Global Igbo Alliance (GIA), a conglomeration of all Igbo Socio-Cultural organizations and high net worth Individuals of the Igbo Nation around the world berates the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) for attacking the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Human Rights and Arbitrary Detention, who on the 23rd of July 2022 indicted the Kenyan and the Nigerian Governments for their criminal conduct in the unlawful abduction, torture, rendition, and continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
In its 16-page report, the UN Working Group directed the Nigerian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from unlawful detention and to pay him adequate compensation for flagrant violation of his human rights.
CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman while speaking to journalists in Abuja, Nigeria on Friday 29 July 2022 urged the UN to immediately withdraw its demand for Kanu’s unconditional release from the unlawful custody of the Nigerian authorities. CNG asked the Nigerian Government to resist and reject the UN directives and falsely suggested that IPOB and Kanu were responsible for the ongoing violence all over Nigeria. CNG dishonestly insinuated that the release of Kanu would cause a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria and only compound the security and humanitarian situations in the country!
GIA notes that for CNG to overlook the mayhem and wanton killing of Nigerians by Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other jihadist terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria puts them in a highly compromised position, and casts doubt on the genuineness of their motive and the disgraceful position they took on this matter. We are aware that the CNG is very antagonistic of IPOB, a non-violent self-determination movement, while being unapologetically sympathetic towards jihadist terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria that are perpetrating terrorist acts all over Nigeria.
CNG is not a credible organisation and should not be taken seriously. GIA calls on the UN, the World and Nigerians to disregard the bogus claims and statements made by CNG and its spokesperson and urges the UN to press on with its demands on the Nigerian and Kenyan Governments until they comply with the requirements of international and local laws in the case of Nnamdi Kanu. There is no basis whatsoever to continue detaining Mr Kanu without bail.
The Nigerian government cannot claim to be more knowledgeable than the United Nations in matters of fundamental human rights, neither can they claim that the UN has any bias in favour of IPOB. The UN is occupying the position of an independent third party, an arbiter and mediator. Nigeria is a signatory to the UN Charter on human rights, and any refusal to heed the recommendation of UN would amount to contempt for International Laws, treaties and instruments signed onto by Nigeria and thereby present the country in a bad light to the world.
It should be recalled that CNG, on 6 June 2017 in its so called “Kaduna declaration” gave a “Quit Notice” to all Igbo to vacate the territory of Northern Nigeria by 1 October 2017 or, according to CNG, “we shall commence the implementation of visible actions to prove to the whole world that we are no longer part of any federal union that should do with the Igbo”. CNG further declared, “From that date, effective, peaceful, and safe mop-up of all the remnants of the stubborn Igbo that neglect to heed this quit notice shall commence to finally eject them from every part of the North. And finally, all authorities, individuals or groups are hereby advised against attempting to undermine this declaration by insisting on this union with the Igbo who have thus far proved to be an unnecessary baggage carried too far and for too long.”
Again, on Wednesday, 3 July 2019, CNG gave a so called “30 Day Ultimatum” to President Buhari and the Governors of all States in Southern Nigeria to implement RUGA (exclusive Fulani Local Government Settlements) in all of their States, or according to CNG, “failing which we would most definitely be left with no option than to consider resorting to our decisive line of action”.
It is of note that following the CNG 30 Day Ultimatum, Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists and Miyetti Allah have since escalated violent implementation of illegal Fulani settlements all over the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria through violent terrorist invasions, massacres, kidnapping, banditry, forceful occupation of farmlands and forests, and displacement of entire Indigenous populations. Between them, Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists, Miyetti Allah and other jihadist terrorist groups of Northern Nigeria origin, account for the terrorist violence ravaging the Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth of Nigeria.
CNG is not known to condemn acts of terrorism perpetrated in Nigeria by Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani Herdsmen Terrorists, or other jihadist terrorist groups. In the last few months more than fifty (50) terrorist attacks have been perpetrated by jihadist terrorists of Northern Nigeria origin. These include the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, the stoning and incineration alive of Deborah Yakubu, the Owo Catholic Church massacre, the Kuje Prison attack, the threat to kidnap President Buhari and Governor El Rufai of Kaduna State, the attack on the convoy of President Buhari, the attacks on Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna Airport, and many more countless acts of jihadist terrorism. The terrorist violence ravaging all the regions of Nigeria are perpetrated by jihadist terrorist groups of Northern Nigeria origin. CNG has maintained total silence on these acts of terrorism.
GIA notes that notwithstanding the acts of terrorism being perpetrated by jihadist terrorist groups of Northern Nigeria origin, the Federal Government of Nigeria either takes inadequate action to stop, apprehend and prosecute the terrorists or otherwise, frees and reintegrates captured jihadist terrorists into the society. It is on record that on 10 July 2016, the Nigerian Government freed two hundred and forty-nine (249) captured Boko Haram Terrorists, most of whom became enlisted into the Nigerian Military. Again, on 6 October 2017, the Nigerian Army transferred seven hundred and sixty (760) Boko Haram members to the Bornu State Government for rehabilitation and reintegration into the society, and on 15 January 2018, the Buhari Federal Government released two hundred and forty-four (244) Boko Haram members to the Bornu State Government for rehabilitation. There have been several further releases by the Federal Government of Nigeria of the so called repentant Boko Haram Terrorists into the society, including their enlistment into several arms of Nigerian Security Forces. CNG failed to criticise the Federal Government of Nigeria for release of jihadist terrorists captured in acts of terrorism.
Unlike the members of Boko Haram and the Fulani Herdsmen who are well known terrorists, Kanu is a Prisoner of Conscience whose only crime is asking for an Independent State of Biafra through a UN-monitored referendum.
GIA notes that the right to self-determination is a basic human right enshrined in international law, namely, in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, of which Nigeria is a signatory. The laws of Nigerian recognise the right to self-determination. The Nigerian National Assembly ratified and domesticated The African Chatter on Human & Peoples Right in 1983, and Article 20, Cap A (9) Laws of Federation of Nigeria (2004) state that “All Oppressed peoples have the right for self-determination and to free themselves from the bonds of oppression”. Section 12 of Decree Number 24 Constitution of Nigeria 1999, accords recognition to international laws that have been ratified by Nigeria. These include the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous peoples, Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and relevant United Nations Instruments, Treaties and Conventions. All actions undertaken by Kanu and IPOB in respect of Biafra restoration are in accord with these international and local laws.
GIA notes that on 19 January 2022 the Abia State High Court sitting at Umuahia held that the invasion of the home of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on 10 September 2017 by the Federal Government and its Security Forces, was unlawful and violated Kanu’s human rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. The Court ordered to Federal Government of Nigeria to apologise to Kanu and to pay him one billion Naira in compensation. The judgement of the Abia High Court remains in force, with the Federal Government of Nigeria presently in contempt of Court by failing to comply with the orders of that Court. Like the Abia High Court, having examined all relevant international laws and the Municipal Laws of Nigeria,
the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Human Rights and Arbitrary Detention also concluded that Kanu committed no crime known to any law and should be released unconditionally and be paid compensation by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
GIA calls on the United Nations, Nigerians and all lovers of peace and the rule of law to prevail on the Buhari government to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally as recommended by the UN. The Igbo have suffered enough in Nigeria. The Nigerian government cannot hold Nnamdi Kanu in detention indefinitely. It is not only barbaric but repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience.
Website: www.globaligboalliance.com
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SIGNED
Dr. Christian Duru – President
Barr. Nnamdi Elekwachi – Secretary General
