The
Presidency has given reasons why it shunned the leader of the Indegenious
People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu in the ongoing consultations with leaders
of the South
East.
East.
It says it
deliberately ignored Kanu because it does not regard him as a leader of thought
in the region.
Recall that
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo last week flagged off a series of meetings with
leaders of thought, politicians, traditional rulers and the clergy as part of
effort to douse the rising ethnic agitations in parts of the country.
Special
Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has
however given indication of a window of possibility for Kanu to meet with the
federal government for discussion should the need arise in the future.
Speaking at
the weekend, the presidential aide said: “Well, the thing is that we were
looking for leaders of the people, leaders of thought and we do not see him as
a leader of thought in the east.
“May be
opportunity will come at one time or the other for him to be engaged.
“But so far,
what we have done is to look at people who have influence in the communities,
whether it is religious, whether it is traditional, whether it is political,
social or governance. These are the people we brought in for discussion.”
He also said
that the south leaders including Ohanaeze Ndigbo coming to see Osinbajo have
neither asked for a referendum on Biafra or secession, saying that they have
only complained about marginalization in appointments and harassment by police
at road blocks.
“Nobody has
tabled that in all the discussions we have had. Nobody, I can tell you.
Ohanaeze came with a prepared document. They never talked about referendum.
They never. They never even talked about secession.
“They made
complaints about police harassment at road blocks. They made complaints about
losing some key positions, not being appointed into security positions and all
those kinds of things.
“And these
are things that can easily be addressed. Nobody canvassed secession at those
meetings, nobody canvassed referendum.”
Ojudu noted
that the south east leaders the acting President has met so far were all intent
on keeping Nigeria as one living in peace and harmony.
He said the
federal government would tackle the perceived injustice in parts of the country
through equitable distribution of resources and employment creation.
The
presidential aide added: “So, for us, and that was the conclusion that
everybody came to in the consultations we have had that we should all agree
that we can live together peacefully.
“We should
address injustice where we find it and the government should be equitable in
the distribution of resources across the country snd then, find solution to
youth unemployment and the frustration that is confronting most of the young
people across this country.”
0 Comments