Good Shepherds Movement
Promoting development in the South East & Niger Delta
PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE GSM November 2009
Good Shepherds Movement (GSM) is an Ideological movement.
Following an unprecedented large amount of concerns expressed to the GSM regarding weapon supply to Nigeria by Israel, the GSM wishes to make our position clear on this issue and we are issuing this statement to that effect.
We wish to state that the GSM is not a political party, nor a business organisation and therefore we have no involvement with 'weapon supply' to any country in the world.
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If anyone is concerned about weapon supply they should express their concern to the relevant authorities such as the Nigerian government. The GSM is a non-governmental organisation and a non-violent ideological movement. We are not concerned with the Nigerian military now or in the future.
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It is the view of the GSM that what exists in the Niger delta is exploitation of the indigenous population. Exploitation that has manifested in a low life expectancy, poor housing, lack of educational facilities, lack of industry, poor health facilities and impoverishment of our people. This we consider as unjust. Therefore what does exist in the region is injustice not militancy as we may be made to believe.
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It has been noted that if Israel does not supply weapons to Nigeria then other countries would, and as a pro-Israeli organisation we are happy for the trade between Nigeria and Israel to flourish as this will improve the safety of the sub-region, the State of Israel is a credible democracy and we are of the view that they are concerned about corruption and the human right records of their trading partners as we do and this could prove to be a force for good in our homeland.
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The GSM is a friend of Israel but this does not mean that we influence Israeli trade policy. However, our friendship with Israel is unconditional, it is a friendship that has arisen as a result of historical facts and the continued shared experiences of our people and the Jewish state.
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Our people in the mainland or Niger delta should continue their political activism and democratic expression against exploitation of their resources, as it is their legitimate human right and no democratic power in the world would morally target them with military weapons.
FINALLY, as a movement we remain a pro-Israeli organisation and we will continue to campaign against the injustice that our people, both in the mainland and the Niger Delta region, are suffering using a non-violent approach and principles.
Directorate of Mobilisation and Publicity
Good Shepherds Movement
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Enyinna Amadikwa,
President
Good Shepherds Movement
Reasons why a true Biafran should not be tribal
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A nation established with tribal or racist ignorance will not be sustainable nor prosper .Every clan, race or tribe, ethnic groups should interact, trade support each other and exchange ideas for the development of their nations and humanity.
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The struggle is not about tribe or ethnic groups but about evil and corrupt systems, enforced union and artificial nationhood that has kept all tribes ethnic groups and people down.
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Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Ijaw, Tiv, Fulani, and tens and hundreds of tribes ethnic groups and potential nation states in the present Nigeria are fishing communities, craft communities, farming communities, traders and merchants they all need to trade together and exchange goods and services. Though they do not need to be forced into a country to do so, they should all be in an environment where they will prosper and flourish.
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For decades many ethnic groups in present day Nigeria have intermarried produced children together by love or rape, many children were born by the rape of Igbo women by Nigerian soldiers during and after the war.
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Ordinary people, police, army, air force, teachers, civil servants from Yoruba land, Hausa land, Fulani land, Tiv land, and many more are suffering bitterly from the same failed system people from Igbo land, Ijaw land, Ogoni land etc are suffering from.
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Wole Soyinka and many non-Biafrans were sympathetic to the plights of Biafrans and were punished as a result
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It s estimated that over 40% of properties and over 65% of small-scale trading activities in Lagos are owned by Biafran people
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It s estimated that over 70% of properties in Abuja and 65% of trading activities are owned by Biafran people. (or say a considerable number of …)
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Across Nigeria's 36 states Biafran own significant viable trading enterprises.
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There are considerable number of Hausa, Fulani and many other ethnic groups doing business and working outside their native regions.
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At one point or another we all have important friends and colleagues across each tribe or ethnic group.
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At one point or another we worship in the same church or mosque.
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The corruption in Nigeria today s not only carried out by Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and other ethnic groups have played a significant role
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A trader and a traveller should not be tribalist nor racist because you have to trade sometimes with people you never met before.
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Biafra should be allowed to exist not to create tribal dominance but to show the entire world that Africa too, can produce not only an American President but an Industrialised country.
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A true Biafran should at all times encourage the growth of other groups in Nigeria, this will help to promote viable Biafra and peace in the region. A hungry man is an angry man.
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A true Biafran should not encourage, promote or accept violence as a first viable for Biafra. We have fought war and nothing good came out of it, killing of each other, buying American, European, Arab AND Asian WEAPONS TO KILL EACH OTHEER IS not an option. After the war we still near each other as neighbours therefore t was not n the first place the best option and cannot be the only option to exert freedom.
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A true Biafran should not plan coup-de-tar or be part of a coup. It was coups that led us to this hopeless nightmare our children are experiencing today. Biafran problems cannot be solved by tribal coups. All the Nigerian coups have failed to bring progress to any Nigerian .
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Our struggle is not tribal, but for the Biafran region created y God as an ancient landmark, which has been recorded on maps 441 years before Nigeria was created in 1914. we should be left alone to use our resources to develop our region for the good of everyone including Nigeria.
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Fifteen soviet republics such as Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania etc. are today independent states, other European states such as Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech republic are all independent states too. Kosovo, East Timor and Eritrea have also joined independent nations. In 2011 southern Sudan may also become independent too. South Oseitia and akazia are also independent states. Are all these nations tribal ? The answer s no. but they all feel that they will flourish better under freedom.
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Keeping Nigeria as one country under tribal cabals from yoruba land, hausa/fulani land and igbo sycophants , while millions of ordianry people across all ethnic groups and religions are dying of the basic human needs should be consdered a crime. Tribal hegemony is an atrocity against humanity .
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Those pro-Biafrans who are throwing tribal insults on other ethnic groups in Nigeria are not helping the struggle.
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You do not have to be Igbo, Ijaw, Ikware, Ogoni, black or white to be a Biafran. Yorubas, Hausas, Idomas and Igalas can all be Biafrans if they accept Biafran ideals, ideology and visions. Anyone against terrorism, tribalism and is hard-working, innovative, believes in human rights, anti-corruption, wants a good standard of living, promotes women's and children's rights and good eco-system can be seen as a Biafran. Anyone who wants a viable Biafran region, a viable industrial economy and a development hub can be seen as a Biafran. Answering Igbo names, speaking Igbo language does make anyone a Biafran being a Biafran is working and projecting a non-violent Biafran agenda and identity in public and private life. A Biafran should not be ashamed to be identified. It is not a crime to be a Biafran. Some of the people who have been used to keep our people down in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers, Cross-rivers, Akwa-ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, etc still answer our native names and speak our language but they do not have our interests at heart. Biafra is not a tribal state, every ethnic group should be allowed to flourish with our own identity in a free society. This is part of the gsm ideology, if you quote or use it remember to quote the good shepherds movement. The only credible pro-Biafran movement in the United Kingdom engaging all communities in civilised and democratic debate for the Independence of Biafra.
I once said to my good friend Dr. Adi-Onuya that no Igbo criminal operating in the Nigerian system would ever want a Biafran state. Do you know why ?....
GSM© 2009
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