Nigerians under captivity from change to chains
(Nigeria) A rights group, International Society for Civil
Liberties and the Rule of Law, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari,
Christmas massage, entitled “No group will
hold Nigeria to ransom again,” noting that the massage was “self-indicted because
Nigeria is being held to ransom by the Presidency of Buhari; and not the other
way round.”
Leader of the group, Emeka Umeagbalasi in a statement in Onitsha, Anambra State on
Thursday, said “A Nigerian Facebook blogger recently stated that “Buhari/APC
shouted chain and Nigerians thought the shouters said change.” That is to say
that Nigerians are dictatorially captive; following the shout of “chains,”
which they took to be “change.”
“The country’s military had also boasted recently that “it
must maintain one united Nigeria by fire by force”.
“The latest Presidential and military boasts must have been
emboldened by their recent atrocious acts against innocent Shiite Muslim
faithful in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria and the Pro Biafran Peaceful Campaigners
in Southeast and South-south Nigeria; leading to massacre of over 300 Shiite
followers and killing of over 20 Pro Biafran Activists respectively.
“The two brutal shootings also resulted in scores of deadly
injuries. Using “No Group Will Hold Nigeria to Ransom Again” as a Xmas Message
to Nigerians also amounts to presidential demonization of feast of Xmas or
birth of the Saviour (Jesus Christ). The message title is not only a
presidential justification of the two atrocious acts, but also an indication of
presidential remorselessness and its readiness to further slaughter thousands
of other innocent citizens of Nigeria.
“Nigerians and members of the international community had
expected the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari to use the Xmas Message to break
its unholy silence over recent presidential atrocities and other forms of abuse
of office and power; ranging from reported missing in action of dozens of
soldiers, fragrant and rapacious disobedience or flouting of court orders and
reckless executive interference in the judicial affairs; to the Zaria massacre
and the Onitsha Killings and shootings.
“We had also expected the embattled Buhari’s Presidency to
announce the prompt sack and arrest of the principal actors in the butcheries
under reference particularly the trios of Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur
Buratai; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; and Commander of the
302 Artillery Regiment of Nigerian Army, Onitsha, Col Issah Abdullahi; yet the
Xmas Message turned out to be empty and collectively insulting.
“Further to the forgoing was the graphic report of how the
personnel of the Nigeria Police Force stationed on Southeast Roads by IGP
Solomon Arase converted the roads into extortion and other graft scenes;
resulting in them pocketing a whopping sum of N1.03Billion in 60 days. Despite
the comprehensiveness of the report with recent pictures of police personnel
caught brazenly and openly collecting bribes from motorists and other road
users; yet the presidential Xmas message chose to ignore it. This is the same
Government that goes about parroting locally and internationally of leading a
war against corruption. In all these, the Presidency of Buhari and his security
forces have adamantly chosen to remain in the past and dark, clinging on State
terror and brigandage with impunity.
“Arresting soldiers said to have perpetrated the massacre in
Zaria and handing them over to the National Human Rights Commission for
investigation is a clear case of the COAS being a judge in his own case. The
first culprit to be arrested and investigated is the COAS, Lt Gen Tutur
Buratai. Accepting such smokescreen or fire brigade approach on the part of the
leadership of the NHRC, if true, is also conspiratorial, aiding and abetting;
likewise reported intervention of the National Assembly as well as the so
called “panel of inquiry”, reportedly set up by the Government of Kaduna State.
As a matter of fact, the Government of Kaduna State is an inescapable
accomplice in the said Zaria massacre.
“The case of Ezu River mass murder of January 2013 is still
fresh in our memory. The investigative interventions into the dastardly act by
the trios of Federal Government, Senate and then Government of Anambra State
not only buried the matter, but also extricated the operatives of SARS
particularly its Nnewi Unit, which was strongly believed to have accounted for at least 20 of over 40 lifeless
bodies murdered late night and dumped in the River. These explain why we
opposed and still oppose any form of internal investigation into the two
butcheries in Zaria and Onitsha; except UN backed enquiries.
“Finally, while we note with deep appreciation recent
international reactions trailing the butcheries in Nigeria under reference,
particularly the comprehensive report of the Human Rights Watch; which
disclosed that “over 300 Shiite followers were killed by Nigerian soldiers and
buried in secret mass graves”; we are still deeply concerned over scanty or no
attention given to the Onitsha Killings and shootings particularly those of 2nd
December 2015.
“It is our insistence that equal attention must be given to
unlawful killings or butcheries that took place in any part of the world;
failure of which will signal racial discrimination and abandonment; which can
result to resort to self help and other forms of uncontrollable violence. We
demand firmly that any credible investigation over the butcheries must be
extended to the Onitsha Killings and shootings.
“While wishing all Nigerians merry Xmas, we also remember
the souls of those innocent citizens murdered in broad day light in Zaria and
Onitsha by soldiers and police personnel
under firm and written orders of
the duo of COAS and IGP. As their lives were cut short by the brute bullets of
the principal culprits with the conspiracies of the chief security officers of
the home States where they were murdered; so shall those that murdered them
remain restless and earthly dangling for the rest of their lives until they are
severely punished for heinous crimes they committed. On our part, we shall not
rest on our oars until law takes its full course locally or internationally.”
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