Following the institution of a cabinet by a secessionist sect called the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF) which featured some prominent Nigerians, reports indicate that the DSS is considering calling them in for questioning.
The BZF had on Monday announced the formation of an interim government for the Republic of Biafra, with one Barrister Benjamin Onwuka as the President. The Federal Government was dismayed that after over 72 hours, none of the people featured on the list has come out to debunk the claim.
This has led to an unease which has also prompted scrutiny on the people mentioned.
The list featured the likes of former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji; former Minister of Information Prof Jerry Gana and another former Information Minister, Labaran Maku.
Some of the key cabinet members mentioned by the BZF also included; Prof. Pat Utomi as Foreign Affairs Minister; Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as governor of the Central Bank of Biafra (CBB); Mrs. Aruma Oteh as Minister of Finance and a former Personal Secretary to the late former Biafran leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as Minister of Petroleum.
The list also included Amarachi Ubani as Minister of Information; Ohanaeze President, Chief Nnia Nwodo as Ambassador to the US; Gana as Minister of Transport; Maku as Aviation Minister; a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Mrs. Mary Okafor as Minister of Trade and Industry; Benny Lar as Secretary to the Government of the Republic; Gabriel Oluwole Osagie as Minister of Education; Nnaji as Minister of Energy and Philip Effiong Jnr. As Minister of Health.
According to the Nation, an unnamed source spoke of the dismay of the federal Government and the rationale behind the DSS’ plans to call them in for questioning; “In this particular instance, we are worried about the deafening silence on the part of these respected citizens. What do they lose by renouncing their listing by the secessionists?”
The source continued, “If the silence persists, we reserve the right to read meaning into it, and that could lead to the law taking its course.”
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