•••DECLARES APRIL 4 PRAYER DAY
•••DEMANDS UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF NAZI NNAMDI KANU
The Governors of the five states in the South East region of Nigeria, have been blamed for the poor security network and blantant killings and destruction of properties in the zone.
The apex Igbo socio-cultiral organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide,described the wanton destruction of life and properties in the zone as the callousness and inept leadership of the Governors in upholding the oath they took to defend lives and property on Saturday.
According to the group, the failure of the Governors to take strong action and effective control of the region have led to worsening state of insecurity in the region.
They group said the fate of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently being incarcerated and facing trial over alleged terrorism, treasonable felony and other charges are part of the ineptitude of the politicians and called for his unconditional release.
The Vice Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, South-East zone, Chief Damian Ogene Okeke, attributed the failure of leadership by the Nigerian state and those of Governors as being reasons for the precarious security situations in the country and the zone in general.
According to him, the worsening insecurity and decades of marginalization of Ndigbo, by the Federal Government are ignored by the Governors, whom he accused of being praise singers.
Chief Okeke frowned at the situation where the Governors lowered themselves to mere praise singers and clappers for those within the corridors of power in Abuja.
He added that while the South East is marginalized in all ramifications with lives and property being destroyed on daily basis, the Governors are busy going to Abuja to praise-sing Aso-Rock.
“Too much praise singing and leadership failure have been our major challenge. The Federal Government has so much marginalized Ndigbo and the failure of South-East Governors to take proactive steps to address the challenge of insecurity has kept us where we are today and if the South-East Governors are in unity all these problems in the South-East will be solved.” The Ohanaeze Vice President, stated.
Chairman of the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Achebe in a communique jointly signed on behalf of all the traditional rulers, the clergies and state governments at the end of a crucial meeting held in the State, declared Monday, April 4, as a day of prayer for entire Igbo race.
The meeting appealed to all the youths and groups to embrace youths and take advantage of proposals made in the interest of the region.
“The government and good people of Anambra State hereby offer the olive branch for you all to return and hereby undertake to train, rehabilitate and empower you to contribute to our Homeland development. The centers where you youths can register for help will be announced shortly”.
“The monarchs, religious leaders and state governments, urged all those injured and the aggrieved to come forward and cooperate with the Truth And Reconciliation Commission for conduct of inquiry into remote and immediate causes of the agitations, documentations and examination of the circumstances surrounding the killings in the Southeast.
“The body called for constructive and continuous dialogue by all parties as a more sustainable solution to overcoming the challenge and win the hearts and minds of the people.
“The joint body recognized that there is country wide agitations for restructuring of inter ethnic and inter governmental relations in Nigeria with a view to greater inclusiveness.
“We therefore share the genuine concern over the political and economic marginalization of the Southeast geo political zone of Nigeria, amajor plank of the agitation by the IPOB.”
“The meeting called for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government in order to douse the current tensions across the Southeast and create an atmosphere for collaboration towards a constructive resolution of the issues.
“We call on all criminal elements masquerading IPOB or ESN operatives to cease and desist from further acts of violence and criminality or face the implacable force of law and order.”
“The joint group also called on those who took arms in the believe that their grievances could be achieved only through arms struggles to lay down their arms”,the Communique reads.