 |
| Lai Mohammed |
A Nigerian minister accused the government’s
political opponents of sponsoring a campaign for secession in part of
southeast Nigeria formerly known as Biafra, where unrest has been
rising.
political opponents of sponsoring a campaign for secession in part of
southeast Nigeria formerly known as Biafra, where unrest has been
rising.
Secessionist sentiment has simmered in
the southeast since the Biafra separatist rebellion plunged Africa’s
most populous country into a civil war in 1967-70 that killed an
estimated one million people.
the southeast since the Biafra separatist rebellion plunged Africa’s
most populous country into a civil war in 1967-70 that killed an
estimated one million people.
Campaigners from
the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have intensified calls for
secession since their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was released on bail in
April. He was detained nearly two years on charges of criminal
conspiracy and belonging to an illegal society.
the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have intensified calls for
secession since their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was released on bail in
April. He was detained nearly two years on charges of criminal
conspiracy and belonging to an illegal society.
The
military on Friday labelled IPOB a “terrorist organisation” after a
week in which it was accused of surrounding Kanu’s home in the
southeastern Abia state, which it denied, and a curfew was imposed in
the state.
military on Friday labelled IPOB a “terrorist organisation” after a
week in which it was accused of surrounding Kanu’s home in the
southeastern Abia state, which it denied, and a curfew was imposed in
the state.
Lai Mohammed, the information
minister, said late on Sunday that IPOB was set up as “a tool to
destabilise the nation” sponsored by people he called a “coalition of
the politically disgruntled and the treasury looters”.
minister, said late on Sunday that IPOB was set up as “a tool to
destabilise the nation” sponsored by people he called a “coalition of
the politically disgruntled and the treasury looters”.
“They
believe that by sponsoring this group to destabilise the country and
trigger chaos, they will realise their ambition of escaping justice and
then be free to dip their hands into the nation’s treasury again,” he
said.
believe that by sponsoring this group to destabilise the country and
trigger chaos, they will realise their ambition of escaping justice and
then be free to dip their hands into the nation’s treasury again,” he
said.
He did not accuse any people or groups by name.
The
minister also said Kanu had previously publicly supported Nigeria’s
unity when President Muhammadu Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan,
was in power.
minister also said Kanu had previously publicly supported Nigeria’s
unity when President Muhammadu Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan,
was in power.
Buhari’s
administration, formed from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party,
took office in May 2015. The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
ruled for 16 years prior to Buhari coming to power.
administration, formed from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party,
took office in May 2015. The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
ruled for 16 years prior to Buhari coming to power.
A number of
former government officials have faced corruption charges, which they
have denied, since Buhari took office. The PDP has accused the president
of mounting a witch-hunt against its members.
former government officials have faced corruption charges, which they
have denied, since Buhari took office. The PDP has accused the president
of mounting a witch-hunt against its members.
Source: Reuters
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