The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has cautioned against the meddling into the Niger Delta or Pro-Biafran agitations by the National Security Adviser to the United States President Ms. Susan Rice.

The rights group has instead urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek home-made panacea by ordering the immediate de-escalation of military actions in the restive but neglected Niger Delta region and the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of the Europe based Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu who has been in detention since a year ago.

In a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA warned that on no account should Ms. Susan Rice be invited or allowed into Nigeria to visit any of the high profile detainees such as Mr. Kanu or indeed be part of any initiative over issues of Niger Delta or agitations by some youth for the actualisation of Biafra Republic.

HURIWA anchored its strident opposition to the involvement of the black American Spy Chief in the internal political affairs of Nigeria on her unclear role during the periods preceding the annulment of June 12th 1993 Presidential election and the unexplained cause of the sudden demise in protective custody of the presumed winner of that election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola specifically after an alleged visit by Susan Rice to the cell of the late politician.

“We are shocked to read about the purported meeting between a security delegation from Nigeria headed by the Presidential adviser on National Security to President Muhammadu Buhari and the United States National Security Adviser Ms. Susan Rice.

“We are, through this intervention asking President Buhari to seek homemade remedy to the issues around the growing restiveness in the South through a properly Constituted National Reconciliation and Truth Commission made up of few good independent minded Nigerians and also to order the reduction in the military build-up going on in the Niger Delta region. The Nigeria government must release Mr. Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally and end his illegal trial because the peaceful agitations by the Europe registered Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for a Biafra Republic is supported by international covenants on civil and Political Rights with specific reference to self-determination clause. These agitations must be resolved peacefully without inviting Ms. Susan Rice whose finest intervention during the military ended up in fiasco with swirling allegation that the late politician, Chief M.K.O. Abiola died in suspicious circumstances soon after a visit from the black American Spy Chief,” the rights group declared.

HURIWA recalled that the Federal Government had commenced discussions with the United States of America (US) on how to achieve an immediate and peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Niger-Delta through sustainable dialogue rather than resort to war.

Citing media reports, HURIWA also recalled that the move by government was part of the highlights of a meeting between the American National Security Adviser (NSA), Ms. Susan Rice and her Nigerian counterpart, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) at the White House, recently.

It said the two NSAs met at the White House to discuss opportunities to expand cooperation between the United States and Nigeria. HURIWA, however, condemned the intervention, describing it as “the invitation of a meddlesome interloper whose first intervention in Nigeria’s muddy water of politics didn’t end up well but resulted in the yet undetermined cause of death of the man who won the June 12th 1993 presidential election but was robbed of this pan-Nigerian victory by the military junta.”

HURIWA recalled that Abiola died under suspicious circumstances shortly after the death of then Head of State, General Abacha. Abiola died on the day that he was due to be released, on 7th July, 1998. While the official autopsy stated that Abiola died of natural causes, Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza, Al-Mustapha has alleged that Abiola was in fact beaten to death. Al-Mustapha, who was detained by the Nigerian government, but later released, also claims to have video and audio tapes showing how Abiola was beaten to death. The final autopsy report, which was produced by a group of international coroners, has never been publicly released. Another version has it that he was poisoned.

•Photo shows US NSA, Susan Rice.

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