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• Don’t oppress IPOB supporters, Ohanaeze tells FG
• Do not molest the supporters of Kanu – Ejimakor
By Chidi Nkwopara, Dennis Agbo and Ugochukwu Alaribe
Bishops in the Catholic Church Province of Owerri, Imo State, described the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a metaphor for political exclusion and marginalization
Meanwhile, as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today resumes the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has warned against any form of intimidation, oppression and arrest of members of the separatist group from Biafra or their supporters.
In addition, Nnamdi Kanu’s special advocate, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, advised security officials not to restrain or molest Kanu supporters who are expected to hurry to the Federal High Court in Abuja today as a sign of solidarity as Kanu’s trial resumes.
The bishops, meanwhile, also advised the federal government to deal with the growing unrest issue with care as the world is watching events closely.
A statement at the end of their meeting in Ahiara, Mbaise, Imo State by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri, Mgr Anthony Obinna, president, and Mgr Augustine Echema, secretary, declared: “His recent arrest (Kanu) is an opportunity for the government to engage in dialogues on issues of justice, equity and fairness that underlie the agitation of his group and the agitation of other groups, such as the one led by Sunday Adeyemo , popularly called Igboho, for the Yoruba nation, calling for self-determination and restructuring.
“It should be noted that the re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu will not put an end to such unrest. The mismanagement of his file and any other will trigger preventable troubles.
“We would like to declare that the world is watching how the federal government is handling the case of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, which presents itself as a metaphor for political exclusion and marginalization.
“The government will strengthen security and peace by facilitating the empowerment of young people, ensuring regular payment of salaries and pensions, and building basic physical and social infrastructure. When most members of society fall below the poverty index, tensions, conflicts and unrest are inevitable.
“Likewise, when the will of the electorate is frustrated by rigged elections, violence naturally erupts. We therefore declare loud and clear that by recently passing a bill against the transmission of election results by electronic means, the two chambers of the National Assembly have given way to the manipulation of electoral votes and laid the foundations for bloody conflicts. in the future general elections.
Addressing the issue of freedom of expression, which the bishops have qualified as “an indispensable element of a true democracy”, the religious declared: “The media, whether electronic, printed or modern technologies of social communication like social media are important tools for freedom of expression. . “
In addition, they said, “However, the abuse does not destroy us. The media remain the kingdom’s fourth estate and an indispensable element of a true and peaceful democracy. We are aware of the anxiety that led the government to bring two bills before the National Assembly: the Nigerian Press Council Bill and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission Bill.
“Without being preemptive, the National Assembly should be reminded that the right to freedom of the press and the right to freedom of expression are primary constituents of the Charter of Human Rights. Access to information, feedback to government and government accountability are enhanced by the independence of the media and the right to exercise freedom of expression and information. Nothing should be done to stifle these freedoms.
They noted that the responsible exercise of freedom of information and expression means that the media must be used with caution and maturity.
Don’t oppress IPOB supporters, Ohanaeze tells FG
In a statement yesterday, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Secretary General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro said: “We have been informed that there will be attempts to resist the massive crowd that will flood the court to attend the trial.
“We also want to categorically warn that at no time did the two summit bodies have Ohanaeze Ndigbo; “Ime Obi and the General Assembly,” authorized anyone to act on behalf of the socio-cultural organization Apex Igbo, either to observe, or to interfere and infiltrate the legal proceedings and the retrial of Nnamdi Kanu. Anyone injured on such an evil journey by angry IPOB members will themselves be to blame.
“We call for swift political intervention by Southeastern governors and Igbo politicians to persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to reach an amicable settlement in the Nnamdi Kanu court case. IPOB members should refrain from any form of protest as it would jeopardize behind-the-scenes activities to give Nnamdi Kanu a soft landing.
“There is no doubt that any demonstration would put the lives of IPOB members in danger, as security guards were placed to ruthlessly treat all Biafran agitators during the protests. We also have credible information that shameless former Igbo were sponsored in a legal jamboree by a certain Fulani billionaire to legitimize the kidnapping of Nnamdi Kanu. The leaders concerned must either give up the legal jamboree or face our anger. “
Do not molest the supporters attending the trial of Kanu —Ejimakor
Ejimakor in a statement yesterday said that Kanu’s trial is a public and not secret trial and since Kanu is presumed innocent until proven guilty, anyone wishing to be associated with his trial by being present in Abuja is protected by its constitutional right to freedom of association and movement.
“So my message to all Kanu supporters and even the Nigerian government is simple and it is: everyone should be strictly guided by the relevant rule of law in explaining why Nnamdi Kanu is facing these tribulations and trials.
“This relevant rule of law is codified by CAP A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, where it is stated in article 20 that:“ All peoples have the right to exist. They have the indisputable and inalienable right to self-determination. They freely determine their political status and pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.
“I say this because the same law that legalizes self-determination also requires the government to accommodate it. Article 1 of this law provides that Nigeria “recognizes the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter and undertakes to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them”.
“In addition, bringing Kanu to trial in the circumstances of his extraordinary rendition will face many legal challenges. So what is expected on Monday is not a trial but what lawyers are calling “pleading in court” or a new indictment on the amended charges that may be brought.
“If this were to happen, the procedure allows an adjournment to be taken to study the new charges in order to advise the accused on the next steps. So there is nothing major happening on Monday that justifies anyone, including the government, to be nervous, ”Ejimakor said.
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