The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops have knocked the Federal Government for ignoring its request for a dialogue in a bid to find lasting solutions to insecurity and socioeconomic challenges in South-East Nigeria.
The group noted that it has been over three months since it wrote a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to meet with him.
The members of the group said they want to use the opportunity of the meeting to explore solutions, but had not receive any feedback from the Presidency yet.
The group said this in a joint statement issued on Monday.
The traditional rulers that signed the statement are: His Majesty, Igwe Charles Mkpuma, Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman, South-East Council of Traditional Rulers; H.M. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council; H.M. Igwe L. O. C. Agubuzu, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council; and H.M. Eze E. C. Okeke, Chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council.
The clerics that signed the statement are Most Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri; Most Rev. Chibuzo R. Opoko, TFG, DOB, JP Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia; Most Rev. Valerian M. Okeke, Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha; and Most Rev. Uma A. Onwunta, past Principal Clerk, Presbyterian Church Nigeria.
The joint body had on November 3, 2021 in a bid to ensure lasting peace to the South East region written a letter to Buhari requesting an audience.
The purpose of the request was to dialogue and explore avenues for peace-building to douse the tension in the South East and ensure it does not result in a grave socio-economic burden on the people.
The request for the audience was a sequel to a public appeal made by the group on October 30, 2021 for the de-escalation and suspension of the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra after undertaking extensive behind-the-scenes consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
The appeal was predicated on separate statements made by Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and by the South East Council of Traditional Rulers on October 7 and 18, 2021 respectively.
The statement said the response to the appeal by political actors in committing to a peaceful election as well as by IPOB in canceling its seven-day sit-at-home order paved the way for a peaceful governorship election in Anambra State.
While the Joint Body commended all stakeholders for the respect accorded to it in this regard, it expressed regret that the silence of the Presidency on its request for constructive engagement seems 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.
The statement said 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.
The statement said: “The Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops wishes to bring to members of the general public an up-to-date report on our activities in support of the initiatives aimed at restoring the peace, security and robust enterprise for which the South East is known.”
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