The South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Igbo clerics have lamented the insecurity situation in the South East, saying President Muhammadu Buhari’s handling of the situation fell short of expectations.
They urged President Buhari to acknowledge receipt of their letter, which they sent to the Presidency last year, in which they demanded to have an audience with the President.
According to them, the purpose of the request was to dialogue and explore avenues for peace-building, douse the tension in the South East and ensure it does not result in a grave socio-economic burden on our people.
They expressed concern that President Buhari’s delay in acceding to their request might validate the belief in some quarters that the Federal Government was not interested in restoring peace and stability in the South East region.
Those who signed the letter are Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council, Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Charles Mkpuma; Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke; Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe L.O. C. Agubuzu and Chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze E. C. Okeke.
Others are Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna; Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Rev. Emmanuel O. Chukwuma; Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Rev. Chibuzo R. Opoko; Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Rev. Valerian M. Okeke; former Principal Clerk of the Presbyterian Church Nigeria, Rev. Uma A. Onwunta and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Obi Onubogu.
In a statement issued yesterday, they said: “It is puzzling that the President and the South-East governors appear to have ignored dialogue and consensus-building in finding a lasting solution to the region’s security issues.
“As leaders who are continuously required to interface with the populace, we desire to confirm the sincerity and commitment of the Federal Government to finding a lasting solution to the security crisis.”
They urged the President and governors of the South East to grant them audience as requested so that all hands could be on deck to restore peace and security in the region while improving the welfare of its citizenry.
They also thanked all stakeholders and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for listening to their appeal, which paved the way for the peaceful governorship election in Anambra State.
BESIDES, Southern Christian elders have expressed support for the rotation of the presidency between the North and South, saying there was no going back on the arrangement.
In a statement issued in Enugu by its Chairman, Rev. Isaac Nwaobia and Secretary, Bishop Joseph Ajujungwa, among others, after their meeting, they said zoning of the presidency would engender peace and unity in the country.
MEANWHILE, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that since the All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified the sacking of the Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee, describing it as fake news, the party should explain the zoning of the Presidential ticket to the South West.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation expressed concern that there have been insinuations in online platforms that the APC has zoned the 2023 presidential ticket to the South West.
But in a statement issued in Abakaliki by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the insisted that the APC should do the needful by clarifying the purported rumour maintaining that exclusion of Igbo from APC Presidential ticket would spell doom for the party.
