Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has charged President Bola Tinubu to end the suffering of Nigerians caused by his anti-people policies.

Speaking on the state of the nation, George reminded Tinubu that Nigerians are hungry and angry.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Friday, the PDP chieftain called on the president to resolve the country’s economic situation.

He said: “My message to Tinubu is very clear: Nigerians are hungry and angry. This is the time, as the Commander in Chief and the Chief Driver of the economy, to do something about the economic malaise in our country. You must alleviate the suffering of the people now.

“There is no separate market for APC and PDP members. All Nigerians go to the same market. Everybody is feeling the anti-people policies of this government. Bola Tinubu must pause today and reflect: are people benefiting from the policies of my administration?

“When he came in 2023, a litre of petrol was less than N200 and in the exchange rate market, Naira was less than N800 to a dollar. What do we have today? What exactly is the economic policy of this administration? President Tinubu, Nigerians demand a quick answer to this important question.

“Finally, my concern is this: What will happen to our country if this wind of the New World Order blows across our Nation.

“With the Francophone countries surrounding us with political instability and a big quarrel with France, their colonial master, are we ready to remain stable and be strong? Let’s start this discussion now as a stitch in time saves nine.”

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has vowed to resist the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which affirmed the proscription of IPOB and its designation as a terrorist organisation.

Kanu stated that the court’s ruling would be challenged within the ambit of the law, as the judgment did not pass the “muster of the Nigerian Constitution and the statutes pertinent to it.”

On Thursday, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal upheld an order by Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, proscribing IPOB and designating it a terrorist organisation.

In its judgement, a three-member panel of the court unanimously agreed with the lawyer representing the Federal Government, Oyin Koleosho, that the state acted lawfully in proscribing IPOB.

The panel maintained that IPOB’s activities posed a threat to Nigeria’s continued existence and the security of its citizens.

Faulting the judgment, Kanu argued that the order of proscription by the Federal High Court was obtained through an ex parte application by the Federal Government, rather than through a hearing on notice by a judge-in-chambers, as prescribed by law.

He made this known during his routine meeting with his legal team, led by lead counsel Aloy Ejimakor, at the Department of State Services, DSS facility in Abuja.

A statement issued by Ejimakor after the meeting read: “Rising from our routine visitation to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today, he instructed the legal team to convey the following to members of the public: The ruling yesterday by the Court of Appeal affirming the proscription of IPOB as a terror group will live in infamy and shall be vigorously resisted within the parameters of the law—both municipal and international.

“Sooner rather than later, it shall be demonstrated that the judgment did not pass the muster of the Nigerian Constitution and the statutes pertinent to it.

“Members of the public should ponder this: One of the main issues we canvassed at the Court of Appeal was that the order of proscription by the Federal High Court was obtained through an ex parte application by the Federal Government, instead of through a hearing on notice by a judge-in-chambers, as prescribed by the pertinent law.

“We also argued that the proscription proceedings violated the hallowed doctrine of fair hearing enshrined in the Constitution, as IPOB was neither put on notice nor heard before the order of proscription was issued.

“In addition to these, we argued that the proscription directive issued to the Attorney-General was signed by the late Abba Kyari, and not by former President Buhari, as the relevant law required. The Court of Appeal acknowledged these irregularities but still went ahead to dismiss our appeal on the questionable premise that national security is an exception to the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

The IPOB leader added: “One then wonders: wherein lies the national security risk posed by IPOB in 2017 that warranted the flagrant breach of the Constitution—one that, in its intent and effect, discriminatorily targeted the Igbo as a whole?

“To be clear, the Constitution sets out a process that must be strictly followed before any provision of the Constitution can be suspended for the sake of national security. But in this case, that process was not followed at all.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal’s decision will hardly have any prejudicial effect on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s main case, as the decision is not final. We are heading to the Supreme Court, which is—by law—the final arbiter. There are also numerous other legal avenues that can be pursued against any individual or entity that attempts to take undue advantage of the Court of Appeal’s judgment to inflict legal and constitutional harm on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Igbo people.”

Kanu also warned against referring to him as a terrorist based on the Appeal Court ruling.

“For now, it is legally safer and wiser for everyone to resist the dangerous temptation of calling Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a terrorist until he is either convicted as one (which is highly unlikely) or until the Supreme Court finally decides the matter against him (which is even more improbable).

“In plain terms, the jury is still out on whether IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are terrorists or not. Therefore, any individual or entity that seizes this adverse moment to spread the libellous claim that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or IPOB is a terrorist will face prompt, forceful, and unrelenting legal action.”

He concluded: “Let it be clear: only those unfamiliar with the deep-seated and institutionalised disdain for the Igbo in Nigeria will be surprised by a court ruling as infamous as this—one that showed no regard for the Nigerian Constitution.

“Elevating the denial of fair hearing to a state where it receives judicial endorsement is absurd and perverse. And it shall not stand.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum rose from its first 2025 monthly meeting held in Asaba, Delta State capital, on Friday, with a resolution backing the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which pronounced the former National Youth Leader of the party, Hon. S.K.E Udeh-Okoye, as the authentic National Secretary of the PDP and advised the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the court decision accordingly.

The Forum equally advised the NWC to reschedule to 13th March, 2025 the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party earlier fixed for February.

This was even as the party rued the hardship in the land and called on the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government to revisit its macroeconomic policies to mitigate the sufferings of the Nigerian masses.

These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, which had in attendance the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Governor Muftwang of Plateau State, Governor Agbu kefas of Taraba State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, and the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal.

The communique rendered by the Forum’s Chairman read, “The Forum employed the occasion to review the performance of member states in particular and the state of the nation in general, as well as developments in the party, as at the end of 2024.

“The Meeting noted that the macro-economic policies of the Federal Government had inflicted hardship and pain on the polity; therefore, the Forum calls on the Federal Government to either revisit or rejig its macro-economic policies to ameliorate and stop the hardship/pains that they have inflicted on Nigerians as no meaningful/impactful achievements in the states will be achieved until the harsh policies are addressed.

“The Forum noted with delight the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the National Working Committee, NWC, on the position of the National Secretary, and has reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment; consequently, the Forum advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.

“The Forum having examined all the notices required by law to be given to validly convoke NEC advised NWC to reschedule NEC to the thirteenth (13th) of March 2025.”

The Forum went further to express concerns over what it termed the resurgence of non-state actors and called for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

It enjoined Nigerians not to despair over the hardship in the land, as it would soon return to power to fix the nation.

“While commending the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and security agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country, the Forum viewed with deep concern the resurgence of brazen non-state actors. It therefore calls for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

“Finally, the Forum enjoined Nigerians not to despair in the face of the prevailing hardships with the firm assurance that the PDP will remain committed to returning our great nation to the glorious days of pre-2015 era of manageable costs of living, security of lives and property and greater unity and prosperity for all citizens,” the communique further read.

The Forum commended governors of member states “for pursuing policies and programmes that not only ameliorated the plight of the people but were also aimed at creating the foundation for sustainable development in their various states.

It lauded Governor Oborevwori for the giant strides recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructure, environmental remediation, people empowerment and combating insecurity in Delta State.