Tag Archives: Igbo Leaders

Nigeria Can’t Break Up, Buhari Tells Igbo Leaders

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President Muhammadu Buhari has again reiterated the essence of the unity of Nigeria, urging those contemplating its break-up to have a rethink.

The statement comes as separatist groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) increase the tempo of their call to break away from the country.

Speaking at a meeting with the Council of South-East Traditional Rulers at the State House on Thursday, President Buhari warned that the question of having another country out of Nigeria was misplaced.

“The question of having another country out of Nigeria is going to be very difficult. From 1914, we have more than 200 cultures living with one another. God had endowed this country with natural resources and talented people. We should concentrate on these and be very productive,” the president said.

Addressing specific issues raised in the address by the traditional rulers, the president gave assurance that the south-east will also benefit from the new railway architecture being put in place by his administration.

On their request for more representation for the region in his government, the president said that he was “very conscious of the sensitivities of the south east”, on account of which, he gave the region’s four out of five states senior ranking ministers in the federal cabinet.

President Buhari used the occasion to appreciate the good work of the ministers from the region in the federal government, saying that they are doing very well for the country.

He appealed to the traditional rulers to persuade their people to give his government a chance and to continue to serve as beacons of culture and traditions of their people.

The president assured the delegation that kidnapping and cattle rustling, which he described as “unfortunate” will be the government’s next target, now that “we have managed to calm down the north-east.”

In taking note of the profuse commendation for his administration’s war against corruption and insecurity by the traditional rulers, President Buhari expressed frustration at the endless nature of some ongoing trials, citing some of the cases as going far back to the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“We are asking the judiciary to clean itself. Nigerians are tired of waiting. They want some actions,” he lamented.

Buhari said he hoped that the acting chief justice and attorney-general of the federation will come to some form of agreement by which specially designated courts will give accelerated hearing to some corruption cases that are pending, arguing that “we want Nigerians to know we are serious.”

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Eze (Dr) Eberechi N. Dick (JP), had made requests for roads, other projects among other issues, even as he assured the president of their support for his leadership and programmes.

MASSOB threatens ‘internal revolution’ against Igbo leaders.

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The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, on Sunday, threatened to organise an ‘internal revolution’ against political, traditional, religious and opinion leaders in Igboland.

MASSOB, which issued the threat in a statement signed by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, said Igbo leaders were ‘insensitive’ to the plight of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and other detained pro-Biafra activists.

Madu said, “The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra blasts Igbo religious, traditional, political and opinion leaders for their nonchalant and insensitive attitude towards the plight of detained Biafra agitators in Nigerian prisons.

“MASSOB charge Igbo leaders to rise up now in defence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, Innocent Orji, Sabastine Amadi, Benjamin Onwuka and other detained Biafra agitators across Nigerian prisons.”

He asked, “What are the primary duties of Igbo senators and federal representatives in Abuja?

“Why must Igbo traditional rulers continue to celebrate ofalas and New Yam festivals while their subjects are still in detention for Igbo cause? What are the religious leaders still preaching while our brethren are still in prison?”

He warned that the internal revolution would start if Kanu and others spent the coming Christmas in prison.

Noting that only a few Igbo leaders had supported the activists, the MASSOB leader expressed regret that majority of Igbo leaders had betrayed the struggle.

“MASSOB still has high respect for few Igbo leaders who unflinchingly and boldly defend the interest and cause of Biafra agitators. Majority of Igbo leaders have brazenly betrayed Igbo cause and interest in Nigeria.

“Where are the likes of Senator Ali Ndume, the Sultan of Sokoto and Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, Senator Bola Tinubu and Governor Ayo Fayose in Igboland?”

Madu stressed that the likes of Ndume, Sanusi, Tinubu and Fayose, whom he described as “fearless men,” had eloquently defended the cause of their people, unlike Igbo leaders.

Igbo Leaders To Meet Buhari Over Biafra Agitation, Igbo Marginalization

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The meeting of Igbo leaders summoned yesterday by the South East Governors’ Forum, SEGF, to discuss the security implications of the agitations by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, ended in Enugu with the leaders resolving to set up a delegation of Igbo elders to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on the marginalisation of Igbo in the country.

They also agreed to dialogue with members of the MASSOB and IPOB groups with a view to ending the protests now rocking the old Eastern region.

Governors in attendance at the meeting included Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,  (Enugu), Dave Umuahi (Ebonyi), Dr. Nkem Okeke (Deputy Governor, Anambra State) and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.

Others were the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Information, Chief Nnaia Nwodo and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others.

A four-point communique read by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, at the end of the meeting on behalf of his colleagues read, “We agreed that south-east governors should set up a committee to immediately address the impasse on Ohanaeze leadership. After a compassionate review of the recent MASSOB/IPOB agitations in the country, it was resolved that a committee be set up to dialogue with MASSOB,IPOB as well as the Federal Government with a view to finding a lasting solution to the issue.”

“The elders also examined other issues including poor state of infrastructural facilities in the south-east, marginalization in federal appointments and other socio-economic issues that impact on the economic development of the south-east and resolved to support the decision of south-east governors to set up an economic council and urged them to interface with the Federal Government on remedial measures. A delegation of elders of the south-east was mandated to meet with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Credit: Vanguard