Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu's Lawyer Sends Message To Southern Politicians

Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Biafra political activist, Nnamdi Kanu and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has told politicians in the Southern region of Nigeria to 'stop the abominable spectacle of distancing themselves from their people just because they want to be President or Vice-President', AllNews reports.

This newspaper understands that Ejimakor supports the agitation for the secession and sovereignty of Eastern Nigeria.

The legal practitioner who made the claim about Southern Politicians on his known Twitter handle on Tuesday argued that the likes of Shehu Shagari, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, and President Muhammadu Buhari did not distance themselves from their people 'yet they became leaders'.

Dear Southern politicians:
Pls stop this abominable spectacle of distancing yourselves from your people just because you want to be President or VP of Nigeria. Shagari, Yar’Adua & Buhari didn’t distance themselves from the Fulani & yet they became President. Be a man! #EndSARS

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) November 17, 2020

How Umahi's defection was received in 'Biafra land'

One man at the centre of political discussion among people of the South in Nigeria is Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

AllNews earlier reported that Umahi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Many believe he has presidential ambition, hence his decision.

Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, National Assembly members from Ebonyi State disowned Umahi.

The leader of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus in the national parliament, Senator Sam Egwu, who read the position of his colleagues at a press conference in Abuja, said none of the lawmakers would defect with Umahi.

They described as unacceptable and selfish, the reasons given by Umahi for his action.

The briefing was attended by all the Ebonyi State federal legislators including, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Mike Ama Nnachi, Sylvester Ogbaga, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Chukwuma Nwazunku, Edwin Anayo and Livinus Makwe.

The Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was also at the event to show solidarity.

Egwu faulted Umahi for accusing the PDP leadership of being unfair to the South-East geopolitical zone.

He also accused the government of being an ingrate, claiming that the man had benefitted immensely from the PDP.

Egwu said, “For the sake of clarity, we wish to state that not a single member of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus of the National Assembly is defecting to the APC.

“The three distinguished senators and five House of Representatives members remain proud card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform under which we contested and won elections in 2019.

“The major reason given by Umahi for defecting from the PDP to the APC is now in the public domain which is that the PDP has not been fair to the People of the South-East on the issue of zoning the Presidency and vice presidency.

“While we support that it is the turn of the South-East to fly the Presidential flag of any of the major political parties come 2023, yet we consider it impolitic, indecent, and unwise to give ultimatums and conditionalities in a bid to secure zoning.

“Indeed, if there is any Ebonyi person who should remain eternally grateful to the PDP, that individual ought to be Governor David Umahi.

“This is a man who was appointed the Ebonyi State Chairman of the PDP, made deputy governor of a PDP administration, and was elected for two terms under the banner of the PDP.

“As Governor, his two younger brothers were elected to principal offices of the PDP; one (Mr Austine Umahi) as the National Vice Chairman (South East) and another (Mr. Maxwell Umahi) as the Deputy State Chairman of the PDP.

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“As democrats, we concede Chief Umahi’s right to join any political association of his choice.

“However, as federal lawmakers, we are not unaware of the Supreme Court decision that candidates are products of political parties.

“What it means is that political office holders are not at liberty to migrate from one political platform to another, particularly when there is no division in their party.

“We wish to use this opportunity to thank the leadership of our great party, the PDP for their prompt action in dissolving the ward, local government, state and Zonal structures of the party in Ebonyi State, and their announcement of a state caretaker team.

“We also wish to thank teeming members and supporters in our various constituencies who have remained undaunted and committed to their membership of the PDP.

“We also wish to thank the South-East caucus, and indeed the entire PDP family of the National Assembly,” he added.

Contrarily, an APC representatives member hailed Umahi.

Hon. Chinedu Ogah, the member representing Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency in the House of Representatives at the weekend applauded Umahi for finally dumping the PDP for the APC.

Ogah, who confirmed Governor Umahi’s defection to APC, said “we don’t need division in the south-east, we need unity, we need to be part of the Central government. We can’t continue to be in opposition” he stated.

Recall Ogah is the only National Assembly member of Ebonyi state extraction who was elected on the platform of APC and belongs to the caucus of APC in the south-east zone.