Leaders of Southern Nigeria, under the auspices of Southern
Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to
respect the rule of law and order the immediate release of those in detention,
including Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu, in compliance with pronouncements
of courts of competent jurisdiction.
The leaders also said that in order for the principles of
separation of powers to be applied to advance democracy, the Indigenous People
of Biafra ( IPOB) and similar non-violent bodies should be treated fairly and
given opportunity if hearing.
SNPA made these pronouncements in Asaba during its meeting
which held at Best Western Elemaz Hotel.
The meeting, attended by the State Governor (represented),
was chaired by former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who was also
represented by a former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
Other leaders who were at the meeting include co-chair and
leader of South-South, Senator Rowland Owie, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, co-chair
and leader of the South West, represented by Senator Femi Okurounmu.
The SNPA, which deliberated on the security, socio-political
and economic situations of the country, persistent killing of Nigerians by
Fulanis, and issues bordering on establishment of grazing reserves in parts of
the country.
In its first resolution, the group said: “We urge
him(Buhari) to respect the rule of law, the protection of citizens fundamental
human rights and the pronouncements of courts of competent jurisdiction. The
president should note that the war on corruption should neither be vindictive
nor selective.
“We call on President Buhari to ensure immediate release of
all Nigerians which various courts have given bail and have subsequently met
their bail conditions. IPOB and other similar non-violent bodies should be
treated fairly and given opportunity to be heard.
“The president should commence the implementation of the
resolutions of the 2014 National Conference to resolve the continuing
contradictions in the Nigerian polity and to lay solid foundation for more just
and equitable Nigerian society.”
The leaders also urged Northern elders to stop infusing the
‘we and they’ mentality in the present government ‘which usually create
division and confusion in the polity’. “The Northern Elders Forum should
realize that President Buhari is the president of Nigeria, and not just of
northern Nigeria. The government is therefore for the entire Nigeria and
programmes and projects should be for the overall development and growth of the
country and not a section of it”.
On the increasing killings by Fulani cattle rearers, the
leaders said that “the president should deal decisively the with the issue of
Fulani herdsmen to avoid it snowballing into another Boko Haram. Consequently,
he should commission a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate all Fulani
attack since May 2015 and make the perpetrators face the wrath of the law”.
The group thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who hosted them in
the Delta State capital city.
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