigned and no one of us recontested, ushering in a new Executive Committee.

“They argued that following the election, the Constitution will be amended to correct all the flaws and ensure no such flagrant abused repeats itself.

“They went for the election and what happened there was the same illegality we’re talking about.

“Some of our youths went and connived with mischief makers, disrupted the election and declared the present Executive Committee members winners.

“The youths stood by them in their misguided thoughts that the Executive Committee members enjoy special gains in the office.

“They disrupted the election and ensured that the present crop of Executive Committee members was ushered in.

“The election was heavily flawed and rigged in favour of Eloka Ike and Innocent Okoli, but we let go and left peacefully.

“The new Executive Committee promised to preside for only four years and leave, but we are currently seeing the same illegalities.

“I dare ask: Should Uruagu be known only for illegalities? I thought Ndi Uruagu are smart people?

“I have observed that there are certain individuals who are hell-bent on ensuring that the Uruagu leadership fails.

“They seem bent on destroying all our efforts, acting as agents of chaos and destruction.

“How can one man gather a bunch of Umuezeagu indigenes and take them to the court, claiming that they sued the union to court?

“They deceived the High Court and got a frivolous injunction against Uruagu people, all in the name of election!

“When I got this information, I knew that something was wrong.

“How can someone, after serving a tenure fraught with irregularities, fight his way to a second tenure against the people’s wish?

“I want to make it clear to all the delegates in the so-called election that it will not be possible to make an illegality legal.

“Anyone who casts a vote in that sham election is an agent provocateur, as well as a villain.

“Let it be on record that I denounced the so-called election founded on illegality and fraud and all participants, be it a delegate or participant in any manner is an enemy of the people.”

Chief Okoli and other responsible people of Nnewi leadership could not be reached for comment at the moment of this publication.

More details will follow…

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Celebrity/Entertainment

Late Mbaise monarch—Eze Nwabueze Ugorji to be buried May 22, 2025

Published

5 months ago

March 14, 2025

kevin 'Jakpor

The remains of HRH Eze Stephen Nwabueze Ugorji, Orji Ukwu 1 of Lorji Nwekeukwu Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, will be laid to rest on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

The late Eze Ugorji will be buried in his palace at Orji Ukwu Estate, Lorji, following a Catholic funeral Mass at St. Andrews Catholic Church, Lorji.

News Band was informed that His Excellency the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Bishop Okezuo Nwobi, has been invited to officiate at the ceremony.

Bishop Nwobi, it was learnt, has also accepted the family’s invitation to officiate at the funeral rites of the late grand traditional ruler.

This information was provided to members of the press in Owerri by the Opara Eze (First Son of the Eze), former Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji.

His Lordship Bishop Okezuo Nwobi, the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese (Mbaise) and Eze Nwabueze Ugorji’s First Son, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji

“The family is grateful to His Lordship for granting us a rare request to officiate at a funeral on a Thursday,” Dr. Ugorji said.

“Our father will feel honored and appreciated because he was not just a devoted Catholic, he shouldered the building of the St. Andrews Catholic Church at Lorji until his death,” the former commissioner added.

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Igbo Corner

EXCLUSIVE: Ngozi Orabueze dissolves Biafra Govt In Exile as Simon Ekpa may spend longer time in prison

Published

6 months ago

February 13, 2025

kevin 'Jakpor

Dr. Ngozi Orabueze has abruptly dissolved the Biafra Government In Exile following secret information that his former boss, Simon Ekpa may not be coming out from Finnish detention in a hurry.

News Band reported that Mrs. Orabueze, a former Chief of Staff to Mr Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile, toppled his principal after he was thrown into prison for promoting violent agitation and terrorism in the Southeast of Nigeria.

Ekpa’s trial is scheduled to start in May 2025.

Ngozi, a former chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Atlanta, United States in a statement on Wednesday, announced the dissolution of Biafra Government In Exile.

She said all assets of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile and it’s affiliates shall be transferred to the secretary of the State of the United States of Biafra.

Orabueze also directed all officers of the former exile government to report to their counterpart with the United States of Biafra for reassignment.

The statement reads, “It is resolved that the Biafra Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE) is hereby dissolved as it’s reason for the existence has been superceded by the November 29, 2024 Declaration of the restoration of the Independent United States of Biafra

“All assets of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile and it’s affiliates(BRGIE corporation ID: D237527271) shall be transferred to the secretary of the State of the United States of Biafra.

“All officers of the former exile government shall report to their counterpart with the United States of Biafra for reassignment. All activities of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile shall cease as of February 15, 2025”.

Meanwhile, an insider source in the movement reliably told News Band that Ngozi decided to dissolve BRGIE after receiving intel that Simon Ekpa might spend longer time in prison.

The source also revealed that the Nigerian government is doing everything within it’s power to nail Simon Ekpa for all his atrocious acts in the SouthEast region.

So, the only way to keep the agitation going in the absence of Ekpa is to dissolve BRGIE.

“Yes, Ngozi Orabueze dissolved the Biafra Republic Government In Exile so as to be fully in charge of the assets belonging to the movement. With the way the Nigerian government is going about the case of Simon Ekpa, he may spend longer time in prison”, the source said.

Moreover, before now, Orabueze has been at war with some arrowheads of the separatist movement who refused to acknowledge her authority.

This however, has led to series of fights, accusation and counter accusations among the agitators.

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Igbo Corner

A tribute to Mrs. Roseline Udu Eze

Published

7 months ago

January 29, 2025

kevin 'Jakpor

We celebrate the life of Mrs. Roseline Udu Eze, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of strength.

Her unwavering love, kindness, and selflessness left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Though we mourn her passing, we take solace in the legacy she leaves behind and the cherished memories we hold. Rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord, dear Roseline.

You will forever be missed.

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Amen.

Post Views: 34