We seized Enugu Govt House for 4 hours, says Onwuka, BZM leader
ENUGU — Leader of the pro-Biafra group, Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, Barrister Benjamin Onwuka, has claimed responsibility for last Saturday’s invasion of Enugu State Government House.
According
to him, members of the group took control of Enugu State seat of power
for about four hours after they successfully hoisted the flag of the
Republic of Biafra and some banners at the main gate.He briefed some newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre, Enugu, yesterday, where he claimed responsibility for the invasion, which he said was primarily to reclaim the old headquarters of the former Biafra Republic.
Onwuka dismissed speculations that the group was sponsored by politicians in Enugu State, explaining that the major target of the BZM members was to hoist the Biafran flag as a symbol of rebirth of the defunct Biafra Republic.
He said members of the group, who were not armed and had no charms whatsoever, were at Government House from 3 a.m. to 7a.m. before soldiers dislodged them, insisting that they accomplished their mission.
He, however, warned that Nigeria should vacate the Biafran territory before March 31, 2014, or risk a bloodbath , disclosing that his group had concluded plans to take over total control of Biafra land from April 1.
Said the BZM leader: “I want to let you know what happened on March 8 at the Government House Enugu. This is to confirm the true report about what happened. You know very well that since January 12, 1970, the flag of Biafra has never rested on the Government House in Enugu which is the centre power of the Biafra people.
“What we did on the 8th is to reconfirm the independence of the Republic of Biafra which we successfully did.
“We didn’t attack the Government House, but we captured it back for the Biafra people. We captured it for four hours and there was a battle between the Biafrans and the Nigerians and by 7a.m., we retreated because we didn’t have any weapons in our hand, to avoid any loss of life.
“The reason we did it was to show the Biafra people that the hope for Biafra is still alive and that nothing shall quench the aspiration of the Biafra people to be independent. That independence has been resurrected. So the Biafran flag was raised at the Government House on the 8th of March, 2014 and I, Benjamin Igwe Onwuka led the operation.
“It wasn’t an armed attack on the Government House, it wasn’t kidnappers as the police have said. It was Biafran people and the Biafra Zionist Federation led it and I, Benjamin Onwuka was the man that pioneered it. It wasn’t an attack on any- one, but for the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Biafra.
“As I said, the raising of the flag at the Government House is a symbol of the resurrection of the Republic of Biafra which we did on the 8th of March 2014. “
Continuing, Onwuka said: “I want the Biafra people to know and the entire world that the Biafra has been resurrected and no force of arm could hinder this aspiration for Biafra.
“Let me make it clear. the states that will make up Biafra now are Benue, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Abia and Southern Ondo.
“I thank God for this press conference to set the record straight that the Biafra is independent now, because that flag that has been raised at the Government House, Enugu.”
Ilorin
– Listing routine of preparations, and improvements from the last
election, Chairman,Independent National Electoral
Commission(INEC),Professor Attahiru Jega Wednesday in Ilorin expressed
conviction of conducting better election in 2015.
“We are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright”he says.
Professor Jega said this in a lecture titled,”Challenges of Fraud free Elections under a democratic dispensation”, he delivered at a Book launch on Fraud Election by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation(MAF),Ilorin
INEC chairman however noted that,”there are some key challenges confronting efforts to conduct fraud-free elections in an environment like ours”,which he also noted are surmountable.
His words,”These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that the aspirations of Nigerians for free,fair,credible and peaceful elections are actualized in 2015″“As far as INEC is concerned,the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations where electoral democracy is being consolidate”he stressed.
INEC chairman listed challenges facing the commission ahead of 2015 elections to include:
•Insecurity.
•Funding: Processes that will guarantee fraud free elections cost money,which is hard to come by.
•Attitude of political class
•Apathetic and inactive citizenry.
•Delay in amendment to the legal Framework.
•Completion of the review of electoral constituencies and Prosecution of election offenders.
On the preparations,Professor Jega said,”a comprehensive reorganisation and restructuring of the commission has been completed,drawing from the recommendations of a highly rated management consulting firm”.
He also said that,”the consolidation and de-duplication of the biometric register of voters has been completed,as a result of which the register of voters now has tremendous integrity,much better than the one used in conducting the 2011 elections. Indeed,it compares favorably with any register of voters on the African continent”
INEC chairman added that,”Plans have been finalised to roll out a Program of Continuous Voters Registration(CVR) nationwide”,saying that the CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens onto the electronic register ahead of 2015 general elections,as the commission has stopped using addendum register for elections.
“We are commencing the CVR in Ekiti and Osun states,and we hope that citizens in those states will make good use of the opportunity”he added.
He also said that the commission has issued,”the chip-based permanent voters cards(PVC)in Ekiti and Osun states and that it has concluded plans to do same nationwide.
“These cards will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100% verification and authentication of voters”
Professor Jega also disclosed that.”The commission now has a communication Policy/Strategy,designed to improve its internal and external communication processed”
“A program for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units is ongoing.We are unlikely to conclude the constituency elimination exercise before 2015,but we will surely create additional PUs”
“The training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis,especially through several BRIDGE training workshops is underway,with support from many development partners” he added.
He also said that,”All guidelines and Regulations on thhe electoral processes are being revised,and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them”
He also hinted that an Election Risk Management Tool will be deployed ahead of 2015 elections with the support of the African Union(AU) and International IDEA,to enable the commission gather information about risk factors associated with the election,be able to analyze them and deploy effective measures to contain or mitigate them,towards ensuring peaceful and violence-free election”
The INEC chairman however said that INEC alone could not achieve this feat and therefore enjoined stakeholders to change attitudes,and mind-sets,as well as strengthen partnerships and collaborative efforts to bring this about.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/jega-lists-challenges-confronting-fraud-free-elections-nigeria/#sthash.aTHzyQdG.dpuf
“We are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright”he says.
Professor Jega said this in a lecture titled,”Challenges of Fraud free Elections under a democratic dispensation”, he delivered at a Book launch on Fraud Election by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation(MAF),Ilorin
INEC chairman however noted that,”there are some key challenges confronting efforts to conduct fraud-free elections in an environment like ours”,which he also noted are surmountable.
Anambra
Supplementary Election: INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega addressing
pressmen , announcing November 30 for Supplementary election at Anambra
State while National Commissioner Lawrence Nwuruku looks on in Abuja.
Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.
His words,”These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that the aspirations of Nigerians for free,fair,credible and peaceful elections are actualized in 2015″“As far as INEC is concerned,the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations where electoral democracy is being consolidate”he stressed.
INEC chairman listed challenges facing the commission ahead of 2015 elections to include:
•Insecurity.
•Funding: Processes that will guarantee fraud free elections cost money,which is hard to come by.
•Attitude of political class
•Apathetic and inactive citizenry.
•Delay in amendment to the legal Framework.
•Completion of the review of electoral constituencies and Prosecution of election offenders.
On the preparations,Professor Jega said,”a comprehensive reorganisation and restructuring of the commission has been completed,drawing from the recommendations of a highly rated management consulting firm”.
He also said that,”the consolidation and de-duplication of the biometric register of voters has been completed,as a result of which the register of voters now has tremendous integrity,much better than the one used in conducting the 2011 elections. Indeed,it compares favorably with any register of voters on the African continent”
INEC chairman added that,”Plans have been finalised to roll out a Program of Continuous Voters Registration(CVR) nationwide”,saying that the CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens onto the electronic register ahead of 2015 general elections,as the commission has stopped using addendum register for elections.
“We are commencing the CVR in Ekiti and Osun states,and we hope that citizens in those states will make good use of the opportunity”he added.
He also said that the commission has issued,”the chip-based permanent voters cards(PVC)in Ekiti and Osun states and that it has concluded plans to do same nationwide.
“These cards will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100% verification and authentication of voters”
Professor Jega also disclosed that.”The commission now has a communication Policy/Strategy,designed to improve its internal and external communication processed”
“A program for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units is ongoing.We are unlikely to conclude the constituency elimination exercise before 2015,but we will surely create additional PUs”
“The training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis,especially through several BRIDGE training workshops is underway,with support from many development partners” he added.
He also said that,”All guidelines and Regulations on thhe electoral processes are being revised,and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them”
He also hinted that an Election Risk Management Tool will be deployed ahead of 2015 elections with the support of the African Union(AU) and International IDEA,to enable the commission gather information about risk factors associated with the election,be able to analyze them and deploy effective measures to contain or mitigate them,towards ensuring peaceful and violence-free election”
The INEC chairman however said that INEC alone could not achieve this feat and therefore enjoined stakeholders to change attitudes,and mind-sets,as well as strengthen partnerships and collaborative efforts to bring this about.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/jega-lists-challenges-confronting-fraud-free-elections-nigeria/#sthash.aTHzyQdG.dpuf
Ilorin
– Listing routine of preparations, and improvements from the last
election, Chairman,Independent National Electoral
Commission(INEC),Professor Attahiru Jega Wednesday in Ilorin expressed
conviction of conducting better election in 2015.
“We are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright”he says.
Professor Jega said this in a lecture titled,”Challenges of Fraud free Elections under a democratic dispensation”, he delivered at a Book launch on Fraud Election by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation(MAF),Ilorin
INEC chairman however noted that,”there are some key challenges confronting efforts to conduct fraud-free elections in an environment like ours”,which he also noted are surmountable.
His words,”These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that the aspirations of Nigerians for free,fair,credible and peaceful elections are actualized in 2015″“As far as INEC is concerned,the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations where electoral democracy is being consolidate”he stressed.
INEC chairman listed challenges facing the commission ahead of 2015 elections to include:
•Insecurity.
•Funding: Processes that will guarantee fraud free elections cost money,which is hard to come by.
•Attitude of political class
•Apathetic and inactive citizenry.
•Delay in amendment to the legal Framework.
•Completion of the review of electoral constituencies and Prosecution of election offenders.
On the preparations,Professor Jega said,”a comprehensive reorganisation and restructuring of the commission has been completed,drawing from the recommendations of a highly rated management consulting firm”.
He also said that,”the consolidation and de-duplication of the biometric register of voters has been completed,as a result of which the register of voters now has tremendous integrity,much better than the one used in conducting the 2011 elections. Indeed,it compares favorably with any register of voters on the African continent”
INEC chairman added that,”Plans have been finalised to roll out a Program of Continuous Voters Registration(CVR) nationwide”,saying that the CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens onto the electronic register ahead of 2015 general elections,as the commission has stopped using addendum register for elections.
“We are commencing the CVR in Ekiti and Osun states,and we hope that citizens in those states will make good use of the opportunity”he added.
He also said that the commission has issued,”the chip-based permanent voters cards(PVC)in Ekiti and Osun states and that it has concluded plans to do same nationwide.
“These cards will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100% verification and authentication of voters”
Professor Jega also disclosed that.”The commission now has a communication Policy/Strategy,designed to improve its internal and external communication processed”
“A program for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units is ongoing.We are unlikely to conclude the constituency elimination exercise before 2015,but we will surely create additional PUs”
“The training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis,especially through several BRIDGE training workshops is underway,with support from many development partners” he added.
He also said that,”All guidelines and Regulations on thhe electoral processes are being revised,and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them”
He also hinted that an Election Risk Management Tool will be deployed ahead of 2015 elections with the support of the African Union(AU) and International IDEA,to enable the commission gather information about risk factors associated with the election,be able to analyze them and deploy effective measures to contain or mitigate them,towards ensuring peaceful and violence-free election”
The INEC chairman however said that INEC alone could not achieve this feat and therefore enjoined stakeholders to change attitudes,and mind-sets,as well as strengthen partnerships and collaborative efforts to bring this about.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/jega-lists-challenges-confronting-fraud-free-elections-nigeria/#sthash.aTHzyQdG.dpuf
“We are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright”he says.
Professor Jega said this in a lecture titled,”Challenges of Fraud free Elections under a democratic dispensation”, he delivered at a Book launch on Fraud Election by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation(MAF),Ilorin
INEC chairman however noted that,”there are some key challenges confronting efforts to conduct fraud-free elections in an environment like ours”,which he also noted are surmountable.
Anambra
Supplementary Election: INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega addressing
pressmen , announcing November 30 for Supplementary election at Anambra
State while National Commissioner Lawrence Nwuruku looks on in Abuja.
Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.
His words,”These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that the aspirations of Nigerians for free,fair,credible and peaceful elections are actualized in 2015″“As far as INEC is concerned,the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations where electoral democracy is being consolidate”he stressed.
INEC chairman listed challenges facing the commission ahead of 2015 elections to include:
•Insecurity.
•Funding: Processes that will guarantee fraud free elections cost money,which is hard to come by.
•Attitude of political class
•Apathetic and inactive citizenry.
•Delay in amendment to the legal Framework.
•Completion of the review of electoral constituencies and Prosecution of election offenders.
On the preparations,Professor Jega said,”a comprehensive reorganisation and restructuring of the commission has been completed,drawing from the recommendations of a highly rated management consulting firm”.
He also said that,”the consolidation and de-duplication of the biometric register of voters has been completed,as a result of which the register of voters now has tremendous integrity,much better than the one used in conducting the 2011 elections. Indeed,it compares favorably with any register of voters on the African continent”
INEC chairman added that,”Plans have been finalised to roll out a Program of Continuous Voters Registration(CVR) nationwide”,saying that the CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens onto the electronic register ahead of 2015 general elections,as the commission has stopped using addendum register for elections.
“We are commencing the CVR in Ekiti and Osun states,and we hope that citizens in those states will make good use of the opportunity”he added.
He also said that the commission has issued,”the chip-based permanent voters cards(PVC)in Ekiti and Osun states and that it has concluded plans to do same nationwide.
“These cards will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100% verification and authentication of voters”
Professor Jega also disclosed that.”The commission now has a communication Policy/Strategy,designed to improve its internal and external communication processed”
“A program for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units is ongoing.We are unlikely to conclude the constituency elimination exercise before 2015,but we will surely create additional PUs”
“The training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis,especially through several BRIDGE training workshops is underway,with support from many development partners” he added.
He also said that,”All guidelines and Regulations on thhe electoral processes are being revised,and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them”
He also hinted that an Election Risk Management Tool will be deployed ahead of 2015 elections with the support of the African Union(AU) and International IDEA,to enable the commission gather information about risk factors associated with the election,be able to analyze them and deploy effective measures to contain or mitigate them,towards ensuring peaceful and violence-free election”
The INEC chairman however said that INEC alone could not achieve this feat and therefore enjoined stakeholders to change attitudes,and mind-sets,as well as strengthen partnerships and collaborative efforts to bring this about.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/03/jega-lists-challenges-confronting-fraud-free-elections-nigeria/#sthash.aTHzyQdG.dpuf