Victor Ezeja
Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops have expressed dismay over the manner in which the Nigerian presidency has handled issues of insecurity in the region in recent times.
The joint body of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, in a statement said it has written to President Muhammadu Buhari for more than three months running, seeking to have audience with him and discuss the way forward about security crisis in Southeast region, but no response yet to their request.
The body had prior to Anambra State governorship election in November 2021, issued a public appeal for de-escalation and suspension of the IPOB sit-at-home order and also undertook consultation with relevant stakeholders. It said that the response by political stakeholders to commit to peaceful governorship election, and IPOB cancelling its seven-day sit-at-home order, paved way for successful conduct of the election and reduction of security tension in the state.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe traditional rulers and religious leaders said it was on that basis it wrote to the president requesting for audience.
“The purpose of the request was to dialogue and explore avenues for peace-building, douse the tension in the South East to ensure it does not result in grave socio-economic burden on our people,” the joint body stated.
“The joint Body fears that further delay or inaction on this request may have the unintended consequence of giving credence, albeit erroneously, to the belief by some groups in the region that restoring peace and stability is not the primary goal of the Federal Government.
”In the same vein, genuine efforts made through the Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum to dialogue with Southeast Governors have so far also met a brick wall. Taken together, the shuttered silence gives room for suspicion and presents ominous portends if left unattended to.”
The group accused state governors and the president of failing to see the need for dialogue and peace building as a way of resolving the crisis in the region, warning that such deafening silence over the matter would “further seem to give credence to the suspicion in some quarters of a clear lack of strong commitment to peace building and resolution of security challenges in the South East.
“It has been three months since the letter was written and delivered to the office of the President. The Presidency has neither acknowledged receipt nor responded to the letter.
“It is puzzling that the President and the South East Governors appear to be ignoring the demonstrated value of dialogue and consensus-building in finding a lasting solution to the region’s security issues. As leaders who are continuously required by our burden of service to interface with the populace, the Joint Body is desirous of confirming the sincerity and commitment of the Federal Government, in particular, to finding a lasting solution to the security crisis.”
“In anticipation of audience with the Federal and State Governments, however, the Joint Body has continued fastidiously with its engagement with stakeholders across the dimensions of the conflict and ensuing insecurity, a rigorous fact-finding and data-gathering exercises, and bridge-building through dialogue and moral suasion,” the group stated.
It urged the President and State Governors to grant audience as requested so that all hands can be on deck towards restoring peace and security in the region while improving the welfare of its citizenry, the statement read.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
