Ubong Sampson – Uyo
A Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has advised the Buhari led government of Nigeria to find ways of propagating a superior and more persuasive idea as a way of defeating the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as according to him, Biafra is an idea that the agitators are emotionally attached to, and that no government can kill such idea.
Taking to his Facebook timeline to condemn the arrest of popular Nollywood veteran actor, Chinwetalu Agu by the Nigerian Military, the Akwa Ibom born lawyer said the Buhari regime has, in the last six years, been propagating the idea that the best way to govern a diverse country like Nigeria is by pursuing a vindictive policy of exclusion, religious bias and ethnic supremacy, rather than propagating a superior and more persuasive idea as a way of defeating the agitation by IPOB.
This, he said, has further polarized the citizens and isolated different parts of the country.
While condemning the wanton killings in the South East and the ensuing violence, Effiong, however, maintained that there should be no tolerance for high-handedness and blatant disregard for the rights of the citizens, adding that rules of engagement must be strictly followed.
“The harassment and arrest of celebrated Nollywood actor, Mr. Chiwetalu Agu, on Thursday, 7th October, 2021 by the Nigerian Army is illegal, unconscionable and unwarranted. The actor has not committed any criminal offence known to law. The Nigerian Army should stop ridiculing itself before the international community.
“Supposing without conceding that the dressing of the legendary actor amounts to “incitement” as claimed by the Army, it is the Nigeria Police Force that should have responded. There is no evidence of incitement against him. Nothing was inscribed on the said cloth to incite the public.
“Is the Army suggesting that wearing clothes with certain colours or identifying with certain colours amounts to inciting people to violence or that any colour identical to the Biafran flag is inciting? That will be a dangerous proposition. If they are convinced about such whimsical argument, the government should test it in a competent court of law. The allegation that he is recruiting for or supporting IPOB is unsupported by evidence. It is a way of calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Discerning Nigerians can see through the smoke screen.
“The military has no power in a constitutional democracy to arrest citizens; except in very special and exceptional circumstances like during war, state of emergency, insurrection or riot. Even at that, it has to be shown that the Police has been overwhelmed. That is the purport of Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution which limits the role of the Armed Forces to defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria and acting in aid of civil authorities. Is Nigeria at war?
“What did Chiwetalu Agu do that overwhelmed the Nigeria Police Force to warrant the Army stepping in to aid the police in arresting him?
“We have become so used to lawlessness, impunity and flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of citizens that we now condone whatever nonsense is thrown at us by the authorities”, the post partly read.
He also stressed that by promoting nepotism and ethnic irredentism, Buhari is not qualified to propagate a Pro-Nigeria ideology that can counter the renewed agitations by a section of the South East for Biafra, maintaining that rather than heal old wounds, Buhari’s approach to dealing with the IPOB issue is ferociously opening new ones.
“Under this regime, peaceful young Nigerians were shot and killed by the same Nigerian Army while raising the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem at the Lekki Toll Gate. Till date, no single soldier has been court-martialed for that abominable desecration of what is supposed to be sacred national symbols. Yet, the same Army arrested Chiwetalu Agu for wearing a cloth identical to the Biafran flag.
“In other words, under the draconian Buhari regime, both ‘Biafran colours’ and Nigerian colours are symbols of “incitement” with severe punishment that includes death. That is not how to build and unify a nation”, the post read further.
He concluded that the Nigerian Army should apologize to the iconic actor and pay him adequate compensation for subjecting him to harassment and public humiliation.
Recall that the Nigerian Army had, on Thursday, announced of the veteran actor, Agu by its troops.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
According to a statement by its Director Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, the actor who is famous for his use of unique chants in home movies, was arrested for allegedly inciting members of the public and soliciting for support for the proscribed Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to the statement and as confirmed by photos and videos spotted online, Agu was caught dressed in a very well known attire of the IPOB group which was earlier proscribed by the federal government of Nigeria as a terrorist group.
“Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalization.
“While the NA recognizes the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order. It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security.
“For the avoidance of doubt and emphasis, the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) remains proscribed . Therefore, any individual or group seen to be projecting and advancing the cause or activities of the group is viewed as brazenly challenging the constitutionality of Federal Republic of Nigeria. More worrisome, was the fact that considering the prevailing security situation of the region, coupled with the ongoing Exercise GOLDEN DAWN , his action could be a tacit endorsement and support for the proscribed group. We have all witnessed the activities of the group take a violent dimension in recent times.
“Chinwetalu Agu has clearly demonstrated uncharitable disposition to negate peace and security in the region, hence, he is taken into custody for preliminary investigation. It is important to once again place on record that the allegation that he was brutalized is false and should be disregarded accordingly”, Nwachukwu’s statement partly read.
However, Agu was seen in the video arguing that the colours on his attire were mere colours and that the image which is similar to the Biafran logo was merely an image signifying sunrise.
