POEM: WHEN THE DIE IS CAST

When the die is cast
The stage becomes set for the cast.
Enemies disperse in disgrace
For the whistle has blown for race.

The mantle awaits the victorious
Who with determination sweated
Through hardships, hazards, setups.

It's now time to take the kingdom!
The trumpets are sounding loudly
Doomsday and waterloo awaits
Any hindrance or poser of war,
For we are not smiling
But out for a kill.

It's NOW or NEVER!
Arise and girt your loins Biafrans!
It's Biafra forever!
The die is already cast.

Victoria. O. C. Agangan
Biafra Writers

Poem: I Look Up The Hills!

Biafra Cenotaph Enugu-Biafraland

                                                     

By Victoria Agangan | For Biafra Writers

December 26, 2018

I look up the hills unto Biafra
Till when will thy kingdom come?
The waves and eaves so long ago
Unto thee assign and beckon.

I look up the hills and see the dews
Falling as rain on Biafran soil
These are tears dripping from eyes
Cut down with life, full in them.

I look up the hills and foresee
Trails of dust been raised,
For help so close by is here to rescue
Alas! We will be free from woe and doom.

READ ALSO: Poem: Nigeria: Fast Approaching Doomsday

But then I see, blood spilling,
Guns booming, mindblowing splitters
As war to freedom looms and
Suspense holds sway...

And again! I looked up the Biafran hills
Oh, see! Her flags are raised!
Hurray! Our victory is here!
And so our people unite!
For victory, at last, is spelt in
CAPITAL  LETTERS!

THE BIAFRA TIMES

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Poem: Nigeria: Fast Approaching Doomsday

By Victoria Agangan | For Biafra Writers

December 26, 2018

I see her wailing and weeping
Like a whining puppy, she is crying
Just as in the movies, Nigerian doomsday is fast approaching.

Doom! Doom! Doom! Sounding
Like Bang! Bang! Bang! Knocking.
Ceaselessly, she is weakening
Her lies are flipping and slipping
Down the corridors of shame.

A wooden throne showcased as gold
Covered grave full of rotted bones
Shabby foundation hastily formed without our consent
Borne out of force and greed, is now
Collapsing, tumbling, and falling,
None can save her.

READ ALSO: Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu declares “war” on Gov. Ikpeazu over arrest and detention of 52 Jewish worshippers


The Nigerian cabals, the ineffective Senate, the hypocritical politicians, even the seemingly hypnotized populace cannot stop her inevitable delete.

This overripe concoction is too old for plucking and now will have to be brought down anyway and anyhow.

The beckon is on all lovers of truth to join forces with Biafra.
Let us restore our lost prestige, hope and faith in our posterity.

Jubril is exposed, Nigeria is no longer a safe home.
She has terrorists as military personnel

She operates in mafia style, no more action groups but intimidating sectors.
A dilapidated house is only good for demolishing, therefore Nigeria’s doomsday is fast approaching and like Humpty Dumpty, her fall will be fatal.

THE BIAFRA TIMES

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Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu declares “war” on Gov. Ikpeazu over arrest and detention of 52 Jewish worshippers

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 24, 2018

ISRAEL - Embittered by the recent arrest and detention of some 52 Jewish adherents on peaceful procession in Umuahia, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has declared war on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state for allegedly ordering the arrests of the religious worshippers.

Kanu made this declaration on Saturday, in a live radio transmission, while condemning the continued detention of the Jewish faithfuls who were arrested on December 11, 2018 and charged with terrorism and treasonable felony.

The IPOB leader who vowed that the governor would never have peace until the Jewish worshippers are released urged the people to rise against the governor and his supporters and destroy their campaign train.

He said: “Okezie Ikpeazu ordered the arrest of 52 Jewish adherents at my hometown for embarking on a religious procession in Umuahia which everybody does. This is the place where Okezie Ikpeazu thinks he can come back as the governor, he’s daydreaming! Anywhere Okezie Ikpeazu’s campaign group is gathered, it will be scattered.

READ ALSO: The Hereditary Politics in Nigeria and its Hot Hug with the Church

“Okezie Ikpeazu can never have peace from tonight. It’s a standing order to all our units. Ikpeazu can never have peace. Anything he wants, we will give it to him until he leaves that office. Anywhere Okezie Ikpeazu or his supporters are gathered, they must be arrested by IPOB.

“As long as our men and women are being detained at the prison in Afara, we will not allow him to rest. Wherever Okezie Ikpeazu’s campaign group is gathered, we’ll destroy it and anybody supporting Okezie Ikpeazu is a traitor of the people and must be dealt with accordingly.

“Whatever the consequences are, we will bear it. Okezie Ikpeazu must be taught a lesson so that other governors will learn from that. You don’t mess with IPOB and get away with it. All those responsible for the death of IPOB will pay dearly for it starting from tonight.”

He also warned the Abia state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi, asking him to steer clear of IPOB activities.

READ ALSO: How Nigeria government can kill the ‘Jubril Al-Sudani’ story

“If you’re related to the Commissioner of Police in Abia state, warn him to desist from arresting IPOB Jewish worshippers. We have removed many Police commissioners before him and he too will be gone very soon.”

Kanu added: “Umuahia is my hometown, that’s where I came from and the seat of the government in Abia is on my father’s land. IPOB will not be molested in Umuahia. The next time we’ll march in Umuahia, I’ll give order for the security to confront anybody that comes to arrest our people.

“Okezie Ikpeazu’s campaign will be destroyed. Every vehicle carrying the pictures of Okezie Ikpeazu will be destroyed. Anywhere you see his poster in Abia state, destroy it until they release our people. Anything they want, we give to them from now onwards.”

Issuing a 3-day ultimatum for the governor to release the Jewish faithfuls, Kanu sounded a note of warning to chairmen, village heads and traditional rulers not to host the governor in their communities, adding that the name of the governor will go down in history as one of those who sabotaged the Biafra struggle.

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‘Jubril will no longer come out to campaign’ – Nnamdi Kanu

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 24, 2018

ISRAEL – Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has declared that his scientific unmasking of the impostor in Aso Rock, Jubril Aminu Al-Sudani, masquerading as President Muhammadu Buhari, has made it difficult for him to come out in the full glare of the public to campaign.

Kanu who spoke on Radio Biafra last Saturday said ‘Jubril’ cannot come out to campaign in the open without waving his hands to the people or camera zooming in to capture the structure of his ears, hence the reason he left the campaigns for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to do alone.

According to him: “Jubril will no longer come out again to campaign because every lens will now face his ear. Is he going to cover his ear? He has refused to wave his hands, let me see how he’s going to cover his ears. That means Jubril will no longer campaign.

“Do you know why they are sending Osinbajo everywhere? He is even campaigning, they can’t send Jubril. This radio station ordained by Heaven has made it possible that Jubril can no longer campaign.

“If he comes out, either he exposes the palm of his hands or his ears will show and ordinary people will take pictures of his ears. Therefore, Jubril will no longer come out to conduct rallies for election. It’s over for them.

READ ALSO: Alex Badeh: Kanu tackles Nigerian media, journalists over failure to investigate cause of death

“I told them that I’ll lock them down. I’ll imprison Jubril inside Aso Rock. He can never come out again. On this noble platform, Radio Biafra, he’s gone. He can no longer wave his hands, he’s now showing a clenched fist. I’ll use Jubril to tell the world how foolish Nigerians are.

“I’m giving the whole people in the Zoo (Nigeria) this very simple assignment: take pictures of his ear, compare it with that of the officially released pictures of Buhari by the British government. You’ll see that whoever you have there is fake.

“Also, the signature of late Buhari is not the same with that of Jubril. I challenge these journalists to examine Buhari’s recent signatures.”

THE BIAFRA TIMES

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Alex Badeh: Kanu tackles Nigerian media, journalists over failure to investigate cause of death

•Says I told Badeh that Nigeria can never work
•Reveals possible killers of the ex-defence chief

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 24, 2018

ISRAEL – Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has lampooned journalists and media houses in Nigeria over their inability to investigate and report the cause of death of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh.

The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was reportedly shot dead in an ambush last Tuesday evening by unknown gunmen while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi expressway.

Kanu who blamed the media houses and journalists in Nigeria over failure to investigate the matter declared that he is convinced the media in Nigeria is evil and working against the people.

Speaking from his base in Israel on Saturday, during a live presentation on Radio Biafra, Kanu said that those who hatched plans to assassinate him over the unveiling of the impostor in Aso-rock must be rejoicing over Badeh’s death, adding that no Nigerian journalist would investigate or write about it due to monetary inducement.

READ ALSO: Jubril Saga: Nnamdi Kanu comments on Buhari’s inability to speak Fulfulde

The IPOB leader also tipped some certain individuals in government who allegedly has hands in Badeh’s death, saying that Aisha Buhari, the president’s wife and his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari knew about the impending death of the ex-defence chief.

According to Kanu, “Aisha Buhari knew about the slaughter of Alex Badeh, so also, is the ever-present Abba Kyari. I’m sure some of those supporters of iniquity are now rejoicing because Alex Badeh is dead and no journalist will investigate nor write about it because they have all collected money.

“I say it with every ounce of conviction within me that the media in Nigeria is working against the people. In any other country of the world, the senseless assassination of Alex Badeh will make headline news for about two weeks but because Yorubas are in charge of the media. They have courted with the devil. They have no soul, they have no honour and dignity.

“Why did Alex Badeh die? Because he threatened Aisha Buhari and Abba Kyari with what he knew about Jubril Aminu Al-Sudani. But the Yoruba media won’t report that. They are responsible for putting Nigeria in the state that it is today because of their selfish and parochial interests.

“Yoruba newspaper publishers and journalists are working for the devil. They do anything for money, to keep Nigeria united not because they love you but because they need access to oil and gas and they know that any time that Biafra leaves, Fulani will march into Yoruba land and decimate them overnight. So we(Biafrans) are more or less of a buffer or insurance against wholesale Fulani invasion of Yoruba land. They have brought shame to journalism.”

READ ALSO: How Nigeria government can kill the ‘Jubril Al-Sudani’ story

Quoting a popular Nigerian newspaper publication on events leading to Badeh’s death, Kanu said a very close associate of the late ex-defence chief claimed in the newspaper publication that he(Badeh) approached Aisha Buhari to intervene over his corruption cases pending in court which was reportedly taking huge emotional and financial toll on him.

But according to the publication, the wife of the president, told Badeh that only the Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari could help him and she reportedly took him to meet Kyari who was non-committal at the time and asked him(Badeh) to call back.

Based on this fact, Kanu said Aisha Buhari’s reference to Abba Kyari as Badeh’s messiah confirms that President Buhari is no longer alive and has been replaced by Jubril who does whatever Kyari says.

“Mrs. Buhari told Badeh that only Abba Kyari could help him, not even her husband, she never directed him to her husband which goes to confirm that Buhari is not alive and Jubril does what Abba Kyari says and as I told you from day one, the main culprits in all these are Abba Kyari and Mamman Daura,” he asserted.

Revealing how he met the late ex-defense chief and the ensuing conversation he had with him while still in detention in Kuje prison, Kanu disclosed that he told Badeh that Nigeria cannot work but he(Badeh) insisted that it would work.

He said: “As a matter of fact, I met Badeh in prison and I had a brief conversation with him. I told him that Nigeria will never work, all these things you’re doing is a waste of time and he said ‘No! Don't worry, your senior brother is my friend, Nigeria will be better one day.’ I told him that Nigeria can never be better and today that man is dead.”

Kanu added: “Alex Badeh is dead and nobody is investigating his death. Nobody is calling him a hero. He was facing trial for alleged fraud, criminal breach of trust and money laundering. Men cannot rise up and speak the truth for fear of what will happen to them. Yoruba journalists cover evil and lies because of the money they are getting from Aso Rock.”

THE BIAFRA TIMES

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Igbos: The Second Class Citizens Of Nigeria

By Nelson Ofokar Yagazie | For Biafra Writers

December 19, 2018

I did not watch the so-called Vice Presidential Debate. But a couple of days ago, I went online to find a reasonable number of Igbo people expressing how Peter Obi is by far the most brilliant. And I said, tag Peter Obi against Atiku Abubakar – the man he is supposed to be deputizing – and Obi will beat him hands down. Such is the brilliance of the Igbo. But why can't they rise to the fore? Why always playing a second fiddle?

If you are indisputably the best yet not allowed to take the lead, then you are obviously a second class citizen. Most of these Igbo brothers praising Obi to the moon have failed to ask themselves the critical question, “why can't the best be the first?” And these are people who would readily define selves as intellectuals. Remind them that they still remain slaves in Nigeria and they will take umbrage at you, telling you how they have succeeded in building a four-bedroom flat in the village, how they have married and are bearing children, how they own a good car (in most cases, a second-hand car), how they have gone to school and acquired certificates, how they can speak good English, how their kinsmen own four storey buildings in different cities, and so on. To these little minded individuals, a people with such achievements of course cannot be slaves. What do they know? Who makes polices and how do they affect you? Are you equal with the rest and you are kept on the fringes?

Regrettably, while the Obi-praising party are smart enough to observe that the Igbo is outstandingly the best brain in the unfortunate enclave referred to as Nigeria, they are irritatingly too dumb to reflect on why, despite being the best, the Igbo is limited to second fiddle role. Like Obi, Dr. Alex Ekwueme of blessed memory, was vastly superior intellectually to the man he deputized, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The same illusion driving the present day Igbo believers of a workable one Nigeria – the hope of the vice taking over after the boss might have served out his term – fuelled emotions at the Shagari/Ekwueme era. But late President Muhammadu Buhari, acting out the script ‘Never Allow Igbos Rule Again’ whose acronym became adopted as Nigeria’s currency, saw to it that the Igbo dream died a stillbirth by toppling the Shagari government at the beginning of his second term. Of course, Buhari knew if he waited till Shagari’s last year, the plot would be so obvious, hence the need to act early. Sadly, the Igbo one-Nigeria hopefuls are bad students of history.

Apart from the paltry six months of Aguiyi Ironsi orchestrated by a failed coup d’état which in earnest was intended to usher in a Yoruba man – Obafemi Awolowo, the Igbo with all his proficiency has never assumed the leadership of the country he mistakes as his own.

Some are so mentally eclipsed that they imagine having an erudite and economic-proficient Obi as a Vice President would somehow resuscitate the deteriorating Nigerian economy. Professor Yemi Osinbajo, even if not mentally on par with Obi, is a man of high academic attainment. What has his deputizing role achieved under the Buhari and now Jubril-led administration? A thriving economy? A secured society? An improved medical system? A healthy academic atmosphere? A truly independent Judiciary? A free press? A corruption-free electioneering process? Employment? What please? Under this administration, the religious killing of Christians has quadrupled. Professor Yemi Osibanjo, the vice president in this loathsome regime, is not just a Christian, he is a pastor. What has he influenced? Even when a woman of Redeemed Christian Church of God – a church Osinbajo pastored before joining politics – was beheaded in Abuja for preaching Christ, what punitive measures did Osinbajo initiate? A clear case-study for our supposed intellectuals who build castle in the air.

There are those who believe that an Atiku-led government will offer them a restructured Nigeria. These folks are naïve.

Atiku made restructuring a cardinal campaign point to lure gullible Biafrans of Igbo extraction. Having seen the gusto with which the Biafrans demand freedom, Atiku tried to play smart by tugging the restructuring rope. The fickle-minded Igbo one-Nigerianists threw in without asking what happened to Aburi Accord, 1970 3Rs (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration), 2005 constitutional conference recommendations, and 2014 confab recommendations. Has Nigeria ever kept an agreement?

Buhari made several campaign promises such as making one naira equal to dollar, bring fuel pump price down to 40 naira, pay unemployed youths, create employment, feed our kids in school, end the menace of Boko Haram within six months, and so on. But how many did he fulfill? Not even one. It must be noted however that this shameless act of offering lofty promises never intended to be fulfilled is not peculiar to Buhari, it’s a well-known trend in Nigerian politics. What makes anyone think Atiku will be different from Buhari and the rest of them? Anyone banking on campaign promises of Nigerian politicians, Hausa/Fulani especially, is, to say the least, naïve.

The belief that Atiku will bring about restructuring is fueled by the feeling that Obi, being an Igbo, will pressure Atiku on the subject. But then, if as a Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in all his academic glories could not influence anything, why does somebody believe Obi will? The bosses are the same – Fulani-Muslim-North.

Before typing this, Justice Chidi – a dear friend and academic gem we fondly call Prof – wrote on his Facebook timeline, “Like Dino, I can bet my liver that Nigerians are not yet ready to get this country to start working. In my country, the best brains are only qualified for the positions of Vice-president. And the worst hands the country can offer are projected for the positions of president on the merits of ethno-political hypocrisy. We should be recolonized!”

Dear Lord! My good friend, Chidi, doesn’t seem to realize Africa is still being colonized, albeit subtly. Chidi, I know, is a believer of the Biafra restoration project, but sometimes he appears beclouded by electioneering promises. He is not alone. Responding to him I wrote, “Reason you should submit yourself totally to the restoration of Mother Biafra. It's not enough to lament.”

A one-Nigerianist – the clever by half type – plying the trade typical Igbo slaves are known for, replied me thus, “Nelson Okafor we all love Biafra but we've to be realistci to see that it's not realisable at the moment. Our best bargain now is to queue behind a candidate that's pro-restructuring and begin from there. Please enough of blood-letting in the South-East. Biafra is a long-range plan but for now the agenda is restructuring. Mind you, those who are saying no election in Igbo land are handing Nigeria, including Igbo land back to Buhari on a platter becsause the South-East is a strong-hold for Atiku/Obi. Please let wisdom prevail. First Atiku/Obi and then the struggle continues.” Note, I did not edit anything, and for the sake of honour, I withheld his name.

Looking at his weak argument and the lofty thought he could pull a smart one on me, I sighed in disgust.

I am not named “Okafor,” I am named “Ofokar.” A man who mistakes one for the other even when the latter is there to be copied is mentally lazy. Thinking about it all, I asked myself, would such a lazy-minded fellow cope with the tapestry of topics such as he tried to provoke? As I didn’t think it likely, I responded, “If you can't spell the name ‘Ofokar’ which you are seeing and could have but copied and pasted, of what use will it be going into a more mental-demanding themes as raised above with you? Find another opponent please. Ofokar nwa Nsukka is not for all breeds.”

Feeling despised, the fellow in a rejoinder wrote, “Nelson I'm so sorry about your name. But I insist that at the moment Biafra is a wild goose chase, and that young people should not be exposed to death and maiming. And if you could argue so well you'd not so ready to resort to insult.”

I don’t know where the impression that asking for self-determination exposes our youths to death and maiming is coming from. Could this fellow be reading from the script prepared by John Nnia Nwodo who, doing the bidding of his Hausa/Fulani paymasters, spins the narrative that Biafra is all about war? Whatsoever, he alone knows. But his surname is common amongst Nsukka indigenes, so I supposed him an Nsukka man – I could be wrong anyway. Leaning back in my sofa, I pulled a face, entertaining another sigh of disgust. Nsukka people have suffered a great deal of massacre in the hands of Fulani herders, the most notable being the 2016 onslaught that saw 250 people butchered to death at Nimbo community. This and all its kind in Nsukka were not orchestrated by the quest for Biafra.

In Nkanu land, similar ugly events have been recorded, with two seminarians on vacation being among victims. In Delta state, a whole village was ransacked, razed and sent on exile by Fulani marauders. Anambra, Akwa-Ibom, and Ebonyi states have all sucked and are still sucking the gall of Fulani Jihadists masquerading as cattle herders. I therefore wonder why those who spin the obnoxious yarn about Biafran quest for freedom exposing our youths to death when the entirety of our people, not just youths, are at the mercy of Fulani herders who believe that the whole enclave referred to as Nigeria is an inheritance of their father, Othman Danfodio.

I bade the cognition-denied argument-thirsty fellow goodbye with the response, “I have nothing to prove to you, I waste no time on folks like you – folks who treat history with disdain, folks who do not know that restructuring was agreed on in Aburi and trampled upon thereafter, folks who are quick to forget that Confab recommendations under Obasanjo in 2005 and even the one held under Jonathan only served as tissue papers, folks who have eyes but do not see that the difference between Buhari and Atiku is only but facial, folks who learnt nothing from Ekiti and Osun state elections, folks who judge selves sane but would continue doing same thing while expecting a different result, folks who cry over blood-let in Igbo land but subscribe to it by holding on to the structures that allow Fulani herders unlimited access into our land to rape and kill our people, folks who accuse people of insults only because they are placed where they belong, folks who thirst and hunger for fruitless arguments rather than submitting selves to revolutionary projects. I refrain from wasting time on such elements. Good day.”

He ranted some more, telling me that I am still a kid, that my information is limited and superficial, and stuffs like that, but I didn’t do him the honour of responding again. He wanted argument; I wasn’t going to grant him that.

The trouble with one-Nigerianists is that they love verbosity more than reasonability. The argument-thirsty fellow said that my information is limited and superficial but did not bother to provide the version he considered deep and complete. Such is the life of every one-Nigerianist. Nail them with facts and figures, and they will yap, yap, and yap without making any sense. Quite risible! And that’s exactly why instead of confronting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with superior argument, one-Nigeria apologists running the affair of Nigeria sent their murderous military to silence him.

Returning to our original topic, I ask again, why can’t the best be the first? And if the best can’t be the first, why remain in such entity? Why can’t the Igbo – the very best brain in Nigeria – take the lead? The Igbo can’t lead Nigeria because the Igbo is a second class citizen in a country he thinks is his. But why remain in such a country? Why not become independent? Why not return to mother Biafra? Rise up oh you all who are second class citizens in your supposed country Nigeria. Rise up and join the fight for self-determination. Biafra is our best bet.

The Biafra Times
Edited By Chukwuemeka Chimerue
Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah
Contact us: [email protected]

The Hereditary Politics in Nigeria and its Hot Hug with the Church

By Eluwa Chidiebere Chinazu | For Biafra Writers

December 17, 2018

On the 9th of December, 2018, l left for home to see my parents. On arrival, I gave them the bread l bought. Imbued with joy, my mother requested to know the price of the bread she fancied. "Seven hundred naira," I said to her. "What! So, things have gotten so bad that it affects the price of bread?" She quickly shouted as she was spellbound.

It was this explosive episode that ushered me into the world of thinking – why have things gotten so bad? What can be done to defeat these successive hurdles permeated by different regimes?

In any society, the bread prices largely determines the quality of life of the poor. Both local and international lore uphold that rocketing fact.

The prime factor that causes this kind of crisis is the adoption of the medieval principles that once lured the European major powers into conflict and revolts. In Nigeria, they are still dwelling on the medieval principles in the 21st century. In Nigeria, politics is hereditary and dominated by selfish kleptomaniac politicians while the cultural life is dominated by merchant religious bigots and the economy monopolized.

Political hereditary opposes political electioneering and political appointment by moral merit. Political hereditary differs in countries it has found breathing space due to the diversity in values. In some countries, it surfaces as a monarchical succession of rulers while in others, your wealth counts. In Nigeria, it comes in the form of political godfatherism, nepotism and endorsement of relatives by incumbent political office holders. These set of rulers trample on the natural rights of the people.

READ ALSO: Inside the creeks of Niger Delta where oil goons feed fat after bribing soldiers with millions (Part 2)

It was John Locke who posited that governments were created to protect life, liberty, and property and that the people has a right to rebel when their leader violates these natural rights. Of course, individual rights are the foundation of a civil government and the will of the people is sacred. In any civilized clime, the legitimacy of a leader depends on the consent of the people and not the other way round. Nigerian rulers have violated all these natural rights with impunity.

Since the inception of the world, politicians and the clergymen in different religious denominations have always been working hand-in-hand against the will of the people. They always hide their ulterior motives under their religious edicts. As King Leonidas of Sparta would say, "I better listen to my voice of reasoning," than these religious prophecies that never come to pass. He still went further to fight Xerxes even as the compromised clergymen advised him to stay. At the end of the day, he made a great history. Today in Nigeria, politicians pay clergymen to prophesy in their favour. Prophecies are bought with money in Nigeria and this has caused more harm than good to the general interest of the masses. I make bold to say that the church and politics are the two currents stunting people's wellbeing.

The menace of the Church and hereditary politics played out in France

Will the French society ever forget what the church, the Roman Catholic to be precise, in collaboration with their evil politicians did to them? I don't think so. The church despite been under the ownership of a greater part of the land, went forth to extract substantial amounts of wealth from the economy (members) in form of tithes and ecclesiastical fees. The penance for people's sins then was to go and work in the farm of a priest (clergy). Despite its substantial wealth, the church by the act of romancing with the politicians, was exempted from paying nearly all tax payments. As it were, members of the hereditary leaders held almost all the upper positions in the church. These leaders controlled 30% of the land and the church kept quiet.

It should be noted that the science and technology which everybody is enjoying today and singing praises to, was fought against by the church and politicians in collaboration. Out of fears of a possible loss of members to the Intellectual Enlightenment group that ushered in science, a Counter-Enlightenment movement was launched by the Catholic Church all over the world. The church selfishly opposed science but today science is more useful to them. I have come to the conclusion that the church and politicians will always oppose anything that will not lead to the fattening of their pockets.

Copernicus's ability to explain the structure of the solar system, Newton's marvelous presentation of the law of gravity and other findings by the Enlightenment Intellectuals, shocked the hereditary rulers and the church.

READ ALSO: Biafra: Over 51 Jewish adherents attacked, arrested by army, police in Umuahia

Rotten governments have always been destroyed through the collective will of the oppressed no matter how hard they try to connive with the religious elites in the society. On August 14, 1791, an Igbo freed slave by name Francois Dominique Toussaint led slaves on an armed uprising against the local slave owners. After that, slavery was abolished, military forces from Britain and France were defeated and Haiti achieved independence.

In Spanish colonies, after the inhuman treatments meted on the people, the people revolted against tyranny and shouted in unison, "Death to bad government."

The Stamp Act of 1765 where Britain imposed a heavy tax on the Americans, the people revolted most especially the women and boycotted British goods and trade. That forced Britain to repeal the Stamp Act.

Today, the Nigerian government is singing the song of war carelessly as if they are immortals. This propels me to conclude that Nigeria doesn't know anything about war. Though it is said that they fought the Biafrans, but with their statements these days, l absolutely believe the school of thought which contends that Britain, Russia and other European major powers fought Biafrans and not Nigeria. No reasonable country prays for war to come. No matter how powerful their military and arm-strength may be, they must bleed. What about the cost and debts of war? Hmm. Oh dear me!

Even the Great Britain at the end of the seven years war in 1763, started losing its power because of their war debt which clocked £137 million while their total budget before the war was averaged only £8 million.

Never in history has the use of military might been able to subdue or quell revolution, sending the whole military to those areas cannot stop it either. In fact, sending the military has been the highest display of illiteracy from the oppressors. We have not forgotten the song the British military band sang, "The World Turned Upside-Down," when they were heavily dealt with by the America revolutionaries. After everything, Britain sent additional military forces to pacify the colonies. By 1778, British land forces numbered 50,000 and were supported by 30,000 German mercenaries but still, it proved futile.

Today, the same mistake Britain made is what Nigeria is playing out. The real problem of the British government in the case of America was its inability to discover a compromised solution that would satisfy colonial grievances. Instead, they stupidly resorted to the use of force. Of course, this is normally engineered by over-confidence and presence of poor rulers from the oppressor side which prevents or shields their sense of reasoning not to find a political solution to the crisis. But how strong is Nigeria? That question is likely to be answered in a battlefield.

The long and painful life the political and religious hot hug has suppressed the people into, always ends up pressing for a revolt from the oppressed as it has been in the world.


Edited By Chukwuemeka Chimerue

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2019: ‘We won’t accept anything less than referendum’ – IPOB elders, veterans insists

...Shuns Nwodo on restructuring

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 17, 2018

ONITSHA – ELDERS of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in Ikeabiama zone, Nkpor, has insisted that elections ‘won’t hold in Biafraland’ unless a credible referendum process is conducted in Nigeria to determine the fate of inhabitants of the country.

Veteran Amobi Ikenweilo who spoke on behalf of the elders made this known yesterday at the IPOB elders/veterans’ end of the year meeting in Onitsha.

The elders also tackled the President-General of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo over his stance on restructuring, saying that Nigeria is dead and has damaged beyond repair.

According to Ikenweilo, “We’re telling the world that we the elders stand on referendum. Whatever they do or wherever they go, we all still insist on referendum. We, the elders of Ikeabiama are solidly behind Nnamdi Kanu in everything he does.

“We participated and fought during the Biafra war and we shot at our enemies and we are still alive and ready to shoot guns again if need be. We are standing behind the decision of Nnamdi Kanu.

“Nigeria is a dead country just like Sodom and Gomorrah and there is nothing anyone can do to have it repaired. We don’t want anything less than referendum. Any condition they like, let them give us but we won’t go back on that so long we get Biafra.”

READ ALSO: Inside the creeks of Niger Delta where oil goons feed fat after bribing soldiers with millions (Part 2)

On restructuring, the elders said, “Nnia Nwodo has been running around to get restructuring but he has failed. There’s nothing like restructuring; it’s dead. During the war, Nwodo’s father was a saboteur and we know him, his name is in our list, we have his record.

“We have the record of those who betrayed us during the war, including those (Late Chukwuemeka) Ojukwu gave huge sums of money to acquire weapons in Gabon and they ran away with it. When the right time comes, we shall call out and punish accordingly, those who have sabotaged this struggle in one way or another.”

Earlier during the meeting, the Anambra State Coordinator, Mr. Onwuatuegwu charged the elders to remain strong and resolute in their respective duties despite the machinations of the enemies.

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Inside the creeks of Niger Delta where oil goons feed fat after bribing soldiers with millions (Part 2)

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 15, 2018

The collusion has been going on for decades, it’s just that it has risen really high now with the economic downturn. It’s no secret that security personnel who get posted to the Niger Delta region return from their tour of duty with inexplicable wealth. It’s now a lost battle because those meant to fight the problem have since become part of the problem.

There Are More Than 300 Refining Units Around Here

Navigating across the creeks, plumes from afar and near rent the air, and the waters had turned black— it would appear a pool of black oil. Instead of lush vegetation expected of a riverine area, the trees by the banks are dying, and this is traced to the continuous activities of the either the illegal refining of crude oil or as a result of oil spills caused by the activities of oil companies around them.

“Most of the waste we discharge finds their way into the river,” Opusunju gives reason for the contamination.

“You know we have more than 300 units of this kind of refinery here, and most of them have been operating since 2012” he added.

Along the way, he would stop by some islands to check if they have products.

“Sometimes, if we don’t have enough products, we get from the others and they, too, do come to us when we have in abundance.”

We Work With The Navy, Marine Police, NSCDC And The Army

Police officers often wait to collect their shares at Borokiri.

The area is not easily accessible to those who are not in the know of the business. This reporter had posed as a potential buyer who wants the product in large quantity, and it took days of back and forth discussions before an agreement was reached.

At short intervals as he sails, Opusunju brings out his telephone to make calls, and he is heard asking, “is the coast clear?”

After two weeks that he has been out of the creeks, he explains, it is important to keep in touch with those inside so their movement is guided, especially when the news before leaving Bille jetty is that, “new federal troops are on the water”.

“We know those that are there, but when we hear they have brought in new ones, we would try and play safe,” he says.

“You know, this thing we are doing is illegal business and we must be careful,” he admits, saying it is such a profitable business, of course, with its high risks. “It costs about N15 million to set up a refining unit, but in one week of full production, one will make almost a double of the money,” he says.

We drove inside Port Harcourt sea, where oil thieves are doing business with ease. Things, however, have been running smoothly for them because they have to their side security operatives deployed to watch over the crude oil pipelines.

“We work with navy, marine police, NSCDC and the army. Although, before, it was war, they know us now.”

When a helicopter belonging to the Nigerian navy flies over the water, Opusunju wouldn’t raise his head. He keeps his clam, and laughs. “They see the flames and they know we are illegally cooking crude oil.”

For Opusunju and others, the matter is already handled as long as you ‘settle’ the security operatives.

“We do give the security operatives their own share,” he says. “They will only give you problem when you are greedy, and or you move to the federal line to get crude without putting them in the know.”

To move a loaded barge to and fro, the oil thieves say, they pay up to N1 million to ‘settle’ security operatives on duty. Barges are moved on a weekly basis, giving the operatives an avenue to illegally rake in millions.

Illegal Refined Products Do Not Have The Required Numbering

Opusunju: “They see the flames and they know we are illegally cooking crude oil.

Akuma Oji, a technical assistant at the centre for gas refining and petrochemical (CGRP) at the University of Port Harcourt, says that they’ve known about the oil theft in the area as far back as 2008.

“We felt they take crude, and initially we didn’t know what they do with it,” he explains.

“We later found they take the crude and sell them off. Super tankers from abroad would come and lift them to other countries. It was an assumption though, that those people come to buy them at cheaper rate.”

Within 2010 and 2011, Oji says they started noticing how the business of illegal refining of crude was now on the rise. The researchers were carrying out an environmental impact study in the areas where oil companies operate when they saw this.

“We know they used to refine in creeks far from where people are, and the military had always tracked them, destroying the facilities. But recently, the activities are happening even in nearby places and it is like a compromise on the part of the security operatives.”

He explains that the crude oil contains many fractions, and when properly refined, gasoline is obtained from the light end and others from the heavy end.

“But since those in the creeks do not have the separation techniques, they just waste other things after getting diesel.”

Apart from the effect on the environment, Oji says the product from the illegal refineries is not good for engines.

“By blend, this product doesn’t have the required numbering. There are light and heavy diesel, but these guys can’t differentiate, they only keep heating the crude and wouldn’t know when the light diesel had gone.”

In the standard refinery, catalysts are added in the heating process for effective separation of the products.

“Thermal conversion will separate the fractions, and catalytic conversion cause the heavy fractions to turn to light and instead of having those residuals.”

Oji says what illegal refiners are able to get is just about 30% from the whole, and this is, definitely having an effect on Nigeria’s economy.

READ PART 1: Inside the creeks of Niger Delta where oil thieves feed fat after bribing soldiers with millions (Part 1)

The academic, however, suggests the way out is for the government to reach an agreement with those involved in the illegality.

“It may be difficult for the government to stop this, because people are daily joining in this business. Even the military guys are taking their own share and using force might not work again. I believe we can train these guys and help them improve.”

In 2017, the government had announced that 10 modular refineries were being developed in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Imo states. With a refining capacity of 300,000 barrels, the government said it would ensure self-sufficiency of petroleum products while serving as a disincentive for illegal refineries and oil pollution. But the project is yet to see the light of the day.

The Thriving Business

Nigerian refineries are mostly non-functional, and a considerable number of filling stations across Rivers and Bayelsa states rely largely on products from the ‘river.’ Products are loaded in barges, different sizes of boats and moved to the shores in Port Harcourt and other places for delivery.

Tankers come as far as Kano and Kaduna states to get products from the illegal refineries down the south.

“It is always available and cheap,” a tanker driver in Port Harcourt says.

Before leaving for Kalakurama, Opusunju would check on one of his customers around Borokiri area of Port Harcourt whom he says was owing about N2 million, money for products delivered to her weeks ago.

Every corner in Borokiri are stores stocked with these products and transactions are ongoing without interference of police who are expected to check on the illegal activities.

Behind the police station in the Marine Base area of Port Harcourt is a flowing river whose bank serves as another oil trading hub. Strangers, when noticed, are quickly accosted by some teenagers, pulling them to their side, and giving the prices of what they have in stock.

The products here are, mostly, diesel and kerosene.

As early as 7am, a particular model of Toyota Camry cars waits by the riverbank to load products. The products are carefully emptied from the drum into large size nylons, tied and put in the boot.

At the entrance of Okrika town, just opposite the Port Harcourt refinery, is an array of women and men with different sizes of flat-sided containers filled with the products. Motorists, small-scale business owners are regular visitors of Hilary, a middle-aged woman whose rack is located by the pipes running into the refinery opposite her.

“We get our supply, mostly from the river,” Hilary says, admitting the products are from illegal refineries.

Economic Hardship In Nigeria

The harsh economic meltdown in the country has also contributed a great deal to the activities of the oil goons, making the country to lose about N3.8 trillion within the last two years. NNRC estimated the financial value of what Nigeria has lost to be higher than the country’s 2018 budgets for health and education.

“Over the last decade, oil theft has risen to unprecedented levels, peaking between 2011 and 2014. The inability of the government and oil companies to curb this epidemic has made Nigeria the country most plagues by oil theft in the world,” the report read.

In 2015, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had said Nigeria loses about 400,000 barrels of oil daily to thieves and this amounts to about N4.8 billion. He had promised that the government would priotise the security of the oil sector, not knowing that the security personnel are part of the shady deal.

At a programme in June, Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, spoke on the need to checkmate the activities of those perpetrating this act.

“For the fact that vessels can actually come through the security corridors and pick up oil is even much more troubling. It may not have been oil, it may have been arms. Something needs to be done in terms of security and environment as well as the economy of the country.” he had said.

Poverty, unemployment and poor governance, NNRC, in the recent report, identifies as major reasons for the emergence and sustenance of oil theft in Nigeria.

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2019 Elections: Pressure mounts on Obi to show commitment against Biafra

By Dave O. Umahi | For Biafra Writers

December 15, 2018

Latest information reaching Biafra Writers Forum details that the Fulani oligarchy is mounting serious pressure on the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi to show commitment to their cause by renouncing Biafra in an elaborate oath-taking event before Fulani leaders. This was revealed as part of the reason his bank accounts and that of his wife and son were recently frozen.

Our source described it as the strongest arm-twisting act the oligarchy has employed so far to make him pledge his loyalty to the oligarchy by accepting to be turbaned by the Sultan of Sokoto. According to our source, all other means through which this was communicated to him previously were rebuffed by Obi.

Our correspondents were informed that the oligarchy were all aware that Obi had worked for their interest in the past against the Biafra agitation when he was Anambra State governor. Then, as a governor, Obi had backed Nigerian military and police to kill Biafran youths and dump their bodies in Ezu River. However, they are still skeptical of him because of his beer brand (Hero), which carries the Biafra legend (the Rising Sun).

READ ALSO: Biafra: Over 51 Jewish adherents attacked, arrested by army, police in Umuahia

Even though Obi owns the biggest shopping mall in Abuja, the Northerners were said to be still harbouring fears that Obi may ditch them at the last minute and begin to work for the Biafra agenda.

Usually, what the Fulani oligarchy do is to bring southern candidates they hope to rig into power, and have them make commitment under oath that they would be in office only to do their bidding. This is usually done during their turbaning exercise, which they are trying to compel Obi to come and perform.


Edited By Chukwuemeka Chimerue

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‘Declare killer herdsmen terrorists as you did to IPOB’ – Anglican Bishops tell Buhari

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 12, 2018

DELTA – Anglican Bishops in Nigeria have asked the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to balance the equation by declaring killer herdsmen terrorists just as it proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

This was contained in a statement issued by Rev. Edafe Emamezi, Bishop, Diocese of Western Izon at the end of the first session of the 4th Synod of the Diocese of Western Izon (Anglican Communion) held at St. Peter’s Church Bomadi, Delta State.

Lamenting the spate of ferocious attacks and killings by armed Fulani herdsmen across the country, the Bishops noted with dismay that the killer herdsmen and their sponsors have been allowed to unleash more terror on the citizens and host communities in the country.

According to the Bishops, “Synod notes with dismay that while the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has been proscribed as a terrorist group and been hunted down by the security outfits along with the Niger Delta militants, the killer herdsmen and their sponsors have been allowed free access to unleash terror killing many Nigerians in the process.

Biafra: Over 51 Jewish adherents attacked, arrested by army, police in Umuahia

“Synod, therefore, calls on those concerned to balance the equation by also proscribing the killer herdsmen as a terrorist group.”

Speaking further, Rev. Emamezi said: “While Boko Haram and herdsmen have not been declared as terrorist organisations, it is sad that the government went ahead to declare IPOB and other groups in the country, which are agitating for their rights, as terrorist organisations.

“We expect the Federal Government to take a stand on the killings by herdsmen so that everybody will see that they are not in support of their activities because as it stands, it looks like the government is shielding the herdsmen.”

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Biafra: Over 51 Jewish adherents attacked, arrested by army, police in Umuahia

...‘We must remain strong and resolute’ – Uche Mefor

By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, Chief Editor | The Biafra Times

December 12, 2018

UMUAHIA – At least more than 51 Jewish adherents were arrested yesterday by armed security personnel while embarking on a peaceful procession in the streets of Umuahia, Abia state.

The Jewish Biafrans who were on a peaceful protest against the injustices meted on them and carrying various banners demanding for a Jewish State of Biafra were confronted by joint security forces comprising armed policemen and army who fired tear gas and live bullets at the protesters.

According to our impeccable source, “the duo of the security agencies double-crossed them(Jewish worshippers) with their military armoured tanks and uncountable Hilux vans filled with the Nigeria police and the army who opened fire on them and made several arrests exceeding 51 Biafrans in number.”

It was further gathered that many of the protesters who scampered for safety during the attack, sustained varying degrees of injuries even as some of them are still missing.

However, it has not yet been ascertained if there was any loss of life or the general number of victims as at the time of filing this report.

Explaining how the incident started, an eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent said, “I saw Biafran Jews dancing, singing and exhibiting high sense of coordination.

“They were even controlling traffics as they rallied before the police stopped to shot at them. Why are they shooting at them? Why are Nigerian security Forces so callously violent? Can they stand our men if we arm them? Nigeria security Forces will one day cause heavy war that will engulf the entire African continent.

“Their violent approach is the reason behind Boko Haram’s relentless slaughtering of their personnel even on daily bases and yet they have refused to learn.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been exceptionally very peaceful. The Nigerian government should not push them to the wall because that will be disastrous.

“Those that will later turn around to apportion blame on IPOB, I hope all of them saw what the Nigerian forces are doing to a people that are legitimately and peacefully expressing their rights.

“Let nobody, community, village, state or organization blame IPOB in the event of restiveness anyday, because enough is enough.

“In an assumed good day, they may definitely be forced to confine their peaceful disposition to the dustbin if this callousness persists.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Leader of IPOB, Mazi Uche Okafor-Mefor during his emergency Radio Biafra live transmission yesterday, vehemently condemned the gruesome attack, saying that IPOB would remain strong and resolute despite the attacks on its members.

“IPOB shall remain resolute and formidable in our agitation to restore Biafra despite what the Nigeria government may do to subjugate and subdue us because this is our land and we shall not run away from our land,” he said.

He further encouraged them to stand strong assuring them that the leadership of IPOB shall not capitulate in doing the needful to make sure that Biafra is totally restored from the British contraption called Nigeria.

Many Biafrans and lovers of freedom especially members of IPOB who called in during the live broadcast expressed their disappointment and grief over the brutal act of the Nigerian security operatives against the Jewish worshippers.

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