By Chima Onyekachi
September 21 2016
On the 23rd of September, 2016, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, will gather together across the world to demonstrate and protest against the continued illegal detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and they will also be calling for a referendum – BiafraExit. IPOB in collaboration with Radio Biafra London is calling on the international community to avert the looming tragedy that will befall the country –Nigeria, if any harm is done to Nnamdi Kanu while he is in custody of the government of Nigeria. Nnamdi Kanu has not committed any crime but has only demanded for the right to self-determination of his people.
Nnamdi Kanu was arrested since October 14,2015 and has been subjected to every manner of torture and inhumane treatment. He has been granted bail and also acquitted by courts of competent jurisdiction on previous spurious charges against him by the State Security Service (SSS) but the court orders were flagrantly disobeyed by the government. President Muhammadu Buhari also made it known to the world during his maiden media chat that Nnamdi Kanu will not be released despite the subsisting court orders, therefore displaying executive interference in judicial affairs.
The arrest and continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu sparked a worldwide peaceful protests and demonstrations. In Biafra land, peaceful protesters and demonstrators were killed, injured and arrested by the Nigeria military and police. Amnesty International released its report calling for investigation into the extra-judicial killings and also for the release of Biafrans illegally detained by Nigeria security agencies. Rather, the Nigeria government has invaded Biafraland with military troops and weaponry, and has resorted to a systematic massacring and kidnapping of innocent Biafrans.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, is registered in the United Nations and recognized in over 88 countries. IPOB is known to be non-violent and have always shown their peaceful approach, to seeking for their right to self-determination enshrined in the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. The demand of the people of Biafra is no different from those of the people of Scotland and Catalonia, whom are seeking independence from Britain and Spain respectively.
The persecution of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans for demanding their right to self-determination is illegal and unconstitutional, and only shows the tyrannical leadership of Muhammadu Buhari. Till date, Nigeria is a party and signatory to several important treaty laws with citation to rights to self-determination, development and identities. Such treaty laws are the UN’s Covenants on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR), Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and also the African Charter on Human & Peoples Right (ACHPR). Nigeria willingly acceded to be bound to the provision and obligation of these regional and global treaty laws but the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has grossly abused and disobeyed these laws.
The continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans is calling for anarchy and crisis upon Nigeria just as it is happening in Syria. President Muhammadu Buhari, is supporting the independence of Palestine and Western Sahara but has continued to clampdown on Biafrans seeking their right to self-determination. Such hypocrisy! The peaceful nature of Biafrans must never be seen as cowardice because these generation of Biafrans have sworn to restore Biafra or die trying.
As Biafrans worldwide march for the freedom of Nnamdi Kanu and for the referendum of Biafra, the international community must rise in solidarity for justice and freedom.
Editor/Publisher: Akachukwu Udo
For Biafra Reporters
Post A Comment:
0 comments: