The Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops is urging the President, Muhammadu Buhari and State Governors to grant them 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 Joint Body in a statement signed by Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Charles Mkpuma, His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR
Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo Opoko thanked all stakeholders for the respect accorded to it in this regard.
Recall the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops issued a public appeal on Sunday, 30th October, 2021, for a de-escalation and suspension of the IPOB sit-at-home order.
In a bid to sustain the momentum gained, on in November 3, 2021, the Joint Body is still requesting to dialogue and explore avenues for peace-building, to douse the tension in the South East to ensure it does not result in grave socio-economic burden on the people following the letter written to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The joint Body fears that further delay or inaction on the 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.
The full text:
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE SOUTH EAST COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL
RULERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF IGBO ARCHBISHOPS AND
BISHOPS ON THE PRESIDENCY’S HANDLING OF INSECURITY IN THE
SOUTH EAST
Gentlemen of the Press
1. 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 upto-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.
2. You may recall that, confronted with the escalation of insecurity in the South-East,
and concerned that the responses of those in authority were failing to stem the tide of violence, especially in the run-up to the Gubernatorial Elections in Anambra State, the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops issued a public appeal on Sunday, 30th October, 2021, for a de-escalation and suspension of the IPOB sit-at-home order. We undertook extensive behind-the-scenes consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
This appeal was predicated on separate statements made by Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, and by the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, on 7th and 18th October, 2021, respectively.
3. The response to the appeal by political actors in committing to a peaceful election, as well as by IPOB in cancelling its seven-day sit-at-home order, paved the way for peaceful Governorship election in Anambra State. The Joint Body wishes to thank all stakeholders for the respect accorded to it in this regard.
4. In a bid to sustain the momentum gained, on November 3, 2021, the Joint Body wrote a letter to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), requesting an audience.
5. 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 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 South East 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 Joint Body is not unmindful of widely reported visit of a group led by the Elder
Statesman, Pa Mbazulike Amechi. However, the absence of any discernible genuine effort at peace building as well as the silence of the Presidency on our request for constructive engagement 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 datagathering exercises, and bridge-building through dialogue and moral suasion.
9 The Joint Body urges 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.
SIGNED:
Chairman,
Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council and
Chairman,
South East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Charles Mkpuma,
His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR
Chairman,
Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council
H.M. Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu, OON
Chairman,
Enugu State Trad. Rulers Council
H.M. Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke
Chairman,
Imo State Trad. Rulers Council
Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna
Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Owerri
Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko, TFG, DOB, JP
Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia
Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke
Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha
Most Rev. Dr Uma A. Onwunta
Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria
H.M. Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke
Chairman,
Abia State Trad. Rulers Council
Bishop Obi Onubogu
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
