NWODO, AKINTOYE TELL US, UK NOT TO SELL ARMS TO NIGERIA
The Nigerian Indigenous National Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS), led by former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, renowned historian and university don, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, among others, has called on the governments of the United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia, Germany, and other top European and Western countries to impose heavy sanctions on the Nigerian government for undermining democracy and continuously abusing human rights.
The group also urged the American government and European countries to stop selling arms to the Nigerian government, alleging that previous arms sold to the Buhari-led regime with borrowed funds have found their way into the hands of herdsmen, Boko Haram, ISIS, and other terrorists that are currently terrorising the indigenous people of the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement by the Communications Manager to NINAS, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye,
NINAS is the umbrella body of leading regional self-determination groups in the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria with Ilana Omo Oodua representing the Yoruba bloc, Lower Niger Congress representing the South-South and South East, and Middle Belt Forum representing the Middle Belt bloc.
The CFM signatories who wrote the petition to the US government and European countries, according to the statement, included a renowned historian, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; respected university don, Prof. Yusuf Turaki, Secretary-General of NINAS, Barr. Tony Nnadi, pioneer Commissioner for Education in Osun State and National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Wale Adeniran, amongst others.
Part of the letter read, “We the people of the South and Middle Belt under the aegis of Nigerian Indigenous National Alliance for Self-determination call on you to sanction the government of Nigeria for undermining democratic ethics and abusing people’s rights to live; to own property; to liberty; to dignity; to peaceful assembly and to self-determination.
“The arms being sold to the Nigerian government with funds borrowed from your territory are now being used to kill, oppress, harass, intimidate and strangulate harmless protesters and defenseless people of the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria who are exercising their rights to self-determination and peaceful assembly.
