Southeast CSOs Publishes Best & Worst Office Holders In SE Nigeria [3]

Beyond the Southeast Zone, we are not unaware of the Federal Government condoned mass killings of thousands of defenseless citizens with full Jihadist coloration and intents.

The Buhari Administration is also directly responsible for the death of 1130 Shiite Muslims between December 2015 and November 2017 and shot and wounded over 400 others (Intersociety 2017).

The terrorist Fulani Herdsmen, on their part, who have President Muhammadu Buhari as their lifetime national grand patron (under Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria-MACBAN); have systematically massacred most of not less than 350 defenseless Christians and Christian-Farmers in the months of December 2017 and January 2018 in the States of Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Taraba States and Christian dominated Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State.

Several churches and other Christian holy places of worship were also burnt to ashes or razed to rubbles. In January 2018 alone, over 250 mostly Christians were slaughtered by terror Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram.

For more details, see the reports of local branches of the Christian Association of Nigeria-CAN and indigenous associations over the killing of Christians in the three States including Southern Kaduna, which also lost over 800 Christians in the Christmas period of 2016.

The systematic killing of Christians is also extended to Plateau and Nasarawa States and other parts of the North with large Christian populations.

This is nothing short of repetition of generational massacre and cleansing of once dominant Christian populations in Turkey, Lebanon and Asyut in Egypt centuries of years ago by Islamic Jihadists backed by the State.

For more details on killing of not less than 350 Christians in the months of December 2017 and January 2018; and killing of over 250 mostly Christians in the month of January 2018 alone all in Northern Nigeria by the duo of terror Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram, see the text of a press conference addressed by the leadership of CAN in Adamawa State, led by Rev Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, delivered on Wednesday, 10th January 2018; on the spate of violence & terror killings unleashed upon Christian/Farming Communities in Adamawa State.

Also see the text of a world press conference addressed by the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, through its Secretary General, Rev Musa Asake, Ph.D, on Tuesday, 16th January 2018 at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, Nigeria, on: Federal Government’s conspiracy in the massacre of Christians in Nigeria, as well as that addressed on same 16th January 2018 by the leadership of CAN in Taraba State on massacre of Christians in the State by terror Fulani Herdsmen.

The texts showed that at least 70 Christians lost their lives to terror Fulani Jihadists between 25th December, 2017, and 10th January, 2018, in Adamawa State alone with over 10 churches burnt to ashes.

This excludes “not less than 150 Christian lives lost before the last Xmas festivities in the State”, according to the State leadership of CAN.

In Benue State, not less than 73 dead bodies of Christians killed by terror Fulanis on 1st and 2nd January 2018 were recently interred.

Several churches were also burnt or razed to rubbles. In Taraba State, according to the State leadership of CAN and Governor Darius Ishaku, not less than 63 Christian lives were lost and buried in January 2018.

As reported by Punch Newspaper of 2nd February 2018, the Governor of Taraba State had during an official visit by the national leadership of his party (PDP) disclosed that “63 people (Christians) killed by Fulani Herdsmen were buried in the State the same day the Benue State Government buried 73 people (Christians) killed by the same Fulani Herdsmen”.

The Benue killings took place on 1st and 2nd January 2018.

The Governor further disclosed that police authorities hardly respond to distress calls by the Government of Taraba State; saying police in his State had insisted that police intervention arising from such distress calls must be authorized by the Inspector General of Police.

Specifically, the killings by the duo of Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram in recent weeks clearly indicate that not less than 250 defenseless citizens mostly Christians died in the month of January 2018 alone.

Boko Haram Islamist insurgents account for at least 40 deaths, while the terror Fulani Herdsmen account for the rest.

Amnesty Int’l also notes that “at least 168 people have died in Herdsmen violence since January 2018”. In 2017, Amnesty Int’l says “Boko Haram insurgents killed at least 411 people in Nigeria in 75 attacks”.

In Adamawa State, according to Amnesty Int’l, 86 Christian farmers including not less than 35 killed by Government jet bombing were killed on 4th December 2017 and later buried in individual graves (58 bodies) and mass graves (28 bodies).

The killing of the Numan Christians was done and coordinated simultaneously by the Nigerian jet fighters and the terror Fulani Herdsmen.

While the Nigerian Air Force, according to Amnesty Int’l report, was bombing the Christian villages and killing defenseless Christian population including women and children using rockets and bombs, the Fulani Herdsmen simultaneously launched bloody attacks on the same population, shooting and slaughtering women, children, men and the elderly in their dozens.

The lists of 86 dead victims from the simultaneous Air Force and terror Fulani Herdsmen attacks obtained by Amnesty Int’l showed that 51 dead victims had gun shots and machete wounds while 35 others bore wounds of air strike attacks.

Amnesty Int’l says 3000 homes were razed in air attacks launched on five Numan villages of Lawaru, Dong, Kodomti, Shafaron and Nzuruwei. In all, Amnesty Int’l says eight villages were heavily damaged or completely destroyed by air strike fire. Credit: Intersociety 2018.

In Nasarawa State, according to the combined reports of the Open Doors Int’l, the Religion of Peace and the Jihad Watch, dated 18th February 2018, 15 Christian villages and nine churches were razed or burnt to ashes with dozens of Christians killed by terror Fulani Herdsmen in sustained violence and attacks against Christian communities and their sacred places of worship that started since 15th January 2018.

Estimated 16,000 defenseless citizens, according to Intersociety’s findings (2018), have been killed by the trio of Nigerian security forces especially the Army, the terror Fulani Herdsmen and the Boko Haram insurgents since the assumption of office by Retired Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the sixth civilian President of Nigeria on 29th May 2015; a period of 32 months or 960 days: on monthly average death of 500 citizens.

This is the highest criminal death rate in the shortest period of time (June 2015-January 2018 or in 32 months) in the history of non-civil war Nigeria since 1960.

Intersociety gave the breakdown of the killings as (1) State Actor Generated Killings 10, 000 Involving: direct State murders: 2,050 citizens; comprising unarmed and defenseless Igbo-Biafra activists and supporters 400 citizens; unarmed and defenseless Shiite Muslims 1,130; civilian detainees at Giwa Army Barracks in Maiduguri including 29 Children with ages between newborn and 5yrs 240 civilians (see Amnesty Int’l Special Report on Nigeria for 2016/2017).

There was also killing of 236 defenseless  Christian IDPs at a Rann Christian IDP in Kala-Balge LGA in Borno State via the Nigerian war jets bombing in the broad day light of 17th Jan 2017; and over 50 Christians killed in another premeditated bombing of Christian villages of Lawaru, Dong and Kodomti in Numan, Adamawa State by an Alpha Jet and an EC 135 attack Helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.

The bombing and killings took place on 4th December 2017. See the text of the CAN’s international press conference, dated 16th January 2018 and the latest report by Amnesty Int’l, Nigeria-3oth January 2018.

2. Police custodial and captivity deaths 7,950 (on national monthly average deaths of 250 detained or captivity citizens and seven per State since June 2015). The deaths arose from police racial profiling and unprofessional crime detection and criminal investigation management.

[See Intersociety’s expert report on police custodial killings in Nigeria: the Untold Story of Ezu River Police SARS Killings (July 20, 2017).]

3. Non State Actor/Government backed ethno-religious killings 5,800 (since June 2015) perpetrated by the duo of terror Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents; comprising 3,750 all Christians killed by the terror Fulani Herdsmen and 2, 050 mostly Christians killed by Boko Haram insurgents; with several churches and properties burnt or destroyed.
4. Other 200 criminal deaths-represent the dark figures of crime or criminal deaths not captured or recorded by State actor or non-State actor crime statistics.

In all, see Intersociety’s 11-page letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated 6th February 2018 and titled: Christians At Crossroads In Nigeria: How Hundreds Of Churches & Estimated 16,000 Mostly Christian Lives Including 5,800 Victims Of Fulani Herdsmen And Boko Haram Were Lost Since June 2015.

Till date and since June 2015, not a single member of the Armed Forces particularly the Army and Air Force, or the Police; or an official of MACBAN or culpable Fulani Jihadist has been apprehended by the Federal Government of Nigeria and put on trial over the killings highlighted above.

Instead, the Administration keeps setting up one exonerative and lame duck panel or the other especially as it concerns the military atrocities against Shiites and pro Biafra activists.

To fully shield itself and its  atrocious security officials, the Buhari Administration turned around and declared Shiite Muslims and pro Biafra agitators as “threat to national security” and “terrorists” respectively.

REMEMBERING SLAIN SHIITE MUSLIMS & SHEIK IBRAHIM ZAKY EL-ZAKY & ORS

Remembered also is the continued solitary confinement in the custody of SSS of the leader of the Shiite Muslims in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife-Malama Zeenatu by the Buhari Administration.

The unarmed and defenseless husband and wife had been held by SSS without trial since 14th December 2015; a period of over 800 days; after being shot severally at close range and inflicted with terminal injuries by Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (vicariously) and the Nigerian Army during violent crackdown on Shiites on 12th and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Over 1000 unarmed and defenseless Shiite faithful were shot and killed on 12th and 14th December 2015 by the Nigerian Army led by Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

The IMN leader also lost three of his sons (Hamad, Aliyu and Humaid) as well as his 70yr old elder sister (Fatima) to Buratai’s men on the spot same day. The violent crackdown on Shiites has continued into this 2018 with no end in sight.

RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING BEST PERSONALITIES AND ACHIEVERS OF OUR TIME IN THE SOUTHEAST

• Late Chief Sam Mbakwe (Posthumous Greater Personality of the Southeast Zone)

For his outstanding governance achievements and charismatic leadership as the democratically elected Governor of old Imo State-1979-1983.

His achievements were striking in: education, health, agriculture and poultry, water, environment, tourism, industry  and creation of employment opportunities through then direct industrialization policy of the government; public decency, fiscal responsibility, massive infrastructural developments and provision and delivery of social services.

• Chief Jim Nwobodo (Great Personality of the Southeast Zone)

For his outstanding governance achievements and charismatic leadership strictly during his days as the democratically elected Governor of old Anambra State-1979-1983.

His achievements were striking in: education, health, agriculture, water, environment, tourism, industry and creation of employment opportunities through then direct industrialization policy of the government; massive infrastructural developments and provision and delivery of social services

• Chief Peter Gregory Obi (Greatest Personality of the Southeast Zone & Executive Leadership Man of the Year since the Forth Republic or 1999).For his multi-sectorial approaches to governance and outstanding achievements in office during his days as the democratically elected Governor of Anambra State- 2006-2014.

His achievements were strikingly anchored on Human Security by way of provision of quality education and health; agriculture, tourism, industry and creation of employment opportunities through PPP and private sector involvement or indirect  industrialization policy of the government;  FDI inflows and provision of industrial incentives; massive infrastructural development including massive road construction and bridges; social development and provision and delivery of social services.

Included in his achievement list  are civil service productivity including liquidation of LGA and State civil service arrears of over N35 billion accumulated since 1992,  mobilization of huge non-loan resources for multi-sectorial development of his State of Anambra,  fiscal responsibility including minimization of governance costs, security votes, cabinet size and use of public funds for public good; and zero borrowing and low debts overhang of less than N12 billion;  savings  in government coffers amounting to billions of naira (first of its kind in any public governance in Nigeria).

The rest are future savings through procurement of shares and investments worth billions of naira.

The era of former Governor Peter Obi as chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum served as a strong driving force for the unity and security of the Zone.

WORST PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Most Unpopular & Unfriendly Federal Government Among The Southeast People

• Government of President Muhammadu Buhari

Worst Past Governors in the Southeast

• Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju-Anambra State (1999-2003)
• Chief Orji Uzor Kalu-Abia State (1999-2007)
• Chief Ikedi Ohakim-Imo State (2007-2011)
• Chief Theodore Orji-Abia State (2007-2015)

Worst Serving Governor In The Southeast Zone

• Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State

Worst Public Utilities Providers of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone

• The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). See Intersociety & SBCHROs’ Memo to the Minister  of Power & ors, dated 18th December 2017 (www.intersociety-ng.org)

Most Atrocious Security Organization in the Southeast Zone

• Nigerian Army and its Enugu 82 Division (shot and killed in two years-2015-2017 over 370 unarmed and defenseless citizens of the Southeast and maimed over 400 others)

Most Regime Atrocity Perpetrator in the Southeast Zone

• Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (vicariously masterminded in two years 2015-2017, as COAS, the massacre of estimated 370 defenseless citizens of the Southeast Zone and maiming of over 400 others)

Most Atrocious Police Special Squad of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone

• The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) formations in Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States as well as the Zone 9 SARS formation in Umuahia; killed average of estimated 35 detained citizens monthly and 420 annually in the Zone.

The killings are perpetrated through criminal processes of   extra jus (beyond the law), extra-legal (beyond what the written criminal law provides) and extra judicial (beyond court or judicial pronouncement or verdict); arising from racial profiling and unprofessional crime detection and criminal investigation management.

[For more details, see Intersociety’s expert report: The Untold Story of Ezu River Police SARS Killings (July 2017).]

Most Lopsidedly Composed Security Organization In The Southeast Zone

• The Nigerian Army & Navy (most, if not all their key heads in the Zone are members of Hausa-Fulani Muslims).

[For more details, see Intersociety’s statement of 19th October 2017; titled: The Retun Of “Glover Hausas” In The Nigerian Army: Exposing 95% Dominance Of Key Army Formations In Igbo Land By Northern Muslim Officers]

Most Corrupt & Incompetent Policing Organization Of The Year 2017 In The Southeast Zone

The Nigeria Police Force and its key formations in the Southeast under IGP Ibrahim Idris (generated, illicitly, over N14 billion or $45million between September 2017 and January 2018 from Southeast roadblocks using over 2900 police roadblocks raised in early September 2017).

[See Intersociety’s statement of 5th September 2017 on: Unchecked Police And Army Extortion In Southeast Nigeria: How IGP And His Cohorts Will Pocket (already pocketed) N14.1Billion In Five Months (Sep 2017-Jan 2018) From 2900 Roadblocks Using False Biafra Insecurity, etc.]

Destitute Of The Year 2017 In The Southeast Zone

• The Destitute of Uga Junction Pedestrian Bridge in Onitsha (represents the plight of the destitute population roaming the streets of the Southeast Zone without government care and welfare).

Governors of the Zone are called upon to urgently address the plight of the destitute population especially their children who are out of school.

One of the core ways to address this is by enacting the Destitute & Disability Rights & Welfare Laws by the Executive and Legislative Arms in the Southeast.

The Slain & the Disappeared of the Year 2017 in the Southeast Zone

• Estimated 100 defenseless citizens of the Zone killed or made to disappear by the Nigerian Army in September 2017; in addition to over 270 others earlier shot and killed; with most of their bodies remained missing till date. Their killers must be fished out and severely punished by the Federal Government or relevant international justice groups no matter how long it takes.

The Maimed Or Wounded Of The Year 2017 In The Southeast Zone

• Over 400 victims of military shootings in the Zone. They must be adequately compensated with their shooters fished out and punished severely.

Persecuted Citizens Of The Year 2017 In The Southeast Zone

• Include Citizens Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Dave Nwawuisi, Benjamin Mmadubugwu, Bright Chimezie and over 82 others including minors and married women presently languishing in various prisons across the country without formal trial in connection with nonviolent pro Biafra agitations.

Others are those in the category of “dark figures of crime” or arrested and detained citizens without public notice or records.

All pro Igbo-Biafra detainees in Nigeria must be de-criminalized, released and have their phantom charges dropped by the Buhari Administration.

Calling On Government Of Buhari To Free Shiite Leader & Prosecute Perpetrators Of Shiite Genocide

We call for immediate and unconditional release of Mallam Zaky Ibrahim El-Zaky and his beloved wife-Malama Zeenatu as well as an end to persecution of Shiite Muslims in Nigeria. Those who masterminded the massacre of over 1,130 Shiite members in December 2015 and above including COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (vicarious culpability) must be arrested and punished locally or internationally no matter how long it takes.

Calling On Government Of Buhari To End Government And Herdsmen Killings & Other Crimes Against Humanity

The present Federal Government under Retired Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari must put an end to slaughtering of thousands of defenseless citizens especially Christians on annual basis by terror Fulani Herdsmen in Northern Nigeria and proscribe the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria as well as fish out their leaders and culpable elements and charge them for manslaughter and culpable homicide, respectively, among other felonies committed against the State of Nigeria and its population.

The Federal Government’s silence, inaction and conspiracy over these ethno-religious carnages are not only an invitation to retaliatory widespread violence and ruination of the country in part or in whole but also a gross breach of Section 10 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution which forbids the Federal Government or any State Government from adopting any religion including Islam as a State Religion.

The first major step towards addressing the present national and sub-national security challenges in Nigeria is total re-organization of the commanding positions and other top echelons of security forces, the police and other para-military organizations in Nigeria.

The present Caliphate structure of Nigerian security and policing is totally rejected. They must be restructured in accordance with Section 14 (3) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution or federal character or geopolitical spread.

The stark reality today is that continuation of the centrality; oneness, unity and national cohesion of Nigeria; steadily and systematically undermined by the present central Government has become an act of impossibility.

The ethno-religious divisions in the country have continuously thickened with ethno-religious chauvinists taking over and consolidating their grip on power without letting go.

In other words, the Nigeria Project has collapsed; requiring urgent re-negotiation by all ethnic nationalities through their representatives before the country goes on full brink.

The Buhari Administration must hearken to this wind of change and urgently steer the ship of the re-negotiation of the Nigeria Project.

Calling On Southeast Governors To Wake Up From Their Slumbers

The Governors of the Southeast Zone are collectively and individually called upon to wake up from their slumbers.

They must be proactive and efficient in strengthening the internal and external security of the Zone especially with regard to well-oiled and coordinated widespread violent attacks against Christian population and their churches by the terror Fulani Herdsmen such as the Nimbo tragedies of 14th February and 25th April 2016 in Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State during which terror Fulani Herdsmen killed at least 50 rural Christian dwellers and injured 79 others.

The Southeast Governors must desist henceforth from lending their hands and supports by way of supporting, adopting, aiding, abetting or undermining the present and future collective security of the people of the Southeast Zone and their properties; through the raging, disastrous, unilateral and militarist national policy of “Cattle Colony”; using any guise or instrumentality particularly the Federal Executive Council and the National Council of State.

The Governors must also proactively and courageously engage the Federal Government, the President and heads of major security and policing agencies in the country by insisting on making proactive inputs into the overall security structure and composition in the country as well as the posting of commanders of their formations in the Southeast Zone especially in the Army, Navy, Air Force, SSS, Customs and the Police.

The current policy of flooding most, if not the entire military and policing formations in Igbo Land with senior and commanding officers of Hausa-Fulani Muslims must be rejected and reversed.

More concerted efforts are also required from the Southeast Governors at ensuring that the Zone which  is the birthplace of the Igbo Nation gets its fair and due share of the Federation resources, appointments, attentions and infrastructural developments.

The Governors must ensure that the Southeast is fully factored into the new national railway policy and comprehensive reconstruction of all federal roads in the Zone especially the Onitsha-Enugu and the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressways and other important ones.

The Zone also needs a standard international seaport and construction of a standard bridge linking Ogwu-Ikpere in Ogbaru, Anambra State and Ndoni in Rivers State; which if constructed, will take less than two hours to convey goods and services from Port Harcourt wharfs into the Southeast Zone or any part thereof.

The Akanu Ibiam Int’l Airport in Enugu, which is presently a makeshift int’l airport, must totally be upgraded to truly reflect its international status and serve the People of the Southeast Zone and others from major parts of the world particularly Africa, Europe, Americas, Asia and Middle-East.

Condemning Christian Violence Against Traditional Religions In Southeast Nigeria

We stand morally and legally condemned if we turn a blind eye or refused to say anything about the indiscriminate attacks and widespread violence directed at members and institutions of the Traditional Religions and their sacred places of worship by radical elements within the trios of Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Pentecostal churches in Southeast Nigeria.

There have been systematic, well-coordinated and unprovoked Christian violence against Traditional Religionists and their sacred places of worship in recent times in Nigeria particularly in the Southeast.

These attacks and violence are executed especially during “Christmas and Easter Crusades” and similar activities. They are executed or carried out particularly at late night during the said “crusades”.

During the attacks, sacred places of worship belonging to the Traditional Worshippers and their symbols of worship including sacred altars, artifacts and diviners’ objects are targeted for burning, destruction or confiscation; under stigmatization and false labeling of all traditional religions, their worshippers and sacred places of worship as “Satanism and evil doers”.

A clear case in point was the attack and violence directed at the said worshippers and their sacred institutions in Igboukwu, Ekwulobia and other communities in Anambra State during the 2017 Christmas season.

At Igboukwu Community, Aguata, Anambra State, despite an early warning letter written to the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Rev Fr. Christopher Azolibe by the Otu Odinani Igbo Organization led by Priest Okwudili Ezeife and Chukwudinka Ezeatueyi alerting him of planned attacks and violence  by members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in Igboukwu led by Elder Polycarp Okonkwo and Innocent Okeke using their midnight crusade of 29th December 2017, the said Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement reportedly in conjunction with Rev Fr Chibuzor Emmanuel Obimma (Father Ebube Muonso) reportedly went  ahead, attacked and destroyed sixteen (16) sacred temples of worship of the Igboukwu Traditional Religionists within the Igboukwu Community.

The attacks which took place between 1am and 4.30am; affected properties, artifacts, walls and roofing belonging to the sixteen traditional sacred places of worship.

During the attacks, the National Museum at Igboukwu was also targeted for destruction but for eleventh hour pressures and calls from concerned quarters; forcing the attackers to retreat from torching the National Museum.

The attacking church youths reportedly backed down after much pressure but threatened not to spare the “evil Museum” during their next crusade in 2018.

Youths loyal to the Igboukwu Traditional Religionists also regrouped and made their way to burn down some churches but were prevailed upon by some notable leaders of the Igboukwu traditional institutions.

The angry youths retreated but vowed not to spare any church if such attacks happened anywhere in Igboukwu again.

Apart from right to freedom of religion and worship clearly provided in Section 38 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, Section 10 of the same Constitution also forbids the Federal Government or any State Government from adopting any religion as a State Religion in Nigeria.

The Constitution also tasks Federal and State Governments and heads of security agencies to ensure that every citizen is allowed to worship and profess religion of his or her choice within the confines of the law and without threat or molestation from any quarter.

Right to Freedom of Religion and Worship was the first human right proclaimed in the Fourth Century AD by Emperor Constantine De Great (AD306-337) during the Christian Roman Empire.

[See the Edict of Milan of AD313 or decriminalization of Christian worship, which started in April 311 with the enactment of the Edith of Toleration.]

Under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and other body of laws, no religious body or person is allowed to launch an on attack or destruction of any form against another religion or its sacred place of worship or symbol or artifact.

The law empowers Government or its security agency (not alternative religious body or person) to visit the wrath or long arm of the law against any violent religionist or a religious practitioner that engages in religious practices that are unknown to God, Man and Law including religious violence and Satanism.

The court death sentence handed down to Rev Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (a.k.a. Rev King); General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) over his intra denominational satanic religious practices is a clear case in point.

Godly religious faith anywhere in the world including Nigeria and its Southeast part is not practiced or professed by violence but through persuasion, good manners, emulative lifestyle and conviction.

Christians are therefore be reminded that Christianity in Nigeria particularly in Igbo Land did not start or come with violence.

A clear case in point was the first encounter between Rev Father Duhaze of Portuguese Catholic Missionary and Eze Nri Obalike of Nri Kingdom in 1906.

As a matter of fact too, traditional religions are the forefathers of Christianity in Igbo Land just as Judaism gave birth or founded Christianity in the Middle East where it originated; as clearly noted in the Holy Scripture.

We hereby call on the national and regional leaderships of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and leaders of other Christian bodies to call their followers and radical elements within their clergy to order and prevail on them to desist from taking laws into their hands by visiting unprovoked and unwarranted attacks and violence against members and institutions of alternative religions especially the Traditional Religions in Nigeria particularly in the Southeast or any of its part thereof; all in the name of “crusades” or attack on Satan in his citadel. There must be an end to religious radicalism and extreme religious practices in the Zone.

The Governors of the Southeast Geopolitical Zone are specifically called upon to rise up to the occasion particularly against this new round of Christian violence and protect the traditional institutions in Igbo Land including freedom of every citizen to practice and worship religion of their choice without fear, threat or molestation.

Signs are obvious that the victim religious bodies and their supporters may most likely resort to self-defense and other self-help mechanisms including burning of churches and other Christian sacred places of worship in retaliation if nothing was done to stop the attacks and violence against the traditional religionists and their sacred places of worship.

The Southeast Governors must not allow this ugly situation to further degenerate in the entire Zone or any of its part thereof.  [End]

Intellectual Credit: Researched and compiled by Emeka Umeagbalasi (criminologist & graduate of security studies) for Intersociety & SBCHROs.

Coalition Partners & Their Reps:

* Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Emeka Umeagbalasi, Umeh MaryRose N., PhD and Jacinta Ezinwanne)

 * Civil Liberties Organization, Southeast Zone (Aloysius Emeka Attah)

 * Centre for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy (Peter Onyegiri)

* Human Rights Organization of Nigeria (rep Michael Ifeabunike)

* Society Watch & Advocacy Project (Chike Umeosonwunne)

* Anambra Human Rights Forum (Alex C. Olisa)

*Southeast Good Governance Forum (Barr Obianuju Joy Igboeli)

* Int’l Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative (Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokoro, PhD)

* Igbo Ekunie Initiative (representative Charles Ogbu)

* Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch (Vincent Ezekwueme)

* Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Dev (Nelson Nnana Nwafor)

* Society for Economic Rights & Social Justice (Orji Andy Ndukwe)

* Initiative for Ideal Dev & Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria (Nwokocha Anozie Innocent)

* Igbo National Council (Chilos A.C. Godsent)

* Forum for Promotion of National Ethos & Values (Okpala-EzeNri Emeka Onyeso)

* Easy Life Initiative for Rural Youths (Emeku Uche)

* Voice of the Voiceless Int’l (Barr Violet Umenwofor-Ezekwike)