Ekwueme, Clark, Southern Leaders Meet in Enugu, Decry Rising Spate of Insecurity
Notable elder statesmen from the South-east, South-south and South-west
geo-political zones under the aegis of Southern Nigeria Peoples
Assembly on Tuesday in Enugu began a three-day conference, with the
present state of insecurity in parts of the North and the general
election taking the centre stage.
The leaders also raised the alarm over the increasing spate of
insecurity and called for a meeting between the southerners and the
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in order to find a way out of the logjam.
It is speculated that the elder statesmen might formally endorse the
candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan at the end of their conference.
But, in their various speeches, at the opening of the fifth general
conference of the SNPA taking place at the Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu,
they clearly dispelled insinuations in some quarters that the
organisation was formed to destabilise the nation but rather to
strengthen its unity.
The elder statesmen led by the former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,
Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Bishop Emannuel Bolanle
Gbonigi, made it clear that the organisation was formed by the
southerners to show that they equally belong to the country.
They expressed their firm belief in the unity and harmonious
co-existence of Nigerians irrespective of religious, political and
cultural affiliation.
Clark in his address, specifically noted that “we didn’t form the
assembly in order to confront anybody but to show equally that we belong
to this country.
“If you are strong and I am strong, all of us will respect each other.
This country belongs to all of us,” he said, adding that the group has
not only come to stay but would become greater, stronger and better
united through selfless inter-regional integration.
“As a body, we shall continue to play that crucial role as an
instrument of unity to promote the lofty ideals of the founding fathers
of our nation,” he said.
He said the Enugu conference was unique as it afforded them the
opportunity to examine the prospects of “our continued existence as one
indivisible, united country in the face of the escalating terrorists
activities, the ruin and destruction visited on innocent Nigerians
daily.”
He said the worrisome senseless killings perpetuated daily on a
magnitude no one could ordinarily imagine, makes him to wonder if indeed
“we all belong to the same country” in view of the silence by some
senior citizens from the North.
In his usual manner, the Ijaw leader expressed dismay that the spate of
attacks against President Jonathan were because he’s a minority from
the South-south, stressing that from all indications, it had become
obvious that the North needed power at all cost.
On his part, Ekwueme said since the formation of the organisation, it
had made far-reaching contributions to the overall development of not
just the three zones but the nation at large.
He identified the convocation of the national conference as well as the
effort at compelling the INEC to review it initial proposal to create
30000 new polling booths which would have caused some political crisis
in the polity.
On his part, Bishop Gbonigi who was represented by Arch-Bishop Ayo
Ladigbolu, said this year’s general election were crucial to the
survival of the nation and therefore appealed to the INEC to put in
place all necessary measures to conduct free, fair and credible
elections.
While appealing to politicians and political parties not to compromise
the peace, unity and territorial integrity of the nation by exhibiting
high moral and ethical standard, avoiding inciting statements and
conducts in public and private, before, during and after the elections,
he also asked the security operatives to maintain security nationwide
throughout the same period.
Other speakers including the chairman of South-east council of
traditional rulers, Eze Cletus Illomuanya, said in order for the people
of the three zones to actualise their collective dream, they must think
and act as people of one indivisible entity.
Notable personalities present at the Enugu conference included the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Gary Igariwey, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Senator Ewa Henshaw, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Mrs Bucknor Akerele, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Senator Chris Ukpabi, Senator Ben Collins-Ndu, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Senator Femi Okuromu, Mrs. Josephine Anenih and Commodore Anthony Ogugua.
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