A coalition
of online publishers under the aegis of Oriental Online Network (OON) has
called on the Nigerian Army to put an end to the current militarisation of the
South East, reports ITRealms.
According to
a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman, Mr Max
Amuchie; Vice Chairman, Ms Rose Moses and Secretary, Mr. Roland Ogbonnaya, the
group said the deployment of soldiers to the South East when there was no
threat to lives and property was an open invitation to anarchy.
It said
militarising a part of the country that has not carried arms against the
country was like tempting the protesters to engage in armed struggle in
self-defense.
The group
said the Federal Government has not exhausted the constitutionally recognised
option of using police to handle an issue like the security challenge in the
South East
The
organisation condemned the military invasion on Sunday of the residence of the
leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his home
town, Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State and the continued house arrest he has
been subjected to ever since.
"Even
though the Nigerian Army keeps denying, this is the second such incident in two
days. Given the background leading to the present scenario, it would be
difficult to accept the denial of an invasion by the military authorities. In
the first place, the conduct of the Army in this particular instance, is not
only suspect but incendiary. This is because even if the first incident of last
Sunday at Afara-Ukwu, Ibeku, Umuahia, could be explained as the wrongful
reaction of an overzealous IPOB leader to the presence of an army patrol in his
neighborhood, that explanation cannot hold water for the second incident on
Tuesday.
"Succinctly put, the Army could have
chosen another route or neighborhood for its "show of force" if it
was interested maintaining the peace", the statement noted.
The full
statement reads:
"The
Army's denial of an intention to arrest Kanu appears to be an after-thought
after a failed operation. The military authorities that ordered the operation
must have realised belatedly that they were not acting based on the dictates of
the law.
"The
truth of the matter is that only the court that granted Kanu bail can revoke it
and legally order his re-arrest.
"Hence, the
declaration by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami that
Kanu had violated the conditions upon which he was granted bail, does not have
the force of law until the court says so. Even after such a pronouncement comes
from the court, it would be the duty of the police to effect the order. Police
duties should be left for the police to do in a democracy. Since, Kanu's case
is before a court, the Federal Government should allow the case to run its full
course. Whatever fresh evidence the Attorney-General has against Kanu must be
presented in court for the judge to decide.
"The
military's major constitutional responsibility is to safeguard the nation's
territorial integrity. If the military has to be deployed to assist the police
to provide internal security, the Federal
Government not only needs to apply to the National Assembly for
approval, it must subject the soldiers to civil training in line with
international standards.
"The
Federal Government has consistently refused to abide by the law in the
deployment of the military to the Southeast and South-south regions of the
country. This is a flagrant violation of the rule of law. This is no longer
acceptable because rule of law is at the heart of democratic governance. Democracy
can only survive when the rule of law is allowed to prevail.
"For
Nigeria's fragile democracy to survive, the present administration needs to
find solutions to the crisis it inherited instead of breeding fresh cases.
"Close
to two years since it assumed office, this government is yet to subdue the Boko
Haram terrorists. Marauding Fulani herdsmen have unleashed mayhem in many parts
of the country while the government looks the other way. Incidents of
kidnapping, armed robbery, hired killings and other violent crimes are on the
increase.
"This
state of affairs cannot be separated from the current economic crunch in the
country, which has imposed unprecedented hardship on the overwhelming majority
of the populace. In addition to this, the government needs to dialogue with
groups that are agitating for restructuring, resource control and
secession. Unless this happens, the
government is likely going to face more challenges.
"The Niger Delta region may
soon erupt for the umpteenth time. All the people of the Southeast zone
including members of IPOB want from this government is fairness. If the
government could regard the people of the Southeast and South-South regions as
equal stake-holders in the Nigerian project, there would be peace. What both
regions need is inclusiveness and not Operation Python Dance II or Crocodile
Smile."
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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