The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) has described the statement credited to the Presidency linking the ongoing Million-Man Freedom March opposite the United Nations Headquaters, New York, United States of America as an alliance between the Agitators for Self-Determination In Yoruba Land and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as an unintelligent attempt to paint the peaceful demonstration black.
Itt says the Presidency is fretting because it has succeeded in exposing to the world, the ongoing genocide and fraud being perpetrated by the Fulani-Controlled Nigerian Government against the peoples of the South and Middle-Belt Regions of the Country through the imposed 1999 Constitution.
Recall that the Presidency in a statement by one of the Presidential spokesmen, Mr. Garba Shehu, said it was shocking, to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to the Presidency, IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation which has publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation, adding that the group
regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant rise of violent attacks this year. “And it is currently attempting to hold Nigerian states hostage with orders to stay at home under threat of terror,” Shehu said, adding that the world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps.
Undaunted, however, the Chairman of NINAS, Professor Banji Akintoye, in a statement through his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said the march it organised was to show to the world, the ordeal, suffering and subjugation of the indigenous people of the South and Middle of Nigeria in the hands of the Fulani-Controlled Nigerian Government, is a collaboration of the Members of Ilana Omo Oodua representing the Yoruba Land, Lower Niger Congress representing the South South and South East and Middle-Belt Rennaissance Movement representing the Middle Belt Region.
Akintoye said NINAS have nothing whatsoever in plans, principle and content to do with IPOB, stating that the Nigerian Government should address all issues raised by the protesters, rather than resorting to blackmail and peddling of fallacies.
The historian said rather than losing sleep and temper over the March, the Nigerian Government should, without further delay, declare Miyetii Allah a terrorist organisation as being demanded by NINAS, saying “the real terrorists in Nigeria are operating under Miyetti Allah”.
“Members of Miyetii Allah have killed scores and thousands of the people in the South and Middle-Belt Regions of Nigeria. They have invaded hundreds of towns and villages, brandishing dangerous weapons to kill, maim and rape our people. The Nigerian Government has done nothing to curtail these marauders.
“Rather than listen to the yearnings and aspirations of our people, the Buhari led Government has consistently waged war against people who attempt to checkmate the menace of Miyyetii Allah in the name of grazing of Cows.
“The genocide and Crimes Against Humanity being committed by Miyyetii Allah means nothing to the Nigerian Presidency. The Presidency has declared our Governors in the South Personal Non-grata for enacting laws to checkmate the murderous activities of Miyyetii Allah.
“Now, the Government is attempting, unintelligently, to criminalise peaceful organisations like NINAS, Ilana Omo Oodua, Lower Niger Congress and Middle-Belt Rennaissance Movement for embarking on a peaceful March outside the shores of Nigeria where the guns and ammunitions of the Presidency cannot touch them.
“For the record, we wish to state very expressly, and with all due respect to whatever they represent, that NINAS and its affiliate organisations – Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), Lower Niger Congress (LNC) and Middle-Belt Rennaissance Movement (MBRM) have nothing whatsoever to do with IPOB.
“We also want to put it on record that IPOB is not in any way involved in the ongoing march in New York. The IPOB Banner you saw was obviously planted by agents of the Nigerian Government masquerading as members of NINAS for photo shoots which we have since unraveled and checkmated.
“We say to the Presidency that the unintelligent attempt to cause frictions and divisions between the Yoruba people in the West and the Igbo people in the East is dead on arrival. We shall continue to collaborate, peacefully, for the salvation of our people.
“Our appeal to the Government, therefore, is to address the issues raised in the December 16 2020 Constitution Force Majure declared by NINAS. This appeal is necessary so that Indigenous Nationalities in NINAS Territories can peacefully negotiate for what they want without further delay.
“Our demand remains conduct of a referendum so that the Indigenous people of the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria can lawfully and legally decide on their nationhood and sovereignty. We demand for the immediate abolition of the imposed 1999 Constitution.
“We demand an end to the genocide being perpetrated by Miyyetii Allah against our people. Miyyetii Allah is a Terrorist group and it should be declared such by the United Nations. The invasion of our land in the name of grazing is enough. What is happening in our Territories today is State-sponsored Terrorism and Land grab, not cow grazing.
“Instead of planting IPOB banners in our March venue with the hope of using it to paint our struggle black before the world leaders on 24th September that he want to address UNGA, we advise President Muhammad Buhari to stop mortgaging our future through borrowing of endless loans.
“We shall resume the march on 24th September, Opposite the United Nations Headquaters to tell President Muhammad Buhari to his face that his Miyeti Allah people are the enemy number one of the people of South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria, and they are the authentic Terrorists”, the statement, said..
But Shehu, in the Presidency’s statement said no one can take NINAS seriously if it continues its IPOB association.
He adds: “When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN.
“The cooperation is a worrying development, once parsed with Yoruba Nation’s increasingly violent rallies in Nigeria.
“Actions and associations speak louder than words. Yoruba Nation’s talk of human rights promotion must therefore be ignored.
“Meanwhile, the Nigerian government will continue its work at the UN- to fight against corruption and illicit financial flows, and international cooperation.
“If we want to see stolen funds returned to their rightful home in Nigeria, the government must continue to campaign for and coordinate global action on asset recovery.
“The government will remain the leading regional actor in the fight against global terror – particularly against threats emanating from the Sahel. Through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme, the country also shares technical expertise with countries from the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific.
“At the same time, the administration is implementing a programme of environmental sustainability to combat developments which destroys Nigerian communities in vulnerable regions.
“Only through the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development can we secure a prosperous future for Nigeria.
“As the largest country in Africa, the government takes seriously its leadership role and will continue to strive for continental unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
“Our expectation is therefore for the media to work with the government to focus attention on the core issues the President, the leader of the country has on his programme.”
