Biafra: North, South leaders recommend FG -protesters’ talks

 

We’ve right to self-determination – Igbo elders

BARELY 24 hours after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisa­tion of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) an­nounced the suspension of protests, leaders of thought from the North, South South and South East have recom­mended dialogue between the Federal Government and protesters.
Also, they resolved to set up a committee to meet with Igbo elders, with the view to resolving their grievances, while urging the Federal Government to respect the federal character principle in appointments.
This is coming at a time when the Supreme Council of Elders of the IPOB has urged the Federal Government to respect the right of Biafrans to self-determination
In a communiqué released signed by Alhaji Maitama Sule (chairman), Senator Godswill Akpabio (coordina­tor) and Dr. Dozie Ikedife, after a meeting in Abuja yes­terday, which had 40 leaders from the three zones in atten­dance, the meeting said that protests and agitations should be “conducted under guided and peaceful atmosphere, are part of democratic expres­sions,” adding: “Therefore, it is necessary for the youths who conduct themselves within the ambit of the law, to engage government and its agencies in dialogue, with a view to addressing the root causes of the protests.”
The meeting expressed concern over the rising spate of insecurity in various parts of the country, while urging the Federal Government to provide security for all Nige­rians.
Looking at the state of af­fairs in the country, the met­ing noted some lingering is­sues associated with “national question, which precipitate anger, acrimony and animos­ity in our body-politic.”
Also, it noted policy of ex­clusion in governance, which has caused “strong feelings of alienation, frustration and an­tagonism.”
However, the meeting stated that the country’s unity will “remain sacrosanct de­spite the inherent imperfec­tions in our nation state, and as such the dialogue resolves to continually pursue the path of peace and stability.”
Meanwhile, the IPOB el­ders have urged the Federal Government to respect the right to self-determination.
Rising from an emergency meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the Biafran elders stated that recent demonstrations in the South-East and parts of South-South were agitations for the right to “call ourselves Biafrans within the Nigerian equation.”
This is coming on the heels of the declaration of ceasefire on protests by the IPOB and the Movement for the Actu­alisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
But, the elders, in reiterat­ing ceasefire, implored all pro-Biafra groups to stop any form of demonstration and at­tend an urgent meeting on a date that would be commu­nicated later.
Secretary General of the group, Brig. Gen. Joe Achu­zia (retd), in a statement, said the emergency meeting was held in the light of the present stand-down of IPOB youths and the Nigerian government on the arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and other pro-Biafran activists, as well as pending court cases.