IPOB: Igbo Lawyers Ask Buhari to Stem Violence

In a statement signed by its president, Chief Chuks Ikokwu, the lawyers also urged Buhari “to demonstrate statesmanship and show in very clear terms that he is the President of all Nigerians” by stemming the tension and violence that have ravaged the country. “We are deeply concerned that Mr. President is increasingly viewed by a sizeable section of the populace as a sectional leader,” the statement said. “For a leader whose election was hailed as a watershed for national harmony, this current rating calls for a sober reflection. The President must ensure that he abides by the Nigerian Constitution which he has sworn to defend by ensuring that his appointments reflect the Federal Character principle. To do otherwise is to do grave injustice to the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Constitution. He should also take immediate steps to set the machinery in motion towards a restructuring of the country. This will go a long way to douse tension in several parts of the country.” Turning to the current military siege on the South Eastern part of the country, Igbo lawyers warned that the handling of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) crises has tended to garner more members and sympathy for the pro-independence group. “The military operations have the tendency to radicalize more Igbo youths and drive the IPOB elements underground,” Otu Oka Iwu said. “Either way, the much needed peace in the country will remain increasingly elusive while exacerbating tension in the polity.” While appealing to Igbo youths especially IPOB members to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of provocation, the law society urged the President “to immediately halt the planned ‘Operation Python Dance II’ and meaningfully engage South East leaders towards finding a sustainable solution to the IPOB debacle – as is the case for other ethnic agitators. “While we welcome the rapprochement between the Arewa Youths and their Southern compatriots, it is noteworthy that at no time were they arrested for their clearly illegal and unconstitutional ‘quit notice,’ to say little of unleashing the full military might of the Federal Government on them. All Nigerian citizens must be treated equally and evenly to stem discontent and feeling of marginalization, while the Armed Forces must be prevailed upon by Mr. President – as their Commanderin-Chief – to respect human rights even during military operations and in line with sundry international treaties and instruments of which Nigeria is a signatory.”]]>