Buhari signs to proscribe IPOB
A lot of dusts have been raised over the proscription of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist
group by the Nigerian Army since few days ago.
Before he departed on Sunday for the 72nd United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he will be expected to address other
world leaders today, President Muhammadu Buhari
put pen to paper to accentuate the proscription. This was done to get the heat
off the Nigerian Army and to ensure that due process is followed, according to
the report gathered by THISDAY.
“In a move to take the heat off the Nigerian Army and
ensure that due process is followed, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a
presidential proclamation proscribing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
over the group’s involvement in terrorist activities.
“Making
this known yesterday, sources in the Office of the Attorney General of the
Federation informed THISDAY that the president signed the declaration on
Sunday before his departure for the 72nd United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York, where he will be expected to address other world leaders
today.
“Buhari’s
decision to sign the proclamation was a fallout of the sharp criticism that
followed the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian
Army at the weekend and the group’s proscription by the South-east governors.
“Although
the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai yesterday made a half-hearted
attempt to deny that the army had declared IPOB a terrorist group, this did not
stop the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki from insisting that due
process should have been followed before the declaration and proscription by
the army and South-east governors respectively.
“With
the signing of the proclamation by Buhari, a source in the attorney general’s
office explained that the presidency had effectively initiated the formal
process of proscribing IPOB in accordance with the provisions of the Terrorism
(Prevention) Act, 2011.
"It also
paved the way for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar
Malami (SAN) to head to court to give legal backing to the presidential
proclamation.”
What is wrong with our country?. How could learned men and the world watch this happening to a group protesting for freedom and right to form a new government and sovereignty under United Nations Charter of Rights and freedoms. This is a wrong move because it actually tells on the entire country that the voice of the minority can easily be silenced.
ReplyDeleteThat is the world we are into now. Everything is now possible.
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