* Onwuneme |
The BUSEYM National Executive Council, rising from an emergency meeting in Enugu over the incident however maintains that the Police and other security operatives went too far in their rules of engagement. However, the group added that any group asking for the dismemberment of Nigeria is asking for the impossible and must reconsider its stand.
In a press statement issued after the meeting and jointly signed by BUSEYM's Director-General and National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Nwabueze Onwuneme and Comrade Igwe Samuel Obinna states: "We, members of BUSEYM condemns in totality the killing of our brothers and sisters by security operatives in some towns in the South-East geo-political zone on May 30, 2016. While, BUSEYM also frowns at and distances itself from the activities of these youths who are agitating for the Biafran State, we make haste to add that there is no law that empowers Nigerian security operatives to kill protesters.Life is sacred, and due process must be adhered to in dealing with protesters.We further make haste to state that the relevant authorities must fish out the overzealous security operatives behind these dastardly acts and punish them accordingly.
"The BUSEYM also uses this opportunity to appeal to our fellow youths and women of South-East extraction agitating for Biafra to come to the negotiation table to air their grievances and seek political solutions to political challenges. The socio-economic injustice done to the South-East geo-political zone did not start with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
"Ironically, while President Buhari never created these socio-economic injustice, he has begun tentatively to proffer solutions to them, like for instance the recent releases of N13 billion and N5.5 billion respectively for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge and Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
"Through negotiations both the Buhari Administration and the pro-Biafra activists can hear and understand each other. The Nigerian environment is not yet
ripe for the kind of demonstrations and placard-carrying that we see in the Western countries, which our brothers seek to adopt.
"Democratic ethos of course encourages freedom of expression and freedom of association. But let us not lose sight of the fact that such demonstrations in our countries are always hijacked by fifth columinists, miscreants, black legs and other questionable characters. This set of people see these demonstrations as opportunites for their selfish motives and manipulate them towards chaotic and anarchous outcomes"
The group which affirmed its hope that the Buhari administration will bring justice to all citizens of the Country argued that the zone must see the All Progressive Congress, APC as the most strategic political platform to actualise its ambition of producing a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.
It explained that tentatively the APC would in 2023 zone it's presidential ticket to southern Nigeria and the south-east most likely to get it since its the only zone in the south yet to have a shot on it but stating that would be easier if we support the party and the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
"We urge our fellow Igbo youths to recall that the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu who originated the Biafran idea later recanted and even sought to become the President of a united Nigeria via the ballot box seeing the gains of been in a federating unit other than limitations of regional governance which he did twice in 2003 and 2007.
"Lets not forget too that President Buhari fought in the same war that finally saw Nigeria remaining as one country. He saw the waste of human lives on both sides, would he now in peace negotiate for the disemberment of the Country he fought to keep united?
"We therefore appeal to our fellow Igbo youths to reconsider their stand and seek political solutions to the long age grievances of the Igbo people" the group affirmed.
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