Exercise Egwu Eke II (Operation Python Dance II) announced on Saturday by Nigerian Army Chief of Training and Operations, Major General DD Ahmadu, on behalf of Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. TY Buratai, has been described as a military invasion capable of resulting in the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Joining in condemnation of the exercise, frontline Igbo group Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) described Operation Python Dance II as a flagrant abuse of the Nigerian Constitution.
“This is Military Invasion and Occupation of Alaigbo, nay, Declaration of War against peaceful citizens of Alaigbo! The duty of the military is to protect the country from external aggression. Maintenance of Internal Security belongs to the Police,” ADF said in a statement signed by Prof T. Uzodinma Nwala (President); Prof. Nath Aniekwu (Secretary); and Dr Dozie Ikedife (Chairman, Board of Trustees).
The group pointed out as follows: “The responsibility of internal security is that of the Police and non-military agencies. The President’s powers to deploy the Nigerian Armed Forces are provided for in Sections 217 and 218 of the Constitution.”
ADF noted that the circumstances and conditions under which the Nigerian Armed Forces can be deployed are as follows:
1. For the defense of Nigeria from external aggression,
2. For the maintenance of the territorial integrity of and securing the borders of Nigeria from violation on land, sea and air.
3. For suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
Continuing, ADF said: “It is, therefore, clear that the planned invasion and occupation of the South-East, the heartland of Alaigbo is a flagrant breach of the Constitution and as such an impeachable offence.
“With the hate songs against the Igbo that have flooded the airwaves in Arewa North and the hanging Quit Notice on the Igbo from the North, ADF sees this military invasion as a coordinated and deliberate action to proactively cripple any opposition and cow and emasculate the Igbo heartland as a complement to the planned annihilation of Igbos in the North by the Arewa Youths during the same period.
“With the burden of history, especially the events of 1966-7, and under the menacing present ominous circumstances, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), as a Corporate body of patriotic citizens , shall:
“Challenge the planned military invasion and occupation of Alaigbo in the Court of law and seek declarations, by the courts, that the action of Mr. President is an infringement on the Constitution, as amended.
“Since the planned invasion clearly infringes on the powers of the National Assembly, ADF shall call on the National Assembly to stand up and defend her Constitutional authority and integrity. And if the invasion and occupation proceeds as planned, the National Assembly shall be called upon to commence impeachment proceedings against Mr. President.
“Call on civil societies, women and youth in Alaigbo to engage in civil and peaceful demonstrations throughout Alaigbo in protest against the invasion.
“Call on various Igbo groups, the traditional institution, the church and other elders of Igboland, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to raise their voices against the invasion of Alaigbo.
“Send further protest representations to the International Community on the latest attack and occupation of Alaigbo.
“Call on other patriotic and well-meaning citizens and nationalities in Nigeria to come to the aid of the Igbo nation at this time of another planned pogrom against Ndigbo. What else can we call this except FASCISM enveloping the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The elders of Alaigbo and all patriotic Pan-Igbo organisations should liaise with the Governors in Alaigbo in spearheading an Emergency Political Conference of Ndigbo to holistically address the future of Alaigbo and deliberate on the continued threat and assault on our fundamental rights of self-determination and peaceful existence as a freedom-loving people
“Meanwhile, all Igbo groups worldwide should device means of continuing to inform the International Community about what is happening to their people at home and thereby seek their sympathy and intervention, where necessary and possible, to help save Ndigbo against another looming genocide in Nigeria.”
This recent illegally construed deployment of Buhari’s military in Igbo states shows a couple of things:
1. That this president has one thing in mind ever since assuming office…finishing the civil war he could not finish in 1967-1970 and subsequently, finishing up the Igbos.
2. That the so-called Igbo leaders are non leaders at all but empty vessels that cannot even speak up in defense of their people.
3. Finally, it has shown that the Hausas have been right all these time in proclaiming that “all they need to do in times like this is to pay off or bribe Igbo people to shut them up…even when atrocities are about to be committed against the Igbos.
I guarantee you that this type of invasion will never happen anywhere in Yoruba land. All the Yoruba leaders will rise up and say something…even some who are in bed with this president.
Where are the elected leaders of the Igbo states? Where are the Dr. Alex Ekwuemes? Where are the Ndubuisi Kanus? The Mbitu Ukiwes? Where are the Emeka Anyaokus, who has been in the Nigerian leadership in the commonwealth countries? I am sure that wherever he is, he has seen all the recent developments in his “beloved” Igbo states. What has he been doing to alert the world of these developments in Igboland? I am quite sure that all the years he spent representing Nigeria has garnered him some friends or sympathetic ears around the commonwealth world. I am well aware that it can be hard to go against the UK government who are directly involved and intertwined in Nigerian government not agreeing to allowing negotiations with IPOB.
Where are all those friends you have made all these years? Where are they, sir? All conditions are critical in Igboland…alert your friends and call in the chips.
I am sure that situations like this are not easily arrested especially when you have splintered groups…both the governors of Imo State and Anambra States have completely splintered from speaking up because of their antagonisms with IPOB and Nnamdi Kalu…that makes it easy for them not to care.
And with all these “sellouts” in the Igboland…what are the rest of Nigerians doing to call attention to this flagrant abuse of power and impending genocide? Where are all the church leaders…Christian Association of Nigerians (CAN)?
The task in the laps of all the God fearing Nigerians (Hausa, Yoruba, Tiv, etc.), is to speak up before it is too late. If they don’t speak up, the excesses of this president in trying to prosecute a civil war that ended about 50 years ago will continue unabated.
And because if they don’t speak up now, the whole world would soon be hearing the story that “there was once an ethnic people in southeast Nigeria called the Igbos.”
Cash Ezimako
This recent illegally construed deployment of Buhari’s military in Igbo states shows a couple of things:
1. That this president has one thing in mind ever since assuming office…finishing the civil war he could not finish in 1967-1970 and subsequently, finishing up the Igbos.
2. That the so-called Igbo leaders are non leaders at all but empty vessels that cannot even speak up in defense of their people.
3. Finally, it has shown that the Hausas have been right all these time in proclaiming that “all they need to do in times like this is to pay off or bribe Igbo people to shut them up…even when atrocities are about to be committed against the Igbos.
I guarantee you that this type of invasion will never happen anywhere in Yoruba land. All the Yoruba leaders will rise up and say something…even some who are in bed with this president.
Where are the elected leaders of the Igbo states? Where are the Dr. Alex Ekwuemes? Where are the Ndubuisi Kanus? The Mbitu Ukiwes? Where are the Emeka Anyaokus, who has been in the Nigerian leadership in the commonwealth countries? I am sure that wherever he is, he has seen all the recent developments in his “beloved” Igbo states. What has he been doing to alert the world of these developments in Igboland? I am quite sure that all the years he spent representing Nigeria has garnered him some friends or sympathetic ears around the commonwealth world. I am well aware that it can be hard to go against the UK government who are directly involved and intertwined in Nigerian government not agreeing to allowing negotiations with IPOB.
Where are all those friends you have made all these years? Where are they, sir? All conditions are critical in Igboland…alert your friends and call in the chips.
I am sure that situations like this are not easily arrested especially when you have splintered groups…both the governors of Imo State and Anambra States have completely splintered from speaking up because of their antagonisms with IPOB and Nnamdi Kalu…that makes easy for them not to care.
And with all these “sellouts” in the Igboland…what are the rest of Nigerians doing to call attention to this flagrant abuse of power and impending genocide? Where are all the church leaders…Christian Association of Nigerians (CAN)?
The task in the laps of all the God fearing Nigerians (Hausa, Yoruba, Tiv, etc.), is to speak up before it is too late. Because if they don’t, the whole world would soon be hearing the story of…”there was once an ethnic people in Nigeria called the Igbos.”
Cash Ezimako