~The SUN Nigeria. Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
• President afraid of Biafra - IPOB
Former president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife has described as day-dream, the thinking by anybody including President Muhammadu Buhari, that Ndigbo would forget Biafra or jettison the self determination struggle.Consequently, he has called on President Buhari, who at the just concluded United Nations (UN) General Assembly said he would not allow referendum on Biafra, to discard the thought that Igbo would be in a hurry to forget Biafra.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Nnewi Anambra state, Ikedife, who is the deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), restated that nothing would make Ndigbo forget the 30- month civil war experience and what they suffered in the hands of the Nigerian government.
"How can we forget Biafra when the life of every Igbo man was reduced to worth only 20 pounds, and some of us refused to collect our own till date?
"How can we forget Biafra when the reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration were declared after the war and the first step was to go to Lagos and rebuild the Third Mainland Bridge?
"How can we forget Biafra when up till this day, the second Niger Bridge has not been constructed?
"How can we forget Biafra when for 30 months our territory was landlocked and we watched our children die of starvation? Tell us how we can forget Biafra? Tell President Buhari that we will never forget Biafra. Never!"
Ikedife insisted that Biafra would never be forgotten even if all the people that experienced the war died, stressing that the story would continue to be told from generation to generation.
He described last Saturday's sit-at-home declared by IPOB as a huge success.
Ikedife said people obeyed the order, "not for fear of being molested, but to express their genuine quest and demand for self determination."
Meanwhile, IPOB has said President Buhari was afraid of a Republic of Biafra.
IPOB, in a statement signed by Victoria. O. C. Agangan, said the president, by his comment that he would not allow referendum on Biafra, exposed his fears and insisted that it was no longer a fable, but a reality, that 'Biafra is not far-fetched'.
"How can Buhari not see that, even in chains and cell, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu controls the oars? He (Kanu) clearly has the people's mandate and there is nothing you can do about it.
"He has led by example and has won over the heart of millions all over the world, including non Biafrans.
"This was evident in the way and manner the Free Nnamdi Kanu campaign was launched all over the world, with Biafrans at home obeying the sit-at-home order.
"The trigger-happy soldiers were disappointed as they were denied blood to spill away as usual on September 23, 2016," the statement said.
The group said: "There was a time it was a taboo to mention the name 'Biafra', but, today, the president of Nigeria cannot desist from mentioning it, the media/television stations are discussing it and newspapers are incomplete without mentioning Biafra.
"Who can dispute that Biafra is here already? As Crimea left Ukraine for Russia, and they could not be stopped, so Biafra will eject from Nigeria in due course. No union is formed by force or under duress. Two cannot walk together except they agree.
"We are demanding, and not begging, for our legal rights as laid down by the United Nations, in which Nigeria is a signatory to. We hope to achieve this without options, there are many entrances and ways to the market.
"Well, the Avengers have made it clear, no more oil to steal, go and develop your own lands and let us be. Stop stealing from us, we do not need hookworms and tapeworms in our systems sucking up our wealth.Biafra is here to stay."
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…Kanu's treason trial continues
The treason trial of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will still go on despite the withdrawal of Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court from the case, lawyers have said.
On Monday, Justice Tsoho stepped down from the case following Kanu's petition to the National Judicial Council, demanding the judge's probe.
In the petition through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader said the judge gave parallel judgments on the same request and described it as "judicial rascality."
Upon resumption of the matter on Monday, Ejiofor said Tsoho decided in favour of the defence in an application for the protection of witnesses by the prosecution and later ruled in favour of the prosecution, without seeking the permission of a higher court.
The judge, after stepping aside, vowed not to preside over the case even if it was returned to him.
"Even if I am cleared of any bias by the NJC, I will not continue with this case," he said.
Tsoho was the second judge to hands off the case. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, also of the Federal High Court, withdrew in December 2015, after Mr. Kanu said he had no confidence in him.
The IPOB leader, who has been in detention since October, is facing treason charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government.
Lawyers said withdrawal of judges would not lead to the termination of the treason case against Kanu.
"It will not end there," a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ahamba, said.
"The chief judge knows what to do. There are many judges in the court. The chief judge will reassign the case to another judge."
Another lawyer, Yusuf Ali, said in such situations, the case file would be sent back to the chief judge to act on.
He said: "The case is not terminated. The case file will be sent to the chief judge for reassignment."
Ali, however, said the case would have to start afresh if the judge that stepped down was already hearing it.
Tunji Abayomi also affirmed the case will go back to the Chief Judge to be re-assigned.
Another lawyer, Jiti Ogunye said the case would continue until the last judge in the judiciary stepped down from it.
"Technically, the case will continue until the last judge in the judiciary withdraws from the case. There are many judges to try the case. The case will continue," Mr. Ogunye said.
"In reality however, when judges withdraw from a case, it makes it more difficult for other judges to take it because it would appear as if judges are passing the buck."
The lawyer explained that judges withdraw from cases upon discovery of conflict of interest.
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