Traditional rulers, archbishops and bishops of all denominations from the South-East have called on the Federal Government to release agitators for peace to reign in the region.
They also listed conditions that should be pursued vigorously immediately by the Federal Government to arrest the frightening security situation in the region.
Their demands included demilitarisation of the zone, deproscription of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Others include government taking practical steps to end the marginalisation of the Igbo from the scheme of things.
The Traditional and Religious Leaders warned that the current hard stance of the Federal Government on the precarious situation in the South-East could only escalate the tension and dislocation in the zone.
The signatories to the document which was obtained by Standard Observers include chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Charles Mkpuma; Chairman, Abia State Council, Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke; Chairman, Anambra State Council, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe (CFR); Chairman, Enugu State Council, Igwe (Ambassador) L. O. C. Agubuzu (OON) and Chairman, Imo State Council, Eze (Dr). E. C. Okeke.
The other signatories were the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Reverend (Dr) Anthony J.V. Obinna; Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Most Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel O. Chukwuma (OON); Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Reverend (Dr) Chibuzo R. Opoko; Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend (Dr) Valerian M. Okeke; past Principal Clerk, Presbyterian Church Nigeria, Most Reverend (Dr) Uma A. Onwunta; Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Obi Onubogu and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-East, Reverend (Dr) Abraham Nwali.
Their intervention on the worrisome trend in the South-East is coming against the heightened tension ahead of the governorship election slated for this weekend in Anambra State.
The traditional rulers and clerics announced a plan to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari on the worsening insecurity in the South-East with the aim of bringing succour to the people of the area.
“We call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to de-militarise the South-East zone, more so as it has become apparent that a continued military siege on the region can only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and our youths,” the leaders stressed.
Therefore, they advised the Federal Government to take urgent steps to de-militarise the South-East, which has witnessed killings and destruction of security facilities in recent times.
While urging IPOB members to sheathe their swords to pave way for dialogue and negotiation, they, however, asserted that until the government took “deliberate steps to run government on the basis of fairness, equity, justice and non-discrimination, the restiveness” was bound to persist in the South-East.
Part of their statement read: “We, the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, note with deep concern the high level of insecurity and socioeconomic disruption in the South-East zone of Nigeria.
“This has deepened the hardships being faced by the citizens and rendered prostrate the socio-political and economic lives of our people.
“Flowing from similar initiatives taken to bring peace to other troubled parts of the country, we urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion and development. Accordingly, we refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly.
“We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily deescalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South-East zone.
“We call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to demilitarise the South-East Zone, more so as it has become apparent that a continued military siege on the region can only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and our youths.
“It has become urgent, imperative and compelling to de-emphasise the military option and move towards finding a political solution that will lead to sustainable peace.
“We assert that heightened inequality and marginalisation remain at the core of youth restiveness in our region.
“On our part, we assure our youths that we have heard their cries of marginalisation, injustice and longsuffering. As concerned parents, we feel your pain. “However, we urge you to de-escalate the tension and remain law-abiding to enable us to engage especially the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to the crises.”
“Consistent with the above, we urge IPOB not to do anything that would hinder or be seen to be hindering the smooth running of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State and to cancel all scheduled sit-at-home orders, as these have already caused untold hardship for our people.
“Finally, we call on all the candidates in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election to eschew violence and commit to free, fair and credible election.”
