NWODO: Though I disagree with ‘divisive’ IPOB, it’s faulty to label it terror group

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has decried the “hurried, unfair” declaration of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terror organization by a court on the urging of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He noted that it was “not in conformity with the intendment of the law”.

Nwodo who delivered a lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London on Wednesday, made these comments as part of his larger presentation on restructuring.

In the paper which was made available to Journalists in Abuja Wednesday, the Ohanaeze leader criticized the federal government for placing a terrorist tag on IPOB even though their activities did not merit them such a status, while at the same time overlooking the activities of more dangerous armed groups like the Fulani herdsmen whom it only described as criminals.

Nwodo said, “The declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation is in my view hurried, unfair, and not in conformity with the intendment of the law. Whereas I am not completely in agreement with some of the methods of IPOB like its inappropriate and divisive broadcast, the uncontested evidence given by the Attorney General of the Federation in an interlocutory action claiming that IPOB attempted and/or actually snatched guns from law enforcement agents are, if proven, merely criminal offences.

“They do not constitute enough evidence to meet international law definitions of a terrorist organisation. Happily, the United States Embassy in Nigeria only three days ago shared this conclusion and asserted that the United States Government does not recognise IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

“This same unarmed IPOB that is being stigmatised by the Nigerian government had its members murdered in Asaba, Nkpor, Aba and Port Harcourt simply for having public demonstrations without the federal government ordering a judicial inquiry. Instead, after I called for one and Amnesty International provided evidence that 150 of them were killed, the Chief of Army Staff set up an inquiry composed of serving and retired army officers thus abandoning the rules of natural justice which prescribes that you cannot be a judge in your own court”.

Earlier in his paper titled, “Restructuring Nigeria: Decentralization for National Cohesion”, Nwodo took a historical look at Nigeria’s political journey and concluded that the structure in operation now has failed because it’s not created by Nigeria people.

The presentation was attended by representatives of Nigerians resident in the Uk, as well as the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Achebe, and others.

“Our present constitution is not autochthonous. It was not written by the people of Nigeria. It was not approved in a National referendum. In jurisprudence, its effectiveness will score a very low grade on account of its unacceptability. Regrettably, it continues to hold sway and begins with a false proclamation, We the People of Nigeria.

“A model based on sharing of Government revenue must give way to a new structure that will challenge and drive productivity in different regions across the country. This new model must take into account that the factors driving productivity in today’s world are no longer driven by fossil oil but rather the proliferation of a knowledge-based economy”.

The Igbo leader expressed regret that those campaigning against restructuring in Nigeria had negatively misrepresented the concept, alleging that its clamour was just a ploy to deny the Northern States who are without any proven oil reserves of the ability to survive.

“The new model we propose for Nigeria recognizes that revenue in the world today is promoted by two main sources namely, human capital development leveraging on technology to drive the critical sectors of the economy and agriculture.

“Ten years ago the top ten companies in the world were the likes of Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Total. Today the top eight companies in the world are represented by technology related companies. They include Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Amazon”.

On the deployment of troops to the South East region, Nwodo said, “Our endurance has been stretched beyond Hooke’s gauge for elastic limit. The deployment of the Nigerian Army under the guise of Operation Python dance to the South East was unconstitutional under S. 271 of the 1999 Constitution”, Nwodo said, adding that it was intended to provoke the people.

He finally charged President Buhari to lead the process of restructuring the country.

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