The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that the announcement of the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by Governors of the South-East states and the categorisation of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and did not follow due process.
Saraki stated this in a statement he personally signed on Monday and circulated by his media aide.
He maintained that “our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect. I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process. This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world at large that we are a country that operate by laid down process under every circumstance. So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool.”
Saraki also disclosed that the National Assembly will investigate the crisis that erupted in the South-East following the class between the military and IPOB members.
He urged all Nigerians to maintain peace and show brotherly love.
The statement reads
“Following the clash between the military and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), I hereby call for calm and restraint by all Nigerians so that we would all jointly find the right solution to the current problem rather than worsening the crisis.
“Our brothers and sisters in the South-east, in particular, should continue to maintain peace and tranquility and go about their lawful business. This crisis will not benefit anybody but would only expose innocent people to unwarranted danger.
“At this point, Nigerians outside the South-East who have worked to ensure that the crisis does not spread to other parts of the country deserve our commendation. I therefore call for continued efforts to sustain peace, unity and stability in all our communities so as to ensure that all residents, no matter their religion, tribe and creed remain protected and safe under the law.
“It is also important that commentators and purveyors of information on all media platforms should be conscious of the need, at all times, to maintain the unity of the country. Therefore, they must refrain from circulating information that has the potential for aggravating the crisis. We should all realise, as individuals and as a collective, that Nigeria is all we have and it is in our individual and collective interests that we do not stoke the fire of crisis and fan the ember of discord through the message we are spreading. We must all protect and strengthen our country rather than contributing to her collapse and disintegration.
“I also wish to state that the announcement of the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by Governors of the South-East states and the categorisation of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and does not follow due process. Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect. I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process. This will go a long way in demonstrating to the world at large that we are a country that operate by laid down process under every circumstance. So, those who have been hammering on this point should maintain their cool.
“We must commend the military for their efforts in restoring peace to different parts of the country and sustaining the unity of the country. However, in the face of provocation, the military should allow themselves to be guided by their training which emphasises respect for human rights, even in war. Also, giving the nature of this particular situation, the military has every reason to be hesitant in the use of force.
“Also, it is my view that we should not over-stretch the military. We need to protect our military against dissipation of their fighting strength. And this means we need to strengthen the police and equip them with the capacity to deal with civil crisis. That is why we, in the aNational Assembly, are already reviewing the Police Act and also looking at the possibility of enabling other para-military agencies to help in curbing civil unrest and maintenance of law and order.
“I want to also make it clear that the National Assembly intends to embark on a fact-finding investigation aimed at determining what actually happened during the period of the military exercise in the South-East. We want to be able to sift the facts from the fiction and determine who did what. It is quite clear that all the facts are not yet known. We assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We intend to lay the facts bare.
“On a long term, we want to remind Nigerians that the reason for embarking on constitution review by the National Assembly was to enable us look into issues that are agitating the minds of Nigerians and creating tension among us. We have promised that the exercise would be continuous. We intend to keep that promise by further taking decisions that would strengthen and improve on our structures. The Eighth National Assembly, on resumption, will play its constitutional role by addressing all those issues that are agitating the minds of our people and over which they feel so strong. I appeal to all our people to always direct their grievances to the right channels.
“Let me further reiterate the need for all leaders of thought – political, religious and traditional – to continue to engage with our people on the need to maintain peace and be our brothers’ keepers.”
Meanwhile, Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that the Nigerian Army was under no political pressure when it declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a militant and terrorists organisation.
Gen. Buratai said the Army, being a product of the democratic governance, only carried out one of its constitutional responsibilities.
The army chief, who made this known in an interview with journalists at the ongoing 2nd and 3rd COAS Quarterly conference holding, in Abuja, however, noted the Federal government would have to take a final decision on whether or not the IPOB is a terrorists organisation.
Buratai, who maintained that the army was under no pressure as it was being speculated in some quarters said, “You see you said political pressure, you should understand the context by which the Nigerian Army is operating.
“The Nigerian Army is part of the political consideration in the democratic system. It is part of the democratic process, is a product of the democratic governance you know the military.
“We are not receiving any pressure, we are doing what the constitution has provided constitutionally for us and our responsibilities.
“So we are not under any pressure whatsoever. Whatever…will refer him back to the constitution. There are several provisions that gives us those responsibilities and also to carry out such task as duly assigned by the government or by the constituted authority. Be rest assured that we don’t have any other role that is outside the constitution.
On the declaration of the IPOB as a terrorists organisation, he said, “As regards the proscription, this is what I have to say: the Federal government will take a final decision on that. There are guidelines as provided in the Act on the terrorism Act and am sure the relevant government agencies will take appropriate the steps whether to arrest or whether to do any other actions and we will receive the appropriate directives from the authorities”.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had, last Friday, declared the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), as a “militant and terrorists organization and called on parents, unsuspecting parents not to allow their children to be brainwashed into joining the organization.
