Pastor Dan Obinegbo is the founder of the Christian Victory Prayer Ministry, World Wide. The outspoken spiritual leader of the fast growing Pentecostal church in Enugu spoke to News Echo Correspondent, CHUMA AUSTIN, recently on the frightening dimension in the insecurity in Igbo land; federal Government approved special security measures for Southeast Zone, Igbo presidency and other national issues.
Excerpts:
Federal Government has just approved a special security measures for South East geo-political zone. What does it portend for the people of the zone vis-a-vis the restiveness of youths in area?
I tell you that the government knows what to do to end the restiveness in the land. Bad leadership is largely responsible for the socio-economic and political problems facing this country. If there is equity, justice and fairness, nobody will talk of secession. Nobody will talk of carrying arms against the constituted authority. Selectiveness in security apparatus is not the best for a country like Nigeria with multi-ethnic nationalities.
There is need for dialogue, ask the agitators of their grievances and map out the way forward. I heard that they have withdrawn law-enforcement agents attached to Southeast governors. Well, that is neither here nor there. What I am emphasising is that we need selfless leaders with fear of God who should be sensitive to the plight of the citizens they lead. You cannot beat a child and you say the child should not cry.
The special security measures approved by the Federal Government for the Southeast will worsen the suffering of the people in the zone. It looks as if Igbo land is a theatre of war. Southeast is not under siege.
What are the core underlining issues in the frightening dimension in the insecurity in the Southeast?
The core underlining issues in frightening dimension in insecurity in the Southeast are increasing poverty and hunger in the land, criminal alienation of Ndigbo, joblessness in our society and unmerited marginalization of Ndiigbo.
One other major reason is the endless terrorization of the region by the Fulani herdsmen. These herdsmen have been maiming, raping and killing Igbo people, including invading Igbo communities, setting them on fire and destruction of their farm lands and crops with impunity and utter disregard without any positive response by the authorities.
“Igbo, as it is now, do not need asylum. Igbo are seeking freedom. If we run away from Igbo land which is our heritage, who will occupy it? Easterners are seeking asylum in Britain. After all, Britain is the cause of the part of our problem. Ndigbo have seen the bitterness of the civil war, what else will they see? Even in the ’80s as a youth corper, when we came to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) quarters, you will see vacancy, but it was meant for only Northern States.
So, what encouragement are you giving a Corper serving in the country? Igbo, as it is now, do not need asylum. Igbo are seeking freedom. If we run away from Igbo land which is our heritage, who will occupy it? Easterners are seeking asylum in Britain. After all, Britain is the cause of the part of our problem. Ndigbo have seen the bitterness of the civil war, what else will they see? Even in the ’80s as a youth Corper, when we came to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) quarters, you will see vacancy, but it was meant for only Northern States. So, what encouragement are you giving a Corper serving in the country?”
This is why Nigeria needs to be cautious and careful. We are digging a hole which we are falling into, and when a man buries himself one of his hands must come out. That is what is happening now. I warned earlier that was a decade ago that Nigeria is on tripod and there will be trouble if one of the three legs is removed. They see the Eastern region as enemy. And that is why there is restiveness especially among the youths.
Some people say Biafra. Is there any time Biafra did not exist? The other name for an Igbo man is Biafra. That means every Igbo person is a Biafra. The insecurity is caused by bad leadership. There is high rate of unemployment. Nigerians are hungry and our leaders are insensitive to the plight of the down trodden. I wrote some time ago that some Igbo above 60 years are dealing with the same Biafra soldiers who fought for them for 3years. This is a very big mistake.
What does it portend for the South East zone and Nigeria generally?
There will be continuation in the marginalization and alienation policy against the Zone, the demand for autonomy or for an own Republic by the people of the South East will continue and the continued undermining of human rights with grave implications resulting in the killing and maiming of human beings and destruction of property of Ndigbo resident in the region will increase.
I recall in an interview with a news magazine based in Port-Harcourt some years ago, I said that Almighty God warned Nigerians in a Hausa Language to be careful. I put it down ” Bagiwa gigiwanshi”. We were on a dry fasting and the Lord said to me, for speaking that language, writes it down, he said I should look towards Anambra State. So, as I was looking towards Anambra State, I saw motorized army vehicles coming through River Niger and heading towards Port Harcourt. He said to me that I should tell Easterners that at any time they see military vehicles they should know that the North are coming to commit the same atrocity they did in ’60s Look at what is happening in Benue State. The Fulani are boosting that because they could not over run them in 18th century, they are now paying for it.
With the Southeast yet to fully get over the aftermaths of the civil war, what are the immediate and far-reaching implications of the current severe security situation in the zone bearing in mind the formations of Ebebuagu and Eastern Security Network (ESN)?
“. They see the Eastern region as enemy. And that is why there is restiveness especially among the youths. Some people say Biafra. Is there any time Biafra did not exist? The other name for an Igbo man is Biafra. That means every Igbo person is a Biafra. The insecurity is caused by bad leadership.
There is high rate of unemployment. Nigerians are hungry and our leaders are insensitive to the plight of the down trodden. I wrote some time ago that some Igbo above 60 years are dealing with the same Biafra soldiers who fought for them for 3years. This is a very big mistake. Who will impeach President Muhammadu Buhari? Buhari surrounds himself with his brothers.
The national assembly is dominated by his relations. But what will his impeachment going to result now? There are killings in Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra, Imo states. You cannot muscle the people you are ruling with the nostril of the gun and expect they cannot do anything. The people can do something.”
Eastern Security Network (ESN) is an invisible force. Have you seen ESN? I have not seen it either. The immediate and far reaching implications are that the South East zone is being overrun by Fulani herdsmen and the people are not taking it lightly. People must defend themselves. People are resisting anarchy. What would you say of the killings all over Igbo land? The bodies of the victims, as in Nimbo incident, were ripped off. Their tongues, hearts and other organs were removed. That was ritual killing. I thank God our Southern governors have woken up. There is need for synergy among the governors for effective protection of the people they are made to lead.
Igbo are clamouring for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, self determination and restructuring. Which one do you want to come first?
Ndigbo are seeking freedom, self-determination. We fought and shed blood in 1967-1970 and the blood of our brothers and sisters are crying up to heaven for vengeance and that is in the hands of God.
How do you restructure what is already broken? How do you restructure a country where a section says that they are born to rule? I remember in ’80s when things were better off before the atrocities came up. People are suffering. There is hunger in the land.
A bag of beans is now sixty thousand naira. What is the cost of house rent? How can someone survive in a salary of thirty thousand naira? Some people are sitting on their fellow citizens, thinking they will not rise but God will make them rise.
The United Kingdom (UK) Government through its Ambassador in Nigeria has said it would grant asylum to members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who want asylum in its country. The Federal Government has swiftly reacted, saying UK is undermining its government. What is your stance on the matter?
Igbo, as it is now, do not need asylum. Igbo are seeking freedom.
If we run away from Igbo land which is our heritage, who will occupy it? Easterners are seeking asylum in Britain. After all, Britain is the cause of the part of our problem. Ndigbo have seen the bitterness of the civil war, what else will they see? Even in the ’80s as a youth corper, when we came to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) quarters, you will see vacancy, but it was meant for only Northern States. So, what encouragement are you giving a Corper serving in the country?
Recently, there was a call by the founder of Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka that President Muhammadu Buhari should resign or get impeached. Do you subscribe to such call?
Who will impeach President Muhammadu Buhari? Buhari surrounds himself with his brothers. The national assembly is dominated by his relations. But what will his impeachment going to result now? There are killings in Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra, Imo states. You cannot muscle the people you are ruling with the nostril of the gun and expect they cannot do anything. The people can do something.
Looking at your evangelistic journey so far, how have you been surmounting the challenges, more so as you have been very outspoken on national issues?
You know my challenges. This place has been burnt down many times and my property destroyed. But I prayed and continued. God is not a man you should lie to. God has not spoken and it did not come to pass. Lifting up do not come from the East or West, North or South, it is God. I had many challenges. I was called by the police yet I am consistent with my evangelism. I am consistent in praying.
I talk to God all the time because nobody can jump into preaching without having an inspiration from God or hearing from Him. Miracles are done here. If not for COVID-19, you would have seen many people in chains that were mad from birth but they will be set free. In the name of Jesus Christ, I have released somebody in chain who has been mad for 40 years. We cast out demons. Demons do not appear in scan, ultrasound, x-rays because they are spiritual. I will continue to preach the gospel, heal and speak the truth at all times.
