BEVERLY HILLS, September 21, (THEWILL) – The South-East Caucus in the National Assembly has decried the high level of marginalization of the Igbo by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that ongoing agitations in the region could only be addressed if the people were carried along in the scheme of things.
The caucus, which rejected the categorisation of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation, called on the leadership and members of the group to cease fire to enable them explore political solutions to the ongoing face-off.
The Caucus led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and the leader of South East Caucus in the National Assembly, Eyinnaya Abaribe warned that the terrorist tag if not challenged, would have grave implications for the entire geopolitical zone.
They added that the categorisation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation would also affect the people of the South-East and foreclosure any dialogue with the relevant authorities.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the Senators and House of Representatives members from the South-East stated that the agitations would cease if people from the zone are no longer marginalized in the areas of political appointments at the federal level.
The communiqué jointly signed by Abaribe and Chukwuka Onyema who heads the House of Representatives Caucus of South East reads in part, “We call on IPOB to suspend all its activities as we engage our colleagues in the National Assembly and work with them in addressing all issues of concern to IPOB in particular and the entire South East in general.
“We appreciate the efforts of the South East Governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the handling of the agitations in the South East with regards to the confrontations of the military with IPOB, especially in Abia State.
“We condemn all acts of terrorism. In the case of IPOB, we reject the branding of any organisation in Nigeria without cause or following due process where such cause do exist.
“We take this position because of the implication of such branding to innocent citizens from the area who maybe affected by the consequences. This branding, we believe, will foreclose any dialogue that will bring about a peaceful end to the activities of such group.
“We call on the leadership of Nigeria to look into the problem that feed never ending agitations by youths of the South East and other geopolitical zones of the country.
“We condemn the use of hate speeches and remarks by anybody, as the dignity of humans must be respected at all times, even while dissenting on any issue.
“We affirm our support for the unity of Nigeria anchored on justice, equality and fair treatment on all parts of the country.”
