South-South elders threaten to secede from Nigeria

Posted by admin Agatha Okoroiwu, Latest Politics, Uncategorized Saturday, January 14th, 2012

By Chuks Okocha and Seriki Adinoyi

Irked by the increasing security challenges in the country, some South-south elders and leaders yesterday rose from an emergency meeting with a warning that dire consequences and a possible break up of Nigeria were in view, following the continued killing of southerners in the north by members of Boko Haram.

Equally, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, said the security challenges confronting Nigeria, especially the menace of Boko Haram would soon be a thing of the past, despite the presence of those who did not mean well for the country.

However, the leaders commended President Goodluck Jonathan for removing the fuel subsidy, stating that the step by the government was meant to save the economy from collapse as well as reduce the high level of corruption in the oil sector.

It called on the organised labour to embrace dialogue with the government on the issues at stake, just as it expressed regret on what it described as provocative comments from Pastor Tunde Bakare, and his call for mass action to remove President Goodluck Jonathan in the fashion of the Arab spring.

The South-south group leaders led by former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, also called on the federal government to consider the convening of a National Conference which it said would offer the component units of the country an opportunity to discuss solution to the fragile unity of Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Chief Edwin Clark, said Nigerians were equal since Nigeria was founded on equal federating units, stressing that the turn of events, where a section of the country, most especially the north, feels that it owns Nigeria more than the other sections of the country, does no mean well for the national unity.

Meanwhile, Petirin, who spoke in Plateau State during the inauguration of the phase two of the peace building process organised by the Military tagged ‘Health for the Peaceful People on the Plateau’.

He said Nigeria had always overcome its security challenges in the past “and this will not be an exception.”

According to the leader of the South-south group, the recent development in Nigeria with the menace of Boko Haram and the threat to the government of the day by some faceless cabal has necessitated the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) for Nigerians to determine whether or not they want Nigeria to remain as a nation or face a break up.

Clark warned that Nigeria should avoid towing the path of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Sudan and Angola in its journey to nationhood, stating the rest of Nigeria would no longer sit back to be made second class citizen in their country, as he declared, “Enough is Enough”.

“The south-south leaders wish to warn that no ethnic nationality is a sole repository of violence. The people of the south-south will not tolerate any untoward action or plan against our son, whose action though seemingly painful in the interim are geared towards repositioning this country for the ultimate good of its future,” he said.

On the bombing of religious organisation, Clark said: “The South-south elders and leaders condemn in its entirety the recent spate of bombing of places of worship and the ultimatum to Christians and people from the south to leave the northern part of the country.

“We urge the security agencies to step up efforts to rekindle the confidence of the citizens in their ability to safeguard the lives and properties of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or region.
“The South-south Elders and Leaders have it on good authority plans by some prominent individuals to wreck havoc and inflict unimaginable destruction of both institution and the leadership of the country. These subterranean moves to destroy the fabric of unity of this country at a time the leadership of the country is entrusted to our son is treacherous, callous, divisive, ill conceived, against the spirit of our collective union as a country.

“The South-south Elders and Leaders call on those who are beating the drums of war and balkanisation of the country to desist from such acts forthwith as the consequence could be unbearable and unimaginable and will do no section of the country any good,” he said.

Meanwhile, Petirin, who spoke in Plateau State during the inauguration of the phase two of the peace building process organised by the Military tagged ‘Health for the Peaceful People on the Plateau’.

He said Nigeria had always overcome its security challenges in the past “and this will not be an exception”.

“Fellow Nigerians who do not want peace are still all over the places, but whatever their agenda may be, whatever name they call themselves, they are evil people. And I can assure you that Nigeria has always overcome its challenges, it will overcome this one too,” he said.

The Defence Chief applauded the tremendous improvement on the security situation in the state, adding that the plan by some elements to bomb certain places in Jos towards the end of last year and the refusal of the people not to succumb to the antics of evil people depicted an improvement in the security situation and the prevailing understanding among the people of the state.
According to him, the intention of those behind the bombing was to provoke the people by creating a crisis situation to lure people out to raise arm and ammunition against one another, “but the people refused to succumb to their antics”.

He said the purpose of inaugurating the free medical health services for the people of the Riyom, Barakin-Ladi, Jos North and Jos South local government areas of the state was to further cement relationship among the people of the council and to further create an understand among them. These are the local government on which the state of emergency was recently declared by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Governor Jonah Jang of the state, in his remarks recommended the men of the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of the security in the state for their efforts which he said have started yielding results.

The Governor called on the people to come out and take advantage of the medical services offered them by the military, adding that the military are human like any other person.

The process involves the provision of health services and drugs to the people of the local government areas affected by crisis in the Northern part of state.

-Thisdaywp_posts