EDITORIAL 22 June 2007 Posted to the web 22 June 2007 Lagos THE continued incarceration of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by Federal Government, using the courts is beginning to appear both tendentious and embarrassing. This embarrassment is not just to the Igbo, of whose stock the MASSOB leader is, but also to the Federal Government whose action appears selective, discriminatory and punitive, considering that all those with whom Uwazuruike was detained for similar offences have all regained their freedom. In a co-ordinated operation late in 2005, Federal Government security operatives had swooped on ethnic-rights activists that included Otunba Gani Adams and Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, both of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC); Alhaji Asari Dokubo of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Fore (NDPVF) and Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. The perception, which had some justification had been that these personalities were working at cross-purposes with the Federal Government in their calls for political autonomy, (OPC), the re-negotiation of the Nigerian charter of association (NDPVF) and self determination (MASSOB) respectively. Understandably, many Nigerians had viewed the move to rein in these ethnic nationality advocates as pre-emptive, and therefore prudent, considering the national security issues at stake. Accordingly, when these detainees were charged to court, not a few Nigerians had viewed the matter as political offences that would eventually be resolved when the heated polity cooled down sufficiently. So that when Chief Uwazuruike and six of his lieutenants were arraigned November 2005 at a Federal High Court in Abuja and charged with treason and other offences punishable under Sections 37(1) and (2), 63 and 64 of the Criminal Code Act, as with Chief Adams and Dr. Fasheun, analysts had merely shrugged and gone on with their lives. Alhaji Asari Dokubo was later added to the list of those charged with the above offences, including the charge of waging war against the state of Nigeria . However, matters took a very curious turn when last year, 2006, citing health grounds, the Federal Government of Olusegun Obasanjo granted the founder of OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, bail to travel abroad to treat a faltering heart. Though Fasheun's alleged crimes are normally not bailable in law, the Federal Government nonetheless granted him leave to travel and get needed treatment. Shortly after, Gani Adams was equally granted bail by the Obasanjo government on the grounds that are not altogether clear but which many viewed as part of the political settlement needed to break their detention log-jam Following Gani Adam's release, many had reasoned that it was only a matter of time before both Asari Dokubo and Ralph Uwazuruike would equally regain their freedom. This didn't happen under Obasanjo. Even though many had seen the justifications for the agitations of people like Dokubo and Uwazuruike who, without prejudice to the sanctity of the Nigerian State could be said to have massive following in their ethnic strongholds. However, under President Musa Yar'Adua a court found it proper to grant bail to Asari Dokubo who regained his freedom to rapturous welcome recently. The question now agitating the minds of all observers, including even those with no stake in the putative Biafra of Uwazuruike's dreams is: why the continued detention of the MASSOB leader whose non-violent campaigns separated him from the violence associated with other ethnic-nationalist groups? Why is the government still holding on to Chief Uwazuruike whose detention has been characterised by the worst of human rights abuses including being brought to court on occasions naked and in chains? Many have attributed the shabby treatment metted out to the MASSOB leader to the fact that Uwazuruike is an ethnic orphan, belonging as it were to an ethnic group that is marked out for humiliation, discrimination and marginalisation on account of the role they played in the civil war of more than 40 years ago. In this view, it is thought that because Uwazuruike has no strong group to fight for his release, the authorities might as well handle his case with utmost contempt or, at best, benign neglect. This view, though shallow, has somehow gained credence from the glaring neglect of the whole of the Igbo states since the civil war ended both in infrastructural and institutional development. It may well be that there are other high-wire secrets, national security reasons why a peaceful campaigner for the rights of his people like Uwazuruike should continue to be held in captivity. But the perception that, of all those arrested and detained along with him, only Uwazuruike is still being held, reinforces this belief that the Igbo are singled out for national humiliation at the drop of a hat. And perception, as they say, is stronger than reality. Though from start this newspaper has affirmed the indivisibility of the Nigerian nation and the need to keep it together for peace and progress, we cannot wish away some of the legitimate demands of these ethnic nationality groups like MASSOB. We therefore urge that government should address the most glaring of these demands that border on the marginalisation of some of the most vibrant ethnic groups in the country. Besides, in relation to MASSOB, government has sinned against this group and its members who have been hunted and exterminated like common criminals in spite of the fact that all of them go about their agitations un-armed. While we unequivocally call for the release of Chief Uwazuruike as was done with Gani Adams, Fredrick Fasheun and Asari Dokubo, we use this forum also to advise members of MASSOB to keep the peace and work within the law in their demands for justice and equity. Chief Uwazuruike deserves to be treated in the same politically contrived manner as other of his comrades from other ethnic groups. Since President Umaru Yar'Adua has started on a note of reconciliation and healing of the festering wounds of the nation this past decade, the process should go round to include the release of all those whose suspected crimes are more political than criminal. Just release Uwazuruike . Today.
Posts: 88 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2006
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Renewed bid by the South East leaders in the Senate to secure a reprieve for the detained leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike suffered a major set back yesterday as Senate rejected a motion asking the Federal Government to release the detained leader.
But Senators Sylvester Anyanwu, Uche Chukwumerije, Ikechukwu Obiora and other sponsors of the failed motion in their separate reactions vowed to fight on until the detained MASSOB leader is freed like leaders of other similar groups.
This is as the Senate passed a motioin urging the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its three months strike.
Senator Chukwumerije and 24 other senators in the motion yesterday urged the federal government to free Chief Uwazuruike in the same spirit it released the leaders of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujaheed Asari Dokubo and his Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) counterparts, Gani Adams and Dr Frederick Fasehun.
The motion failed following a point of order raised by Senator Iyiola Omisore who drew the attention of the Senate to its Order 53(5); the Standing Rule which restrained the Upper House from making reference to any matter for which a judicial decision on it is still pending.
The Osun State born senator in his point of order, insisted that it will be prejudicial for the senate to be dragged into a matter that is already in court.
Sustaining Omisore point of order, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark stated that the Senate as the highest law making body in the land should not on its own violate any part of the Constitution.
Mark who disagreed with Senator Chukwumerije on Uwazuruike’s case was still in court ruled that "I am afraid we (Senate) cannot discuss the motion because I’m aware that this matter is in court."
"My opinion is that Uwazuruike’s lawyers should seek for the bail of the detained MASSOB leader," he added.
Spirited efforts by some South East senators to save the motion failed as the Senate President insisted that the Upper House can not be dragged into a matter that is already in court, doing so he said would amount to a violation of Order 53(5).
But Senators Obiora and Anyanwu in their separate interviews with Daily Champion shortly after the sitting yesterday vowed to re-introduce the motion on the floor of the Senate.
Obiora specifically asked President Yar’Adua to cause the release of the MASSOB leader at least on health ground and in keeping with the principles of equity, fairness and justice.
According to him, it would be inhuman to refuse Chief Uwazuruike bail when he is detained for similar offence allegedly committed by both the NDVF and OPC leaders.
But Senator Anyanwu in his reaction said his group will re introduce the motion on the floor of the Senate, saying that the continued detention of Uwazuruike is a violation of his human right.
According to him, the activities of MASSOB were an expression of frustration by the jobless youths in the South East.
Senator Anyanwu who incidentally is the law maker representing Okigwe zone where the detained leader, hails from said government should rather give the youths a sense of belonging by creating job opportunities.
Senators were however divided along their ethnic lines over the motion asking President Yar’Adua to free the MASSOB leader.
Senators mainly from the South West and northern extraction were largely opposed to the motion. Senators Abubakar Sodangi, Adeleke Mamora and Omisore in their separate reactions asked the South East leaders to press for Uwazuruike’s release in court.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday passed a resolution asking the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its protracted strike.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sylvester Anyanwu (Okigwe North) who drew attention of the grave consequences of the continued ASUU strike on the education sector.
The Senate specifically asked the Federal Government to respect the agreement it had duly entered with ASUU.
The Upper House in the motion amended by Sen. Chris Anyanwu Owerri also asked the Federal Government to take a comprehensive look at the education sector and evolve a marshall plan to rebuild the sector.
Most of the senators who spoke yesterday blamed the federal government for the pro-longed ASUU strike.
Meanwhile, the Senate has approved a request by President Yar’Adua to appoint special advisers. though the names of the advisers were not given, the approval followed a letter by Yar’Adua to Senate President.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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De talk now be say Baba Go Slow wan release una jipiti Uwazu when efritin don come jabrata. Na im be say una katakata go come begin cause wahala again o.
___________________ NA MY PAPA BORN ME Posts: 389 | From: Eugene, Oregon | Registered: Jul 2002
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The point is that this unprovoked and unwarranted killings of MASSOB members should be condemned by all people of goodwill and the killings must stop now. Haba!
Posts: 288 | From: California | Registered: Jul 2003
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