TRIBUTE TO UKPABI-NIMBO 48

On Monday, 26th April 2016, 500 rampaging cattle Fulani herdsmen invaded the seven villages of Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing 48 and wounding several hundreds who have since been hospitalized and various discharged by now. Several residential homes and a church was burnt. Vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed and domestic animals killed. Thousands of the inhabitants of the seven villages of Ukpabi Nimbo, were forced to evacuate and flee their communities and are now IDPs in homes, hospitals, town halls, schools, offices stretching from Nsukka to Enugu. The 48 dead were innocent victims of a failed State - Nigeria.
Their forebears did not participate in the amalgamation negotiations of 1914; nor did they know anything about the enslaving concessions their pre-independence leaders made for one Nigeria, against separatist demands of the North and the West. They made no input in the convulsions of the 1960s, nor into the present politics of the defeated and enslaved. They took their neglect by the ruling elite with equanimity and without complaining against the Nigerian system, tilling the soil from year to year to eke out a living. The Fulani herdsmen descended from nowhere and disrupted their routine. The failure of the Nigerian system caught up with them as a volcanic eruption and they were gone.
If the living would realize how accepted enslavement accounted for their death, plan and defend themselves, a repeat could be avoided. But as it is usual in Nigeria, the right noises have been made, meetings held and until it happens again, everyone would be caught once again napping once again.
It is revealing that NIMBO people were attacked because a Fulani cattle trader, who suspected that the herdsmen were cheating on his stock under the charge of the herdsmen, came down from the North to reconcile figures, but ended up dead and his decomposing body found in a border village in Kogi State. He was obviously killed by his kinsmen who were cheating him but NIMBO people had to pay the price!

Why do Fulanis Kill, Maim, Rape And Drive Fellow Nigerians from their Ancestral Homes and Farmland?

The conquest of the Hausa in the Fulani wars of 1804-1810 byHausas; and the  triumph of the Nigerian Army over Biafra in the 1967-70 un-civil war, established a supremacy syndrome over Nigeria, among the Fulanis of Nigeria.
As far back as October 12, 1960, Sir Ahmadu Bello, then Premier of the Northern Region and leader of the Northern People's Congress ( NPC), the north-based party that controlled the Federal Government at the time, articulated the mission of the Fulanis in one of his popular quotes.
    “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate from our great grand- father, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools, and the South as conquered territories and never allow them to have control of their future.”

The mission of the Cattle Fulani herdsmen in Southern Nigeria is to to subordinate the South as conquered territory and ensure that it is never allowed to control its future, now and for ever.

Threat to National Security: The dominion tendency of Cattle Fulani herdsmen heightened with the victory of the Federal forces in the 1967-70 “Civil War.” Armed with military assault weapons, they have now extended their sovereignty over the whole of Nigeria, North Central, South-West, South-South and South-East zones,  killing, maiming and raping with impunity; sacking and taking over people's ancestral communities and farm lands, without any question whatsoever from Nigerian security agencies. Their activities are most ferocious in non-Moslem areas of Nigeria. Non-Moslems are regarded as infidels (unbelievers), and by their doctrinaire orientation, have no right to life, property and dignity of the human person.
Organized and registered as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), their chief patron is reportedly the Sultan of Sokoto - the Sarki Musulumi (Commander of the Faithful) of Nigeria. It is reported that President Buhari was also their patron.The owners of the cattle ranging all over Nigeria are the most prominent and influential Fulanis – traditional and religious leaders, top political and administrative office holders, foremost security chiefs etc. The herdsmen are mere minders and therefore enjoy unlimited protection from the owners of their stock. They therefore obey no laws of Nigeria; and even refuse to attend peace meetings in communities they indiscriminately attack the security agencies generally look the other way and never arrest them; but instead rush to their aid whenever they are in danger. The Awgu 76 villagers arrested by the military and transported across state lines and extra- judicially charged to court at Abia State, is a solid illustration.

The Mission of Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militants in Nigeria
After the 1974 World Islamic Organizations  Mecca Conference resolutions on modalities for achieving their radical vision of a world under the political and religious authority of Allah and his prophet  , in 1989, General Ibrahim Babangida's first Islam-in-Africa Conference in Abuja, ensued from the 1974 Mecca meeting.The Abuja Conference was precede by his unilateral enrollment of Nigeria as a member of the purely Islamic Organization - the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). OIC was established on September 25, 1969
by Moslems countries to assist Palestine in retrieving from Israel, Islam's third holiest site - Al-Aqsa Mosque, captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israel Six-Day June War.
Two of the key resolutions of the Abuja 1989 Islam-in-Africa Conference were:

(i)To support the establishment and application of the Shari'a to all Muslims; and (ii) To ensure the declaration of Nigeria (the 24th African and World member of the OIC) a Federal Islamic Sultanate at a convention on any day from 28th March 1990, with the Sultan of Sokoto enthroned the Sultan and Supreme Sovereign of Nigeria.
 In furtherance of resolution (i) in year 2000, Sharia was proclaimed in twelve states of the North, thus setting the stage for the level of Islamic fundamentalism that engulfed the North-East and North-West and resulted in Nigeria giving the world, Islamic militant groups ranked  first and fourth deadliest terrorist organizations (by number of deaths  caused in terrorist attacks). By the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2015, Boko Haram is the world's deadliest terrorist organization  with 6,644 killings in 2014; whereas Fulani Islamic Militants, the 4th, with 1,229 killings. The two terror organs rewarded Nigeria with ranking as the 3rd terrorism-ravaged country in the world.
Furthermore, Moslems are involved in 90% of all wars going on in the world today. And this is consistent with trends in the GTI 2015 - most of 78% of deaths resulting from terrorism, occurred in five countries of the world - Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria, four of them with 95-100% Moslems, and Nigeria with a little less than 50% Moslems, which manipulatively dominates its politics.

Consequently the Cattle-Fulani Herdsmen militants are merely the foot soldiers for the establishment of that 1989 Abuja conference resolution on Sultanate of Nigeria. The terrorism the militants spread is Jihad of the Sword. In Jihads, Jihadists kill, maim, capture and rape women as booty and occupy the conquered's home, farm or whatever in accordance Jihadist doctrine.

Mindset of Cattle Fulani Herdsmen

The mindset of the Cattle Fulani herdsmen is dominated by doctrinaire injunctions in the Quran, Hadith/Sunna.
“O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is one of them . . .” (Surah 5;54).                                                                                                                                                                  
“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevails justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere.” (Surah 8:39)                                                                                                                                                                           "Those who die in holy war are guaranteed to go to Heaven. “The person who participates in Jihad (Holy Battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to paradise (if he is killed).” Hadith Vol. 1:35                                                                                                                                                                     Killing in Jihad operations and looting victims’ property is authorized: “Whoever has killed an enemy and has proof of that, will possess his spoils.” The Hadith Vol. 4 no.370.                                                                                                              
  Rape of captive women in Jihad is sanctioned, “those captive whom your right hand possess” Surah 4:24. The Hadith in Mishkat II, page 440 also teaches: “Captive virgin girls in war were made lawful for the soldiers for copulation.”                                                        
The Subterfuge of Foreign Invaders - Typical Jihad of Deception

There have been spurious claims by Northern political/religious/traditional leaders and lately, the Federal Government of Nigeria, controlled by Islamic fundamentalists,  that the militants who are terrorizing Nigeria are not Fulanis but invaders from outside Nigeria. This is another form of Jihad - Jihad of Deception. A Moslem fundamentalist leader must be adept in Jihad of Words and of Deception for him to lead at all.
On this cattle Fulani militancy they seem to have gone over-board in their efforts to deceive Nigeria. The Jihadists of the Sword might not be directly involved in the herding but, invariably invited or contracted by the herders and/or their Organization - Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).

Northern States Governor' Forum: First, the Northern States Governors' Forum met on the 15th of April 2016 and outrightly denied that the murderous herdsmen are Fulani. They frowned against labelling perpetrators of crimes around the country as Fulani herdsmen, rather they should be referred to as criminals. The Governors displayed scant regards for the toll on lives, decency and property which the nefarious activities of their kinsmen are causing the nation. In their own words, it is an insult to label criminals as Fulani. They were not however able to explain how and why cattle Fulani herdsmen readily occupy 'conquered' territories with their families and cattle, immediately after each invasion.

Northern Senators Forum
On 29th April 2016 Northern Senators in their characteristic slave-masters' demeanor "warned governors, leaders and community heads in the country to desist from making inflammatory statements that could further overheat the polity". Perhaps killing, maiming and raping of citizens should be branded pampering; or otherwise  victims and/or victims' families should keep mute in order to preserve their slave camp, Nigeria . Continuing, the Senators arrogantly promised they would soon come up with new laws as well as amend existing ones to help promote the interest of Northern Nigeria in particular and the country at large. They had nothing for victims who might lose their lives, property and honor/decency before the magic of the laws they are yet to make, begin to work.
Concluding, these Pharaohs  warned that there would be no country called Nigeria, if other parts of the country asked Fulani herdsmen to leave their communities and states.
The warning of course means they will fight the rest of Nigeria in all nooks and crannies with Hausa-Fulanis now spread and now resident in almost all communities of Nigeria, perhaps clandestinely armed. It did not occur to these Nigerian Pharaohs that terrorists have no right whatsoever to share air and land space with normal humans in any civilized society, except perhaps in Stone Age.

The Federal Government of Nigeria declares Fulani Herdsmen Boko Haram Foreign Insurgents:
On 10th of May 2016, the Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, whilst presenting the Federal Government position to the Public Hearing on perennial clashes between herdsmen and farmers, organized by the Senate Joint Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development and National Security and Intelligence, declared that those terrorists involved in clashes with farmers, killings and destruction of property, were not Fulanis, but another gang of Boko Haram. According to the government, the persons who have so far been arrested cannot speak any Fulani or any Nigerian language. He added that those tagged suspected Fulani were foreign terrorists from other countries.
Concluding he emphasized: “Available statistics to us in government show that contrary to media report that these violent herdsmen are the conventional Nigerian Fulanis, they are not, as none of those apprehended was able to speak any of the Nigerian languages. This gives  strong credence to the possibility of the violent herdsmen to be another form of terrorists in the mode of Boko Haram."

The Minister did not tell Nigerians how foreign terrorists can penetrate into the heart, nooks and crannies of Nigeria unhindered; who invites them in; directs them to locations threatened before hand by Fulani herdsmen ( like in the Nimbo case) and why the Government of Nigeria still exerts sovereignty over areas of Nigeria it cannot defend.
I am not surprised that Chief Audu Ogbeh, the substantive Minister of Agriculture, whose home areas in Benue State is ravaged by these herdsmen militants and who had rightly called for total disarming of all herdsmen, did not allow himself to be used in dishing out the above outright falsehood as Federal Government statement.


PRESIDENT BUHARI'S ADDRESS IN KATSINA: WILL FIGHT ANY  EXPULSION OF RAMPAGING HERDSMEN AND IS CONCERNED ONLY BY DESERT ENCROACHMENT

Speaking at the Emir of Katsina’s palace during his four-day official visit to his home state (6th to 10th May 2016), President Buhari declared, “I always say that the civil war was fought for the unity of Nigeria because then we had not even discovered oil, let alone enjoyed it. But two million people were killed. . . The way the Sahara (Desert) is advancing, with Boko Haram growing, and the number of people displaced and uncertainty over rainfall in a land where we fought a civil war leading to the deaths of about two million, for someone to just say he will chase us is not acceptable.”

"Not acceptable" to a retired General, former Military Head of State, now President  with virtual unlimited powers granted by the country's ultra defective  Constitution, sounds very much like the Northern Senators' warning "there would be no country called Nigeria, if other parts of the country asked Fulani herdsmen to leave their communities and states".
Perhaps the President is not aware that Saudi Arabia ( the citadel of Islam) which sits completely on desert (not encroachment), with average annual rain of 2.3 inches, as against Sokoto's average of 24 inches per annum, yet Saudi has several of the most successful ranches in the world feeding the Gulf Region with most of its milk; and with daily yield of 40 liters of milk per cow as against Fulani cattle miserable average of 0.74 liters per cow.
The President did not indicate any knowledge or concern that these troubled herders are taking Nigerians in areas they attack or organize to be attacked, back to pre- historic living in which might is right - killing, maiming, raping, arson and forceful conversion of other people's property.

Cattle Fulani Herdsmen are not from Space:
The fallacious deception that Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militants land from space with their cattle, attack farms and communities and disappear into thin air, perhaps with their cattle, is baloney and intended to deceive only the ignorant and people of unsound minds.

Facts on ground  and incidents expose the chicanery in these degenerate assertions.

1. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), an association of cattle rearers of Nigeria, (almost all members Fulani) is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Their highly influential trustees are known and that is why the Security Agencies of Nigeria are at their beck and call; and indeed condone; even assist in various atrocities committed by the herdsmen.
2. MACBAN has always represented these Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militants whenever there is trouble. It even issues and executes threats on behalf of the herdsmen militants. Former Governor Suswan's experience with the herdsmen says it all.
On 24th February, 2014, MACBAN was audacious enough to write President Goodluck Jonathan a highly provocative letter titled, “Mr. President, Call Governor Suswan to Order Before It is Too Late” in which they not only threatened to deal with Governor Suswan of Benue State in his home State, for allegedly assisting the Tivs of the Middle Belt to limit the herdsmen’s murderous activities in the Middle Belt. They also reminded the President that their ranging across the country with their cattle is covered by Section 41, (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement and settlement in all parts of Nigeria to all citizens. Cattle are no citizens of Nigeria and under no stretch of imagination can they be covered by a national Constitution. They are articles of trade which is within States' authority under the Constitution to regulate.
On10th March 2014, after an exchange of gun shots failed to get the Governor in a convoy which had only mobile Police, his military escorts, (perhaps with fore-knowledge) having unilaterally withdrawn, they attacked Mr. Suswan’s ancestral village, killed 25, and sacked the it, plus 29 other communities within 25 kilometres radius. With the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji M. D. Abubakar, an Hausa-Fulani, impliedly telling the Governor that he was not offering any assistance against the herdsmen invasion, the Governor ate the humble pie and negotiated peace with MACBAN which allowed the herders to graze their cattle anywhere in Benue but pay for any damages resulting from  the free ranging of cattle!
So the Fulani leaders of MACBAN issued the threat letter to the President, provided the militants who wrecked havoc on the Governor and his state. What about the IGP who humbled the Governor? And finally what about the eventual triumphant ride of  MACBAN leaders into Government House, Makurdi and signing of a one-sided peace accord? Apparently, peace of the graveyard reigned in Benue State until the AGATU massacre.
3. Early hours of Wednesday February 24, 2016, five villages of Aila, Ugboju, Akwu, Odugbeho and Enogaje of Agatu Local Government Area in Benue State, sharing common borders with Nasarawa State, were attacked by Cattle Fulani herdsmen. Three hundred lives were allegedly instantly lost and 7,000 persons displaced.                                                                                                                                            Vanguard newspaper on 1st March 2016, confirmed  that Benue State Police Commissioner, Paul Yakadi, said over 5,000 cows accompanied by armed Fulani herdsmen were occupying part of Agatu local government area of the state. On 3rd of March 2016, various media, including Premium Times and Daily Post, reported that a spokesman for the Fulani community in Benue State, Mr. Ado Aboderi, told the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase who was on a visit to Makurdi that the crisis started after 10,000 of cattle belonging to its members were killed by Agatu natives; and therefore that criminal elements on both sides escalated the crisis. The unanswered question is how were the 10,000 cows killed and their decomposing bodies disposed off, without causing an epidemic? Why was the killing of 10,000 cows not reported to Police? Who told Fulani herdsmen that in any sane society that the death of 10,000 cows (real or imagined) justifies the killing of one human being? Why did IGP Arase not promptly detain Mr. Aboderi for questioning, on what he knows about Agatu Massacre? Surprisingly, the IGP was unable to visit anywhere near Agatu during that his Benue trip.
4.  Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal were in October 2015, charged at Akure Judicial Division, Ondo State,  for kidnapping, on September 21, 2015  at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Ondo State, with others at large, Chief Olu Falaye, former Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation and  an Afenifere chieftain. The accused were all identified as Fulani. Before Falaye's  kidnap, he had a running battle with identified Fulani herdsmen in his farm.  Chief Falaye has identified in court three of the accused as his Fulani kidnappers.
In April 2016 over ten Fulani herdsmen once again attacked Chief Olu Falaye's farm, this time killing his security aid.
Definitely, if the killers and kidnappers are not Fulanis, they were hired by, and worked for the Fulani herdsmen who had repeatedly invaded Falaye's farm.
5. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on 3rd October 2015, condemned the Pan-Yoruba group's ( Afenifere) call on the federal government to abolish nomadic cattle rearing to stop alleged criminal activities by herdsmen in Yoruba land, failing "which the South-west people will have to defend themselves.” This statement was issued by Afenifere in reaction to the kidnap of Chief Falaye. ACF branded the Afenifere statement as not only reckless but unbecoming of a highly respected group like the Afenifere to choose to criminalize a whole race or tribe or region, instead of the individual criminals and threatening to arrogate to itself the powers to deal with suspected criminals in the midst of various legal provisions on how to deal with such suspects. It did not bother AREWA that the herdsmen were constituting themselves into a State within a State, illegally armed with military assault weapons, attacking and killing/maiming whomsoever they cared.
6. Nimbo in Enugu State happened on 26th April 2016. Despite a whole day's advance warning, briefing and financial mobilization by Enugu State Governor, estimated 500 marauders descended on Nimbo and had a field day with no security personnel in sight.
7. Friday, 13th May 2016 Fulani herdsmen once again invaded Tarfi village, Binnev Ward in Buruku Local Government area of Benue State killing over 60 natives. They had earlier killed over 60 in Buruku and another 50 in Gums - the State (Benue) Governor's ancestral village. The State Governor, Samuel Ortom branded the killings genocide wondering why security operatives stationed in the areas, failed in their duties to "arrest the herdsmen who perpetrated the heinous crime if it was not planned genocide".
8. On 16th May 2016, a Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba, sentenced two Fulani herdsmen, Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem, suspected to be members of a group of armed nomads terrorizing indigenes of Ibusa and its environs, especially farmers. to 20 years (10 years each) in jail with hard labour and without the option of fine, having found them guilty of illegal possession of firearms, punishable under Section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap R.II, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.
9. Southern Kaduna, Nassarawa, Taraba and Plateau are conquered and enslaved by cattle Fulani herdsmen . Security report by international agencies tell stories of people living as sub-humans in their own ancestral homes, whereas the invaders live in the homes of displaced indigenes as overlords. Indigenes reportedly live in refugee camps as IDPs.
10. Benue is under siege. As soon as Benue falls, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi will follow; then Imo, Abia and South-South. Nimbo, probably was a mere exploratory  attack.
1 to 10 above ought to teach even the cynic that Nigeria is back to 2011 to 2013 when northern leaders, after complaining that General Ihejirika (an Igbo and then Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army) and the Nigerian Army was  "killing their people", by which they meant insurgent Boko Haram, and called on the Federal Government (FG) to negotiate with Boko Haram.  Military operations were compromised and sabotaged; and Boko Haram surprise strategic attacks on critical locations were initiated and executed.
 FG was being deliberately distracted until a festering sore ballooned into an ulcer with so much devastations of lives, property and the Nigerian economy - the Boko Haram (BH), the world's deadliest terrorist organization. Same northern leaders turned around to brand FG's approach to the same BH as clueless. By 2014 Boko Haram graduated into the world deadliest organization; and began to attack Northern leaders for initiating half- hearted Sharia, for politics of expediency.

The difference this time is that Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militants, classified by the world through the 2015 Global Terrorism Index 2015, as the World's 4th deadliest terrorist organization, are now in our homes; and if any zone fails to plan well, will suffer the faith of Bosnians in the hands of the Serbs during the dis-integration of Yugoslavia - over 100,000 Bosnians massacred and 2 million displaced, before the pretentious international community, through the UN, made peace to save the Bosnians with the emergence of the four million-member Republic of Bosnia- Herzegovina (1992-7).
The daily count of deaths due to Cattle Fulani herdsmen has exceeded 10, yet the Federal Government is still too busy planning to save the Fulani cattle with no meaningful plans of any kind to rescue besieged citizens. Instead Northern leaders spend their time defending the battered image of the Fulani and nomadism - an out-modded, primitive and uneconomic animal husbandry technique, long abandoned by the civilized world.

It baffles the world that Nigeria has a security problem with such monumental proportions, involving loss of hundreds of lives in hundreds of incidents in a year and the Head of State of Nigeria did not spare a sentence on the tragedy in his May 29, 2016 Democracy Day broadcast.
History is perhaps repeating itself. On October 1, 1966, whilst Igbo people were being hunted down in Nigeria and massacred in an organized genocide which took 27,939 Igbo lives with 1.129 million displaced back to their home region in the East, General Gowon, then Head of State, in his Independence Anniversary broadcast, made no mention of the atrocities; but instead found time to romanticize and celebrate that power was back in the hands of another Northerner, after he had  murdered his benefactor, General Ironsi.

ACTION PLAN

Recognize Cattle Fulani Herdsmen militancy is not a problem that can be solved by playing Nigerian routine politics. The lives and freedoms of scores of millions of Nigerians are at stake. The Nigerian State is under siege and Cattle Fulani Herdsmen militants might be the catalysts for that end game.
Disarm all Herdsmen. If the Federal Government persists in its present apparent connivance with herdsmen, all States are advised to follow the Delta State example and dis-arm the herdsmen through the courts as detailed in number 8 above. I have called Elder Obaseki Okowa, my friend and kinsman, to congratulate him for giving Delta State a Governor with the right set of balls between his legs.                                                                                    Oppressors are morally bankrupt and listen to no pleas. The mission of the Fulanis in Nigeria is beyond the Fulanis herdsmen one sees in the various states. The oligarchy makes the decisions and fundamentalists never look back or roll back. A thousand meetings with Fulanis in any besieged state, will never change a mission now very close to complete accomplishment. If we accept that today, Nigeria is a Fulani slave camp, we will be able to work our way out of enslavement."The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. He frees himself and shows the way to others. Freedom and slavery are mental states."  - the immortal words of Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 -1948), a realization that moved him to fight for Indian independence.
Communities Vigilante: The marauders, who are not supposed to belong to any civilized society are with us and their brothers who control the government of Nigeria insist they must remain with us and so far have not disarmed them, instead they plead alibis of foreign Boko Haram invaders, who they did not explain why they were allowed at all to invade Nigeria in the first instance. The first line of defense is therefore to arm the vigilante in every community. Former Governor Peter Obi's example in Anambra State should be a model : each community a patrol pick-up, a minimum number of personnel and Police  licensed guns for small communities; and more for larger ones; ensured monthly salaries for all vigilantes; regular periodic provisions of fuel and bullets. Powerful security Committee to undertake fundraising in the State to augment subventions from the Governor's security vote.
Ban on all movement of Cattle on hoofs within each state like in all major cattle breeding nations of the world. With less than 15 million cattle, Nigeria is not by any stretch of imagination, a major cattle breeding nation. Major cattle breeding countries of the world, by 2009 figures have as high as 187,087,000 in Brazil; China 139,721,000; U.S.A. 96,669,000; EU 87,650,000,Argentina 51,062,000; Pakistan 38,300,000; Australia 29,202,000; Mexico  26,489,000. Cattle & breeders do not roam or molest citizens in any of the above nations. They are confined to ranches and Nigeria should confine all its cattle to ranches. Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has provided the leadership by restricting cattle movement in Ekiti State to privately owned ranches like in the civilized world and introduction of State Law to confiscate all free-ranging cattle.
Induce Cattle Fulani Herdsmen to go back to the Savana and leave civilized society for human beings, who have respect for human lives and Property:
        (a) Pepper on grass or whatever stuff that will drive the cattle from farms and neighborhoods should be encouraged to be used by all communities invaded by Fulani cattle.
        (b) Daily sales from Lokpanta Fulani settlement in Abia state is estimated at 500 to 700 heads at N100,000; for a six-day week sales, are estimated in a month to yield N1.2billion to N1.68billion, and for a year N14.4billion to N20.16billion. The sales from the other  major Fulani settlement in Ugwuoba/Amansea, Enugu/Anambra  should sell more than Lokpanta. Estimating Ugwuoba sales at Lokpanta volume, both add up to N28.8billion to N40.32billion (average say N34.06). Ebonyi State is not factored into above estimates; therefore add say N7billion and you have a total N41.06billion from South-East only. Southeast only, therefore contributes N41.06billion to the account of MACBAN and eventually AREWA without any respect whatsoever for the people of the South-East. Instead MACBAN and AREWA dish out abuses, massacre, rape and arson. As Nelson Mandela rightly asserted, Freedom without respect/dignity is no freedom at all.

Short-Term: boycott "Nama" totally for one month in memory of Nimbo 48 - My gut feeling is that if the South-East boycotts "Nama" totally for one month causing AREWA loss of over N3 billion, AREWA would negotiate peace subject to Southeastern terms. Besides, one month without "Nama" beef is not even enough mourning for the humiliation at Nimbo and various Southeast communities. For me  all "Nama" are "Nimbo". Eating any"Nama" for me is like eating the flesh of any of the Nimbo 48.
Long-Term: Breed Your Muturu Cattle in the South:
Dr. Michael Okpara did breed Muturu breed (Efi Igbo) as premier of Eastern Region.
 Saudi Arabia, with its dying stock of indigenous breeds of cattle, is doing it, using completely California, Irish and German breeds. Saudi is situated right inside a desert (not the escapist excuse of encroaching desert) but with huge dams and boreholes, is able to grow all the grass it needs and provide all the water for cows in its modernized ranches . Saudi has an average annual rainfall of just 2.3 inches (59mm); whereas Enugu for example has annual average of 66.7 inches and Sokoto - 24 inches. Industry experts say one cow must consume three liters of water a day to produce one liter of milk. For high-performing cattle, that equals 150 liters of water a day and Saudi provides that in its desert-situated ranches.

I take  two sample ranches from Saudi Arabia.
(a) Almarai Al Kharj Ranch  - The Californian model of livestock farming simply means that you don't have to grow all your grass and raise your own feed crops; you can farm out feed and water and all your input; and house a thousand head of dairy cattle on just 40 acres of land.
   In 1977, Almarai began modestly with just 300 heads of cattle as part of a Saudi push to achieve food security through self-sufficiency -- a government response to the oil shocks of the 1970s.
Today with a total herd of 135,000 dairy cattle, Almarai's installation at Al Kharj 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Riyad, houses one of its largest herds of 67,000. The entire herd produces 2.5 million liters of milk a day -- an average of 40 liters per cow per day, roughly double the European average. 22,500 cows are currently under milk.
 The secret to making a dairy farm successful in one of the world's most arid environments is to apply technology -- and a lot of it. Not to range cattle into dry bones and tendon all over the country!
Almarai'sAl Kharj ranch produces an average of 40 liters per day per cow, as against Nigerian Fulani cattle 0.74 litre average per day which amounts to a miserable  270.1 litres per annum, whose quality cannot be guaranteed.
(b). Almarai Al Badiah dairy farm: A desert land in Saudi Arabia with temperatures frequently of over 45 degrees Celsius is where you will find one of the largest and most impressive dairy operations in the world.
Almarai’s stunning Al Badiah farm, is  home to 47,000 heads of dairy cattle. The farm is 6km long by 3km wide, with one third of the 2,200 hectares under buildings. Milk production is at the same rate as in (a) above.

BEEF VALUE:The beef value from the Saudi ranches is also over 40 times whatever is realizable from the scraggy Fulani Cattle which, at the end of over 1,000 kilometer trek, is but a bundle of tendon and bones, yielding little or no milk.

HEALTH HAZARD - Toxic Beef: What Fulani cattle eat or drink whilst roaming is unregulated. They ingest lots of toxic material (plastics and chemically polluted water) which could be part  responsible for increasing rate of cancers and kidney failures in Nigeria. That beef/suya Nigerians commonly consume, could be part responsible for Nigeria's very low average life expectancy (longevity). Average world's life expectancy is 70 years whereas Nigeria is struggling with 53 years.

Ranches in the South
The "Mturu" (efi Igbo) is tsetse fly resistant and survives. A hybrid of the American or Brazilian/Argentinian or European high milk/beef yielding stock, with medium technology can give the zone enough milk and meat and plenty of extra to export. Imported semen can be used to impregnate local Mturu cow to produce that tsetse fly resistant but high-milk/beef-yielding high breed. Import of whole Bulls might be unnecessary.

Whenever Southern Nigeria produces enough beef and milk and can export, Cattle Fulani herdsmen would have no cause to stay in the tropics than go back to the Savana and learn to breed cattle with modern technology or perish their pastoralist live-stock breeding like Saudi indigenous cattle is becoming extinct.

URGENT NEED TO REVERSE WORLD CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE
A crisis way above Boko Haram in Nigeria is brewing and consuming Nigeria and the Nigerian government washes its hands of it like Herod. Failure of government to protect lives, like in NIMBO,  is the worst type of governance failure, for what else is the purpose of governance, except the security and welfare of citizens. Instead the Nigerian government occupies itself in quixotic corruption fight whilst Nigerians are being massacred without question. The unanswered question is, preservation of citizens' lives and fighting corruption which one is more urgent? Can we have a society without citizens? Impossible, but there could be wild cattle. India has close to 300 million cattle in the wild, since Hindus do not eat beef.

Consequently, the greatest tribute South-East governments and peoples can do to NIMBO 48, is to elevate perception of Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militant as Terrorists, which the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) has already done by classifying them as 4th deadliest terrorist organization in the world. What is left is to internationalize discussions on them. The quickest resort is to bring CNN and Al Jazira to do news, features, commentaries, etc on NIMBO 48. U.S. State Department must be made to categorize Cattle Fulani Militants as the terrorists they are.
At the end of the day, President Muhammad Buhari would need to answer questions on what he did whilst very deadly terrorists consumed Nigeria.


COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS' FAMILIES

The families of NIMBO 48 deserve compensation from negligent Federal Government. Oppressors do not award damages because they are heartless. All tyrannies have no conscience. Therefore the Federal Government must be compelled to pay. Odi and Zaki Biam compelled the Federal Government and Billions of Naira were paid through court orders to Odi and Zaki Biam. These precedents should be followed and appeals to indifferent Abuja must stop. International suits are possible and can be organized for same

The present generation of Southern Nigerians must be reminded that today's massacres by the North is based on what Southerners accepted to take from the North in the interest of Nigerian unity.
The first recorded massacre in Nigeria took place in Jos. On June 22, 1945 over 200 people were slaughtered in Jos, and their property looted. The colonial authorities failed to institute a probe, and no justice was obtained for the victims. The Kano riots of 1953 took a toll of 150 lives and like in the 1953 riot, mainly Igbo people. No reaction whatsoever from survivors of victims.
 In spite of these massacres  and North's insistence that it was not interested in one Nigeria but would only participate if  assured of dominating it, South-Eastern politicians led oppositions in 1947 and 1954, to a loose federation of regions, preferring a unitary set up; and further ensured that the provision for a right to self-determination for the federating units were not entrenched in the independence Constitution, contrary to the wishes of the Northern and Western Regions. In 1959, South-Eastern leaders ensured that Northerners had power handed over to them and the rest is now history.

LIABILITY BY STATE GOVERNMENTS:
On the Cattle Fulani Herdsmen terrorism, Governor Ayo Fayose has shown that if the States have the political will and courage, they can contain and defeat this monster; and thus protect and secure their citizens. The question is how many Governors in Nigeria can dare? Failure to dare however means dereliction of duty and governance failure. Such States as might fail to act to protect its citizens become liable before the law for loss of lives and property in their respective states.

PRESENT SLAVE/MASTER STRUCTURE OF NIGERIA:
The question is, does the present slave/master structure serve the best interests of the federating peoples of Nigeria and Nigeria?
If yes, forget about the above treatise.
Otherwise resolve that you will no longer be a slave and your fetters shall fall!

Prince Chukwuemeka I. Onyesoh
President,
Forum for Promotion of National Ethos and Values (FPNEV),
Enugu,
June 4, 2016.

THE BILL FOR AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL GRAZING RESERVE (ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT) COMMISSION FOR THE PRESERVATION AND CONTROL OF NATIONAL GRAZING RESERVES AND STOCK ROUTES AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH, IS A BID TO LEGISLATE THE SULTANATE OF NIGERIA INTO BEING!

Sub-Theme: The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. He frees himself and shows the way to others. Freedom and Slavery are mental states - Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)


The Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of National Grazing Reserve (Establishment and Development) Commission for the Preservation and Control of  National Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes and other Matters Connected therewith, which has passed through the second reading in the National Assembly is one of the biggest affront the Muslim Hausa-Fulani has inflicted on Nigeria since 1914. Reason is in the intention of Bill, which is a desperation to effectively convert Nigeria to the Sultanate of Nigeria. This Bill is a re-incarnation of Senate Bill No. SB. 114 and House Bill No. 11.10.30 with same title killed by patriots after Second Reading in 2011.

The genealogy of the Muslim Hausa-Fulani movement to effectuate the Sultanate of Nigeria is as follows:
The Tiv riots of the 1960s was as a result of the well-organized Tiv resistance to Islamization. Chief Joseph Sarwuan Tarka effectively led that struggle under the political organization United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC). Unfortunately he joined the oligarchy to fight Biafra and after the war lost focus. He thought that the Middle-Belt travail was over with the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello and the Middle-Belt sitting on the same table to share the booty of defeating Biafra. He was caught down to size and died on 30th March 1980, perhaps with a lot of lesson learnt.
The Western Nigeria crisis of 1961-66 was the Yoruba dimension of that scheme - the Action Group crisis, the Coker Commission of Inquiry, the treasonable felony trial and the Chief Obafemi Awolowo conviction, imprisonment and the shenanigans of the Chief Justice of Nigeria - Sir Adetokunbo Ademola to trade with Awo's physical confinement with the psychological; the rigged 1964-65 federal and regional elections in Western Nigeria; the revolt in operation wetie; and the January 1966 coup d'état which halted Nigeria's slide.
 The May riots of 1966, the kill-back coup of July 1966, the pogrom of October/November 1966, the denial of federal allocation and relief for 1.129 million internally displaced persons who escaped from the killing fields of the rest of Nigeria to Eastern Nigeria as refugees; other denials that provoked and drove Eastern Nigeria to rebellion into Biafra, thereby giving the oligarchy the opportunity to teach the East a lesson for daring to halt the move to colonise Nigeria; the 1967-70 Jihad (otherwise branded Civil War, even though everything about the war was uncivil); and the ultimate victimization of the SouthEast to permanently silence the zone's opposition to the Islamization project.
The empowerment of charlatans in the South-East to confuse the politics of the zone.
The 1986 unilateral entry of Nigeria into the OIC ( Organization of Islamic  Conference, later Cooperation) - an Organization formed  in 1969 by the Islamic world to fight Israel for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam third holiest site (lost in the 1967 Six-Day War); in spite of the over 55% Nigerians who are Christians and traditional worshippers Who have no grouse with Israel
The Federal Government-sponsored Abuja1989 Islam-in-Africa Conference Resolutions most of which ignored the multi-religious nature and Constitution of Nigeria and set the ball rolling for the overt efforts at Islamization of Nigeria; some of the most outrageous of the resolutions being:
 To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslims);
(b) To ensure the appointment of only Muslims into strategic national and international posts of member nations;
(c) To ensure that only Muslims are elected to all political posts of member countries;
(d)To support the establishment and application of the Shari'a to all Muslims;
(e)To ensure the declaration of Nigeria (the 24th African and World member of the OIC) a Federal Islamic Sultanate at a convention on any day from 28th March 1990, with the Sultan of Sokoto enthroned the Sultan and Supreme Sovereign of Nigeria;
(f) To ensure the ultimate replacement of all western forms of legal and judicial systems with the Shari'a in all member nations before the next Islam in Africa Conference.
 In addition hundreds of millions of USDollars of Nigeria's resources were invested by General Babangida in the Conference, it's Abuja permanent headquarters and the London operations office.
7. General Sani Abacha unilateral registration of Nigeria as a member of D-8 (Developing-8), an organization formed in 1996 for development "cooperation among major Muslim developing countries" - Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Nigeria.

8. As a follow-up to the Abuja Islam-in-Africa 1989 Conference, the 1999/2000 proclamation of Sharia in Twelve States of the North in clear contravention of Section 10 of Nigeria's Constitution which states: The government of The Federation or a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion. This was greeted by riots and President Obasanjo who was installed by the oligarchy reneged in his duty to crush the obvious rebellion against the Nigerian Constitution. Instead, he rationalized his lack of political will to defend the Constitution by declaring the Sharia proclamation political. Of course it is ordinarily known that Islam is a highly political Religion whose Doctrine demands total possession of body and soul of adherents;and is territorial, requiring to regulate life totally in any geographical space where it reigns. This the reason behind the permanent turmoil in Nigeria. Saudi Arabia and all other fundamentalist Islamic States adopt Quran, the Holy Book of Islam and Sharia Law as their organic law.

9. Proclamation of Sharia in Nigeria has the very stoutest of support by all Moslem leaders of the Northeast and Northwest. Southern apologists of the oligarchy deceive themselves when they rationalize exclusions of prominent leaders known to them from the two zones.

, “I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria . . . God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country."

“It is the legal responsibility which God has given us, within the concept of one Nigeria, to continue to uphold the practice of Sharia whole heartedly, and to educate non-Muslims that they have nothing to fear, . . . What remains for Muslims in Nigeria is for them to redouble their efforts, educate Muslims on the need to promote the full implementation of Sharia law.”
   
(Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammed Buhari ( now President) in a seminar organized by the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria in Kaduna, August 2001).

In the light of the forgoing, the reaction of President Buhari to any Bill from the National Assembly  proclaiming Sharia all over Nigeria is unlikey to need a second guess.
10.  Following on the popularity of Sharia in the North in 2002, Mohammed Yussuf established Boko Haram in Borno and the sole objective was to compel Sharia implementation, first all, over the North, and subsequently all over the Federation.
The oligarchy is highly sophisticated and stealthy in execution of Jihadism in its Islamization program, but the ordinary folk is not. The oligarchy often will use Jihad of Words and Deception (political maneuvering ) and would stealthily employ Jihad of the Sword (violence - riots and warfare) using the ordinary folks, whenever Jihad of Words and Deception fail. This is how the rampage and brutality which Boko Haram brought in its wake, particularly after its leader was extra- judicially murdered, followed. However, the feudal lords later felt threatened when Boko Haram started killing Emirs & enthroning their own Emirs, after it got internationalized by affiliation with ISIS.

By 2012 when it became obvious that the "infidel "occupying Aso Rock was reneging on his 2011 undertaking not to contest the  2015 election , the North's political class found and exploited  Boko Haram as very potent weapon for the election.

11. ISMAT - Saudi Arabia-led Coalition against ISIS: In 2016 President Buhari announced that Nigeria is joining ISMAT, a Saudi- led coalition of Sunni
Islamic countries to fight ISIS. Not a whimper from Non-Moslem leaders in Nigeria. Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution requires any external treaty made by the executive branch to be ratified by the National Assembly (NASS).  Reaction of the NASS is awaited on this bigoted presidential decision. Non-Moslems of Nigeria must mobilize to oppose this rape of Nigerian Constitution.
12. Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militancy:
    Militancy of Cattle Fulani herdsmen became a nation-wide scourge from about 2011 and increased in intensity from year to year. Presently, Cattle Fulani herdsmen militancy is the most ominous threat to national security, by far more than Boko Haram, because it is nation-wide.
Organized and registered as Miyetti Allah Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), their chief patron is the Sultan. It is hoped that General Buhari, on becoming Head of State of Nigeria, has resigned as a patron of MACBAN. The owners of the cattle ranging all over Nigeria are the most prominent and influential Fulanis – traditional and religious leaders, top political and administrative office holders, foremost security officers including generals etc. The herdsmen are mere minders and therefore enjoy unlimited protection from their owners. The herdsmen seem to obey no laws of Nigeria and even refuse to attend peace conferences in communities where they commit these atrocities for which the security agencies never arrest them.                                                        

On 24th February, 2014 Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) exhibited how much above the Law the Cattle Fulani herdsmen are by  writing then President Goodluck Jonathan a highly provocative letter titled, “Mr. President, Call Governor Suswan to Order Before It is Too Late” in which they not only threatened to deal with Governor Suswan of Benue State in his home State for allegedly assisting the Tivs of the Middle Belt to limit the herdsmen’s murderous activities in the Middle Belt. They also pejoratively reminded the President that their ranging across the country with their cattle is covered by Section 41, (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement and settlement in all parts of Nigeria to all citizens of Nigeria. On10th March 2014, after an exchange of gun shots failed to get the Governor in a convoy, they attacked Mr. Suswan’s ancestral village, killed 25, and sacked the village plus 29 other communities within 25 kilometers radius. MACBAN had deliberately ignored in their letter to the President, the fact that the freedom of movement guaranteed by S.41 (1) refers only to Nigeria citizens and definitely not cattle, an item of trade whose movement is subject to regulation for society’s safety, comfort and convenience.  Besides, the right to freedom of movement under reference is not absolute since Section 45(1) of the same Constitution subordinates those rights to any reasonable law enacted in “the interest of defense, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons.” Imagine Cattle rearers and their owners threatening a State Governor in his own State through the President of the Country and being able to execute that threat! The audacity of it - above the law MACBAN.

For the avoidance of any doubt, Nigeria is not a major Cattle breeding nation of the world. According to 1990/92 Nigerian Livestock Resources (RIM) Survey estimates, Nigeria had less than 13.90 million cattle.  Major cattle breeding countries of the world, by 2009 figures have as high as 285 million cattle in India; 187,087,000 in Brazil; China 139,721,000; U.S.A. 96,669,000; EU 87,650,000,Argentina 51,062,000; Pakistan 38,300,000; Australia 29,202,000; Mexico  26,489,000. Pastoralism or free ranging of cattle is not practiced in most, if not all, of the above major cattle breeding nations, in the interest of economy, public safety and health. Pastoralism is therefore primitive, outmoded, uncivilized, and uneconomic; and has been long discarded by the civilized and productive world. No doubt pastoralism is one of the major factors that has held  North East and North-West Nigeria down as the poorest and most illiterate zones of Nigeria.
Thus by the Fulanis insisting on cattle breeding by pastoralism, they probably wish to return Nigeria to the Middle Ages and ipso facto  spread poverty and illiteracy. Nigeria, may be wishes to return to where USA was at the height of Cow Boy machismo, before ranching became compulsory under U.S. Law.
The North knows that more meat and milk can be got out of cattle bred in ranches and knows also that cattle breeding is business and therefore cattle breeders ought to buy their ranches and government should not award ranches to ranchers.

The Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of National Grazing Reserve (Establishment and Development) Commission for the Preservation and Control of  National Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes and other Matters Connected therewith,  is therefore not any thing about business.

It is an act of DOMINION. It is an Act that seeks to legalize the declaration of Nigeria (the 24th African and World member of the OIC) a Federal Islamic Sultanate . . . , as resolved in Abuja-Islam-in Africa Conference of 1989.

The details of that bill, is not as relevant as its intent. The arrogance in the intent of the sponsors of this Bill is obvious.

By 2013, the Fulani population in Nigeria was estimated at 7 million out of 150 million estimate for Nigeria.
Fulanis are nomadic and very protective of their cattle. They have no regard for people's right to life, property and decency. They therefore kill, maim, rape and destroy property indiscriminately. They are invariably armed with military assault weapons contrary to Nigerian Law; and therefore very dangerous to society.
The intended Bill is therefore intended to legitimize the impunity of a tiny minority of Nigerians in criminality.
The arrogance and impunity intended in this Bill is most manifest in a section of the Bill which provides as follows: No Court of law shall carry out execution of its judgment or attachment of court process issued against the Commission in any action or suit without obtaining the prior consent of the Attorney General of the Federation. The Bill wishes to subordinate Nigerian Courts to the Executive branch in issues concerning the Fulani, contrary to the Constitution, contrary to application of the law to over 95% of Nigerians!

The Cattle Fulani herdsmen, armed with military assault weapons have over the past five years been killing, maiming, raping Nigerians in their ancestral homes with careless abandon in obvious connivance with the Nigerian Army and Police who overlook the illegality of the weapons they carry and back them up whenever they are overwhelmed in counter-attacks by farmers/villagers. The case of 76 villagers allegedly kidnapped by the Army in Ugwuneshi community of Awgu LGA in Enugu State, transported across state lines, and thereafter illegally arraigned in Abia magistrate Court, is a typical of the Army and Police complicity with the herdsmen.
Establishing grazing reserves in every State of Nigeria for Cattle Fulani herdsmen, would therefore amount to granting and legalizing sanctuaries for herdsmen from which they would subdue communities as they may be directed by MACBAN and/or their patrons, any time it pleases the overlords. Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue, Taraba and Southern Kaduna are all now experiencing this level of invasion. Agatu in Benue State with 300 dead in the hands of the herdsmen and subsequent occupation plus over 10,000 cattle, protected by soldiers, is a nightmare no one would wish himself in his own ancestral home!

The long-term implications of this Bill is unfathomable. The satellite Fulani communities the grazing reserves will generate, would in 25-50 years time  generate enough population to contest LGA chairmanship elections that would be determined by orgies of violence. With the Hausa/Fulani tradition, average family size is 20-28 against ours which is 5-7. The Jos - North experience of 2008 would be playing out nation-wide. Hausa/Fulani loss of Jos-North LGA 2008 chairmanship election resulted in the hriot with 500 deaths (126 Igbos) because a Berom candidate assisted by Igbos, won. Fifty rioters arrested under Inspector-General of Police,  Mr. Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo, were ordered to be taken to Abuja where they were instantly and unconditionally released on arrival. President Yardua was in Aso Rock.

With the grazing reserves providing a safe staging ground, the Fulanis would always use ceaseless riots & indiscriminate massacre to intimidate change of policies anywhere they establish substantial presence, given their proclivity for violence; and  the domination of local security agencies by their kinsmen. It has just been confirmed that the Divisional Police officers in Awgu LGA and neighboring Abia State DPO who are both of the same stock with the herders, along with the soldiers and security zonal commands, played major roles in the recent kidnap and trafficking of the 76  Ugwuneshi -Awgu villagers to Umuahia.

13. The Apparent Silence of  South-East Political Elite in the Rampage of Fulani Herdsmen and other Acts of Violence:
The empowerment by outside influences of South-Eastern businessmen and politicians is a major constraint on representation of South-East views in the Nigerian polity - outside influences on election/ selection/appointment  to public offices. The fear of arrest and prosecution by Federal Security Agencies for those who compromised themselves whilst in office is another factor. The same time, major Igbo businesses who need licenses or patronages from the Centre would not wish to engender their businesses by speaking out or supporting the oppression of their people.
An irony plays out. Governor Ayo Fayose and Chief Femi Femi Kayode, both Yoruba, now become the only two prominent voices against the oppression of the Igbo in Nigeria.

14. The Inexplicable Silence/Failure of Nigerian Church Leaders particularly in the South-East
Nigerian Church leadership has neither an Archbishop Desmond Tutu nor a Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They all seem to be playing it safe whilst Muslim leaders got away with OIC, D8, Sharia proclamation and all the other extreme provocations. Confronted, a Bishop called for prayers and I quickly reminded him that prayers are not enough. Positive action is urgently required. The Parable of Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 teaches all Christians that God is not God of the indolent. Prayers alone would deliver no returns hence the heroism of  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu. Ndigbo si na onye alachara  onu ya, ugulu alachalu ya  (the harmattan would lick the lips of any one who fails to lick his, during the harmattan).
The churches should invest some of the billions of Naira they use in building Cathedrals, expensive parsonages for priests and Bishops and duplication of Church halls in mass mobilization of option in and out of Nigeria by means of advertorials, publications, press conferences, sponsored TV discussions, demonstrations; and local/international litigations and other forms of reactions against violations of human rights of Christians and other Nigerians, Sharianisation of Nigeria, indiscriminate trampling on the Nigerian Constitution and destruction of the spirit of the federation by various governments of the Federation. If they are afraid to publicly do so, surrogates are easily available. The faith the Chritianity suffered in the hands of Islam in Europe before the Crusades could be that of Christianity in Nigeria.

15. ACTION PLAN AGAINST GRAZING RESERVE BILLS

It was Edmund Burke (1729-1797) the British statesman and conservative political theorist who said, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. Mr. Nadezhda Mandelstam (1899-1980) Russian writer and educator, in his memoir about his live with his poet wife in the gulag under repressive Stalinist regime titled “Hope Against Hope” (1970) enjoined all good people that “if nothing else is left, one must scream. Silence is the real crime against Humanity”.

The grazing reserve movement has been defeated before in 2011 but the climate in Abuja was changed by the 2015 election. One their own - the MACBA N is in Aso Rock and no chances need be taken.

Publicity of oppression of any kind and violations of fundamental human rights and Constitution is therefore important. Tyrants are not only enemies of freedom but also thieves of liberty. The world of today is much more humane than the 1950-60s Cold War world. Information against tyrants can break down walls of indifference in world opinion. Today information rules the world.
Advertorials in prominent national newspapers, publications, press conferences, sponsored TV discussions, demonstrations are imperative to woo world against tyranny, religious intolerance and human rights violation.

 Local and International Litigations
The monster before us is Jihadism and Jihadists never let go. They fight to death believing as Jihadists that death in the Holy War is passport to paradise. Islamic doctrine teaches all Moslems that those who die in the holy war (Jihad) are guaranteed paradise.
“The person who participates in Jihad (Holy Battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to paradise (if he is killed).” (Hadith/Sunnah Vol. 1:3).

Fundamentalist Col. Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Saddam Hussein of Iraq, both fought to death.

16. Litigation Option
 After sensitization, some superior force is required to compel change in the Jihadists dominating Nigerian polity.
The only available force to Ndigbo is Action in both Municipal and International Courts.
Those who do not believe that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance and that non-violent change requires perseverance and patience, will simplistically dismiss this option saying:
 (a) Nigerian courts are dominated dominated by Hausa-Fulani and will delay suits to death; and
 (b) external litigation is expensive and could go on forever.
To these two reactions I question: What is the alternative cause of action to compel tyrants to mend their ways? Duck under the table, make all the money and fake life enjoyment in the midst of the mental torture of enslavement which is where Ndigbo unfortunately are today; and the end of the day, bequeath enslavement to posterity!

Famous and late indefatigable human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, whilst representing me in a suit to free me from being jailed by Governor Jim Nwobodo in 1979/80, told me that he used to take governments to court repeatedly, not because he hoped to win all the time, but that sworn affidavits in suits enable him expose the ugly under-belly of people in government (disclosures which otherwise would have been libelous).
Finally and most importantly, well- documented evidence can and will always result in victories in courts locally and internationally.

17.  Successful litigations against government of Nigeria and world leaders.

For Odi massacre of 20th November 1999 in which 1,000 to 2,500 were killed, Odi community sued the Federal government for 1,000 lives lost and destruction of the community, claiming 100billion Naira compensation, an order of the court to rebuild the community and an apology. The court awarded Odi 37.6billion Naira compensation and a London Court compelled Nigeria to negotiate and settle for 15billion Naira prompt payout.
In the case of Zaki Biam, Massacre of October 2001, the Zaki Biam community sued the Federal Government for 100-200 lives lives lost and several thousands displaced asking for compensation of 200billion Naira. The court awarded 41.8billion Naira. A settlement of 8billion Naira was negotiated and paid.
In the case of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Femi Aborisade, Owens Wiwa, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, and Hafsat Abiola, Plaintiffs-appellees, v. General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Defendant-appellant (408 F.3d 877 7th Cir. 2005, Annotate this Case U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - 408 F.3d 877 (7th Cir. 2005), Argued January 10, 2005, Decided May 23, 2005), the plaintiffs had sued Nigeria's three former Military Heads of State and Chief Ernest Shonekan for torture, death, unlawful detention and violations of fundamental human rights. After the Appeal Court ruled that General Abubakar, who was the only of the four properly served while receiving honor done to him by Chicago State University, was not covered by any immunity out of office and therefore should answer the charges, the Federal Government of Nigeria was compelled, on advice by U.S. State Department, to negotiate settlement with Chief Arthur Nwankwo and Hafsat Abiola (on behalf of Abiola family), the two subsisting plaintiffs in the suit, the others having defaulted in appearance/or deposition. Chief Nwankwo confirmed to me that EKWENCHE Organization of Chicago (a reputable and established Igbo irredentist group) was instrumental to success of the suit by ensuring personal service of Gen. Abubakar through the organization's attorney.
18. Convictions by International Courts for Acts of Genocide:
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia: June 2010 after several plea bargains and some convictions that were successfully challenged on appeal, several of the accused were found guilty of committing genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and aiding and abetting genocide. Several      members of the Bosnian Serb security forces were also found guilty of genocide by the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slobodan Milošević, as the former President of Serbia and of Yugoslavia, was the most senior political figure to stand trial at the ICTY. He died on 11 March 2006 during his trial where he was accused of genocide or complicity in genocide in territories within Bosnia and Herzegovina; so no verdict was returned.                                                                                                         Radoan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader, was convicted  on March 24, 2016 of ten of the eleven charges laid against him and sentenced to 40 years in prison for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity by a United Nations tribunal on Thursday, March 24, 2016 for leading a campaign of terror against civilians in the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Mr. Karadzic, 70, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in lethal ethnic cleansing operations, the siege of Sarajevo and the slaughter of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995, in proceedings that were likened to the Nuremberg trials of former Nazi leaders. The trial was the most important in the 23-year history of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and a defining test for the entire system of international justice.
Karadzic conviction is a forceful manifestation of the international community’s implacable commitment to accountability. The conviction offered a note of closure to the bloodiest European conflict since World War II, a civil war that tore apart the former Yugoslavia and left more than 100,000 people dead.
(I International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (1994 to present)
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was a court under the auspices of the United Nations for the prosecution of offenses committed in Rwanda during the genocide which occurred there during April 1994, commencing on 6 April. The ICTR was created on 8 November 1994 by the Security Council of the United Nations in order to judge those people responsible for the acts of genocide and other serious violations of the international law performed in the territory of Rwanda, or by Rwandan citizens.
So far, the ICTR has finished nineteen trials and convicted twenty seven accused persons. On 14 December 2009 two more men were accused and convicted for their crimes. Another twenty five persons are still on trial. Twenty-one are awaiting trial in detention, two more added on 14 December 2009. Ten are still at large. The first trial, of Jean-Paul Akayesu, began in 1997. In October 1998, Akayesu was sentenced to life imprisonment. Jean Kambanda, interim Prime Minister, pleaded guilty and was convicted.
(iii) The International Criminal Court
Since 2002, the International Criminal Court can exercise its jurisdiction if national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute genocide, thus being a "court of last resort," leaving the primary responsibility to exercise jurisdiction over alleged criminals to individual states. Due to the United States concerns over the ICC, the United States prefers to continue to use specially convened international tribunals for such investigations and potential prosecutions.
(a) Darfur, Sudan
In March 2005, the Security Council formally referred the situation in Darfur to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), taking into account the Commission's report but without mentioning any specific crimes.
In April 2007, the Judges of the ICC issued arrest warrants against the former Minister of State for the Interior, Ahmad Harun, and a Militia Janjaweed leader, Ali Kushayb, for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
On 14 July 2008, prosecutors at the ICC, filed ten charges of war crimes against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. The ICC's prosecutors claimed that al-Bashir "masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part" three tribal groups in Darfur because of their ethnicity.
On 4 March 2009, the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for Omar Al Bashir, President of Sudan as the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I concluded that his position as head of state does not grant him immunity against prosecution before the ICC. The warrant was for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It did not include the crime of genocide because the majority of the Chamber did not find that the prosecutors had provided enough evidence to include such a charge. Omar Al Bashir, President of Sudan remains a wanted criminal in ICC  records and could be arrested any time. Last year he managed to escape arrest in South Africa whilst attending AU meeting  because the South African government collaborated in his escape.
(b) Conviction of Charles Taylor by I.C.C.
The first African president to be prosecuted at the International Court Court, Charles Taylor, was in April 2002 found guilty on 11 count charges for aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity and for supporting rebels who carried out atrocities in Sierra Leone in return for "blood diamonds".The historic judgment leaves Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, facing a lengthy term in a British prison and has set a precedent that Heads of State can no longer consider themselves immune to international justice.
After four years of hearings at the UN-backed special court for Sierra Leone in the Hague, the former warlord was convicted on 11 charges including murder, rape, sexual slavery and enforced amputations.
                                               
19. WORST  ENEMY OF NDIGBO IN THE FIGHT FOR LIBERATION:
The worst enemy of NDIGBO in the struggle for liberation is complacency and acceptance of the statuesque by Igbo political, intellectual & business elite, quite often resulting from absence and/ or lack of information.
As people defeated in a war, Igbo elite seem to resign themselves to present enslavement which has now attained its apogee with the Bill for an Act to Establish the National Grazing Route and Reserve Commission, to establish and control Grazing Routes and Reserves in all parts of Nigeria; and for Other Matters Related Thereto (HB. 388 sponsored by Karimi Steven). This Bill must not see the light of the day. It violates various aspects of the Nigerian Federal Constitution. The government of Nigeria must be brought to justice for Igbo mass killings from the 1966 pogrom till date, including recent IPOB mass murders.

20. Proposed measures:                                                                                                (a) Location of markets and movement of cattle within States fall under the residual functions of States. States should therefore enact laws limiting movement of cattle by road to motorized transportation and/or rail; and their sale only in designated markets.
Twelve northern States from 1999-2000 enacted Sharia laws criminalizing movement, sale and/or consumption of alcohol in their various States and these laws are being enforced with even Sharia Police (Hizbah) created by state law in states like Kano, in flagrant violation of Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Cattle should be bred in the savannas of the North and transported to markets in the South, not on hoofs, but in vehicles.
 The Cattle Fulani herdsmen, whose proclivity for violence is at pick with non-Moslems, need orientation on the rights of every Nigerian citizen to life, property and decency before they venture outside their home States;                                                                                                                                      
(b) The Churches and wealthy businessmen must mobilize demonstrations, vigil, advertorials, sponsored editorials and articles, sponsored TV and radio discussions by well-informed discussants, against this bill; and funding of litigations by organized groups. Those who are afraid to be identified as sponsors should consider use of surrogate bodies or institutions.
(c) The Nigerian Police must enforce the existing laws on sophisticated weapons carried by these herdsmen and also enforce state laws on movement of cattle, whenever such laws are enacted;                                                                                                                                                                                          (d) States in the SE zone must reinvigorate animal husbandry as initiated by Dr. Michael Okpara’s Eastern Regional government of the 1960s to produce more live stock from within.                                                                                                                   (e) There shall be an Igbo Institute where dedicated thinkers should be permanently addressing Igbo issues like the Jewish Institute.                                                                                                           Thinkers are imperative for every (particularly the endangered) ethnic nationality.  (f) The Federal Government must assist states in the establishment of ranches and enhanced animal husbandry.                                                                                                                              (g) All political, religious and traditional leaders in the North who are sincere on indivisibility or indissolubility of the Nigerian Federation must openly condemn the nefarious activities of Hausa/Fulani herdsmen whose activities threaten Nigerian federation even more than Boko Haram.
(h) If Nigeria must survive, efforts must be made by all concerned in the North to reform Islamic fundamentalism, as it is practiced in most of the North-West and North-East, to liberal or moderate Islam as it is practiced in such progressive Moslem nations as Turkey and Malaysia and in the South-West zone of Nigeria. Islamic fundamentalism, NOT ISLAM per se, is antithetical to federalism in a religiously plural state. It is intolerant of any other Religion and both are mutually exclusive. Let us stop deceiving ourselves. Wherever they mix, there is constant friction resulting in violence. It is my profound view that Criminal Code Sharia Law, the bedrock of Islamic fundamentalism, is antithetical to Common Law and therefore inconsistent with secular democracy. Controversies in managing the two have resulted in Muslims being involved in over 90% of all the wars and terrorism in the world of today.
(i) Ndigbo must reclaim a liberated OHANAEZE NDIGBO to serve Igbo interest and not any parochial interests.
21. READ MY NEXT POSTING ON HOW TO MAKE NIGERIA PAY FOR ACTS OF GENOCIDE AGAINST THE IGBO FROM1966 UP RECENT IPOB KILLING THROUGH SUPPORT FOR LITIGATIONS LEAD BY EKWENCHE & International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, Onitsha, Southeast Nigeria. Check them out at  EKWENCHE at www.ekwenche.org and Intersociety @ www.intersociety-ng.org

AGITATION FOR THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION IS LAWFUL & PROTEST AGAINST ENSLAVEMENT

AGITATION FOR THE RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION IS LAWFUL & PROTEST AGAINST ENSLAVEMENT

Sub-Theme:This nation cannot survive half slave and half free - Abraham Lincoln.

Separatism or the advocacy or practice of separation of a certain group of people from a larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender is in both Nigerian and international law inherent and inalienable right of the peoples of Nigeria.

Self Determination Provisions in the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN ICCPR)
The United Nations General Assembly on 16th Dec. 1966,  in a bid to minimize the abridgment of minority rights by over-bearing majorities in member states , adopted the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which came into force on 23rd March 1976. Nigeria ratified this Covenant on 29th July, 1993.
The first article of ICCPR emphasizes the premium the UN places on peoples’ right to self determination in unions in member states.
Part I, Article 1 provides that “All peoples have the right of self-determination.” And “By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” Part II, Article 2 (1) binds “Each State party to the Covenant to undertake to respect and ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights 
recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind . . . .“ Article 2 (2) further binds
all parties to the Covenant, to domesticate the provisions of the Covenant into their national laws and
“adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in this
Covenant.” Article 2 (3) compels each state party to undertaking to ensure remedy for its citizens
whose rights under this Covenant have been violated or denied.”

Self Determination Provisions in the African Charter on Human and Political Rights (ACHPR)
Finding the UN ICCPR as a very critical document for stabilizing unions in Federations, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), on 27th June 1981, in its Summit meeting in Banjul, Gambia, adopted its on charter to regulate civil and political rights in the African continent. This is what is now known as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) (also called Banjul Charter). Article 20 of the Charter is centered on the Right to Self Determination of constituents of member states.
 (1)”All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their 
economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen.”
(2)”Colonized or oppressed peoples shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of 

domination by resorting to any means recognized by the international community.”
(3)”All peoples shall have the right to the assistance of the State Parties to the present Charter in their liberation struggle against foreign domination, be it political, economic or cultural.”
The ACHR came into effect in all AU member nations on 21st October 1986 when over 50% of AU member states had ratified it. Nigeria signed the charter on 31st August 1982, ratified it on 22nd June 1983 and deposited it with the African Commission on Human Rights on 22nd July 1983. The African Human Rights Commission headquartered in Banjul, Gambia, regulates the ACHR and serves as a court on violations of its provisions by member States.

Domestication of ACHPR by Nigeria:
Nigeria further domesticated ACHR as its own municipal law by its enactment of the African Charter on Human and peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 1983 (now Cap. 10 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 1990).
Separatism or aspiration for separation from a Nigeria is therefore within the laws of UN, AU
and Nigeria.

Salutary Effect of Provision for the Right to Self-Determination:
The essence of entrenching the right to self-determination in the laws of federations is not necessarily to cause disintegration. The provision at the end of the day, helps in fostering more genuine unity and strengthens longer lasting and peaceful polity than unity forced on an entity by laws which pay no regard to the feelings and reactions of the divergent peoples of a federation.
Entrenching the right to self determination in the laws of any federation and the option of its assertion, therefore helps to curb the excessive arrogance of the majority (like the oligarchy in Nigeria) by ensuring equality of all before the Law.  It thus ensures that minority rights are protected.
Equality and mutual respect between the peoples comprising it, are two inherent principles of
federation, in the absence of which there is acrimony and alienation, as is prevalent in 201 Nigeria.
Assertion of the right to self determination therefore compels mutual respect in federations between
minorities and the majority groups. The absence of that right results in enslavement of minorities and
consequent alienation.
The resolution of two Separatist agitations in Canada and UK, confirm that the exercise of the right to self determination, does not necessarily lead to secession.
 It is this right that entitled the French Roman Catholic Canadians of Quebec province who constitute only 23.07% (8.10 million) of Canada’s 35.1 million (2014) to twice freely test in referenda (1980 & 1995) their wish to separate or remain with the rest of English-speaking CanadianProtestant Pentecostals. By  Official Languages Act (1969), Canada adopted English and French as official languages of Canada.  The 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights was the country's first federal law to protect human rights and fundamental freedom. Considered groundbreaking at the time, it was eventually superseded by the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These Acts among other things,
further helped to reassure protection for minorities' rights.  It is worthy of note that Mr. Joseph
Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, a Quebecer and  the 15th Prime Minister of Canada  (1968
-1979 & 1980-1984) and 5th of eleven  Quebecers who have been Prime ministers, was in office
during the 1980 referendum.  Quebecers found no reason to leave Canada and therefore chose to remain. Rejection of secession was again repeated in the 1995 referendum.

The Scottish Independence referendum of Sept. 18, 2014 for the Scots, who make up only 8.32% of the UK population, is one of the most patent demonstrations of a liberal world’s assertion that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” (United Nations Declaration of Human Rights - UDHR Article 1) and of UK's compliance with Article1 of United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights ( UN ICCPR): “All People have the right of Self Determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status . . .”
The British Prime Minister took time after the vote to explain that Britain had no legal framework for
 the referendum but on account of the human rights implications of the Scottish agitation, he had to
introduce an Order-in-Council which was supported by all political parties, and that enabled the
referendum.  London and Scottish Parliaments ratified the Order-in-Council, thereby setting up the
vote. The government of United Kingdom set up an all-party committee and ensured that most Scottish grounds for separation were ameliorated or removed. On September 18, 2014, the Scottish Nation Party, the promoters of Scottish separatism, consequently lost the vote.

IPOB and MASSOB Agitation is Lawful 
IPOB and  MASSOB are therefore breaking no laws by agitating for separation. Indeed, they are following international and Nigerian laws by peacefully expressing their dissatisfaction with failing Nigeria and their separatist wish. IPOB and MASSOB are doing what regional politicians did in
Quebec and Scotland, and what Catalonian politicians are presently doing in Spain. Most Nigerian
politicians, perhaps, out of fear of exclusion from dipping in the honey pot, invariably do not openly
identify with their people's aspiration. Besides, Nigerian electoral Act forbids registration of regional
parties whose sole purpose, like in Scotland, Quebec in Canada and Catalonia of Spain, would be
regional autonomy  or separation.

Rightful Reaction of the Federal Government of Nigeria to Separatist Agitation:
It is therefore the binding duty of the National  Assembly to enact a Bill authorizing Referendum in any area that might wish to exercise its right to self determination. Such enactment must provide that it is a vote in the State Assembly/Assemblies covering the area under separatist agitation that would
activate a referendum; and not the National Assembly any more.  A specified percentage majority vote in such State Assembly/Assemblies of the separatist area/areas   Must be required to activate
referendum. If the bill passes the area's legislative houses, then referendum must be conducted to
ascertain the people's definite preference.

Shooting Separatist Agitators is an International Crime Against Humanity:
Shooting agitators for separatism whilst demonstrating peacefully or praying for their aspiration, is therefore an international crime against humanity for which the Federal Government of Nigeria must
be held accountable to the International Criminal Court, and to other UN Commissions/Committees under protocols of other UN charters/ covenants; to the African Commission on Human Rights; and courts of various UN members under varying protocols of their municipal laws.
Nigeria's Indivisibility Bogey
Nigeria cannot claim indivisibility after allowing Bakassi to be excised from it and awarded to
Cameroon for the the assistance it gave to Nigeria during the war. Not even governments are allowed
in international law to approbate and reprobate. "Quod approbo non reprobo" (that which I approve, I
cannot disapprove).

The Supreme Courtof Nigeria Ruling on ACHPR (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 1983
(now Cap. 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990).
The Supreme Court of Nigeria put to rest the issue of superiority of international treaties ratified by
Nigeria over national/municipal laws. In Appeal no. 44/1997, between General Sani Abacha,
Attorney-General of the Federation, State Security, Inspector-General of Police (appellants) versus
late indomitable Civl Rights Crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (respondents) determined on Friday, 28th April 2000, in the lead judgement delivered by Hon. Justice Michael Ekundayo Ogundare. J.S.C, that ACHPR being a multi-lateral treaty, and having been enacted into law by the National Assembly, and incorporated into Nigeria's municipal (i.e. domestic) law by the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 1983, now Cap. 10 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 1990, became binding and our Courts are bound to give effect to it like all other
laws falling within the Judicial power of the Courts. By Cap. 10, the African Charter is therefore part
of the laws of Nigeria and like all other laws, the Courts must uphold it. The Charter gives to citizens
of member states of the Organisation of African Unity rights and obligations, which rights and
obligations are to be enforced by our Courts. The Supreme Court further determined that Cap. 10 being a statute with international flavour that whenever there is a conflict between it and another
statute, its provisions will prevail over those of that of other statute for the reason that it is presumed
that the legislature does not intend to breach an international obligation and that to this extent the Charter possesses "a greater vigour and strength" than any other domestic statute except the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is Nigeria's grand nun.

President Buhari's Declaration that he will not Tolerate Biafran Agitators:
The reaction of President Muhammad Buhari on issues of Self Determination underlines the
enslavement of our people in Nigeria.
Late in February 2016 in Qatar in answer to a question by a well-informed Martine Dennis in Al
Jazeera television studios on why Nigerian troops were massacring Biafran agitators for self
determination, President Buhari did not bother to deny the massacre of unarmed protesters, but appeared to have justified the killings.
"At least two millions Nigerians were killed in the Biafra war. And for somebody to wake up maybe they weren’t born. Looking for Biafra after two millions people were killed, they are joking with the 
security and Nigeria won’t tolerate Biafra,” declared President Buhari who appeared very angry that he had to answer questions on Biafrans being slaughtered  by his security agencies.
The ordinary dictionary definition of the word "tolerate" is  "allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one does not necessarily like or agree with) without interference."
For example "a regime unwilling to tolerate dissent" as expressed by President Buhari. Common
synonyms of the word "tolerate": allow, permit, condone, accept, swallow, countenance.
By uttering those words in the circumstance, the President of Nigeria outrightly asserted Nigeria's denial of Biafran agitators' fundamental rights to life, dignity of human person, personal liberty,
freedom of thought, of conscience, of expression, of peaceful assembly and association, of
movement; and from discrimination, all of which are guaranteed in Chapter IV of the Nigerian
Constitution; and further guaranteed by provisions in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN UDHR), the UN International  Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN ICCPR) and  the African Charter on Human and Political Rights (ACHPR), all of which are ratified and domesticated
by Nigeria. Any human denied all of the above rights is no more a normal human, but a slave.

President Buhari Declares Support for Western Sahara and Palestine Rights to Self 
Determination:
President Buhari seemed to have rubbed in the enslavement  of Nigerians to the oligarchy, when  the
same time he denied Nigerians' right to Self Determination and appeared to have endorsed the
massacre of self determination agitators by Nigerian security agencies, he openly declared support for
the right to Self Determination of two Arab Moslem  self determination agitators of Western Sahara and of Palestine. What is good for the goose is perhaps not good for the gander, because perhaps, the gander is sub-human.

Self Determination Agitation is the only Meaningful Peaceful Way out of Enslavement:
IPOB and MASSOB self determination agitation,  might at the end of the day be the only meaningful challenge to the arrogance of the oligarchy that has enslaved both Yoruba, Igbo Ijaw, Efik, the Middle Belt and all other minorities, north or south of Nigeria. Equality and mutual respect emerges from
separatist advocacy if well and systematically engineered.
  As Rev.Martin Luther King learnt in the U.S. Civil rights agitation  and expressed in his biography:
 "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it 
must be demanded by the oppressed."
And Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the founding thinkers of USA, author, publisher,
inventor, scientist who in one of famous quotes prepared the ground for Rev. King's premise for liberation.
Rebellion against tyranny is obedience to God.

IPOB and MASSOB are demanding freedom for all enslaved people of Nigeria. Some may argue that we are not enslaved! The answers to and opinions on following everyday incidents in Nigeria would resolve the issue whether Nigeria is a free nation under the Rule of Law or, as it obvious, crawling
into medieval feudalism in slavery and enslavement.

Evidences of Enslavement:
Cattle Fulani Herdsmen Militancy:
 Over 400 killed and 7000 driven out of their ancestral homes into unkept refugee camps recently in Agatu in Benue State? Agatu Local Government Area is barely 40 kilometers from South-East northern most border, Obollo Afor, in Nsukka area. What about recent killings at Abbi Community, Nsukka, Enugu State among other killings and rapes all over the South-East,  Anioma in Delta State, the rest of South-South and South-West zones. Plateau, Nassarawa, Taraba, Kwara and Kogi States and Southern Kaduna are occupied territories and have lost their voices of protest in subjugation.

 Nigeria is not a major Cattle breeding nation of the world and that  according to 1990/92 Nigerian
Livestock Resources (RIM) Survey estimates, Nigeria had less than 13.90 million cattle  whereas
major cattle breeding countries of the world, by 2009 figures have as high as 285 million cattle in India; 187,087,000 in Brazil; China 139,721,000; U.S.A. 96,669,000; EU 87,650,000,Argentina
51,062,000; Pakistan 38,300,000; Australia 29,202,000; Mexico  26,489,000.
In all of the above countries, laws prohibit wandering of cattle which are restricted to ranches in the interest of public safety, health and economics of cattle breeding.
Nigeria is one of the very few countries in the world where cattle and herdsmen contest freedom of movement and property ownership with citizens under Fulani culture of  Pastorialism which is not only primitive, outmoded & uncivilized but also uneconomic; and has been long discarded by the civilized and productive world! A recent announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Audu Ogbeh, that killings, abductions, rapes and sacking of communities by Fulani herdsmen would have to wait until the Federal government has imported grass seeds from Brazil and grown enough
enhanced grass for cattle. Dr. Ogbeh need be reminded that Section 14-((2)(b) of the Constitution of
Nigeria clearly states that  "the security and welfare of the people (not cattle) shall be the primary 
purpose of government;" and that it is armed Fulani militants masquerading under cover as herdsmen
who commit the havoc and need to be separated f  from the kafirs (unbelievers, in the own opinion)  who they wantonly attack.                                            

Kidnap, Rape, Confinement and Forced religious conversion of under-age Girls and Women:
 What about Ese Oruru's abduction from Bayelsa State to Kano State and forceful conversion to a religious faith she and neither of her parents have ever identified with? It is now known that the kidnap and forceful conversion of girls-children  and even adult women, is a common phenomenon  in the twelve Northern Sharia States of Nigeria. The Nigerian Police in those northern States has confessed  helplessness and loss of all the powers conferred on it by the Constitution and the Police Act. It is  instead subordinated to the assumed influence/powers (not conferred on them by the
Constitution of Nigeria)  of the Emirs and the Sharia/Emirate Councils/Hisbah Religious Police, who
invariably boast to the parents of kidnapped victims that their kidnap and forceful conversion/marriage of victims are irreversible by any State authority under The Nigerian Constitution, except them, the usurpers of citizens' rights. Victims have been kept incommunicado from families in some cases for several years before forced marriages. One needs imagine that the victim is one's daughter, grand-daughter or relative to appreciate the trauma affected Nigerian citizens are commonly subjected in these affected states of the North.
What syndrome compels such inhumanity against minors, and even adults, can be best explained by the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity!
Does anyone think that if that process is reversed and there is a kidnap and forceful conversion from Kano to Yenegoa, that this country would be as cool as it is for two weeks, not to think of  months and years, in some respects. The reaction of triumphalism by the feudal overlords of these Sharia
States to kidnap and forceful conversion/ marriage of femal minors puts a serious question mark to
the seriousness of fundamentalist Islam-dominated Federal bureaucracy in finding the Chibok girls.
Perhaps as the nation mourns its humiliation in the  Chibok saga, Nigeria's feudalist overlords celebrate their triumph behind porous veils. The  Bring-Back-our-Girls frenzy engendered by the outrage of the 279 girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on 6th May 2014, might as well be comic melodrama.

 What about Miss Charity (Aisha) Uzoechina, 24-year-old daughter of Pastor Uzoechina of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, who in 2013 was kidnapped from Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, and today is one of the harem women of the Etsu Nupe, in Niger State, having under influence, renounced her family and faith?

Conspiracy of Silence:
What gives the Hausa-Fulani, a right to roam Nigeria, killing indigenes of the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria in their ancestral homes, and boldly take over ancestral lands, the same time the Hausa-Fulani drive other Nigerians away from their Northwest and North-East home lands with religious intolerance, oral and physical violence, which acts of impunity are now common place, since the Federal Government Security Agencies, by acts of omission and commission, openly endorse these above-the-Law privileges?
If Nigeria is not a slave camp for people outside the oligarchy, can someone explain why State Governors and Houses of Assemblies of the States ravaged by Cattle Fulani militants are unable to prohibit movement of cattle on hoof; and limit their movement to rail and/or motorized transportation by enactment of State Laws since the Nigerian Constitution empowers States to regulate markets and
livestock movement under Commerce and Agriculture?
The National Assembly (NASS) is also complicit by its uncommon silence over this notorious saga.
Representatives of the enslaved in the National Assembly, have abandoned their constituents and kept mum, perhaps in the interest of the Slavers. NASS is also complicit  by its deafening silence on cattle Fulani herds men's indiscriminate violations of citizen's fundamental rights.
Prisoners have rights regulated by Law but Slaves have no rights except as arbitrarily granted by their masters.

Conclusion:
The Igbo have a saying. Oru full ka eji mbazu eni ibe ya malu na etua ka ogadi mbosi nke ya (Literally meaning - a slave who witnesses the burial of a slave with  traditionally forbidden spear, must note that his own burial, whenever it will be, will take the same forbidden pattern.

"This nation cannot survive half slave and half free,"  declared Abraham Lincoln years before he went to war as U.S. 16th President (1861-65) to liberate all Slaves in the United States.

May God Help us!

Emeka Onyesoh

President, Forum for National Ethos and Values, Enugu.
17th March 2016.