Governors of the nineteen northern States have greeted
residents across the north for being non-violent in the face of clashes between
members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Soldiers in Abia State,
which endangered some northerners living in parts of the south.
The Governors called on residents across the nineteen
northern States to permanently sustain the peace, saying no law abiding
Nigerian deserved to be punished for the mere fact that he or she happened to
be living or doing business in any part of the country.
The Governors spoke through Mr Kashim Shettima, Governor of
Borno State and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum in a statement
emailed to journalists by Shettima’s Adviser on Communications and Strategy,
Malam Isa Gusau.
The Governor’s acknowledged that they were aware of spill
over concerns in Jos, Plateau State but they were also aware of the rapid step
taken by their colleague, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State, who
immediately declared a dusk to dawn curfew that restored peace.
The Governors, however, noted that despite the patriotism
displayed by residents, their administrations had since placed security forces
on alert to tackle any unforeseen attempt to cause breach of security.
The Governors called on all residents to, irrespective of
tribe and religion see themselves as equal Nigerians who have the same rights
to freely live in any part of Nigeria as provided by the Nigerian Constitution
which the Governors are under oath to preserve, protect and defend.
The Governors also called on all Nigerians to support and
promote peace and coexistence, maintaining that the collective vision to have a
greater and prosperous Nigeria can only be actualised under an atmosphere of
peace and stability.
The northern Governors commiserated with Nigerians affected
by the violence.
The Governors called on northerners operating in any part of
the country to remain law abiding and calm saying they share in their concerns
and will continually take lawful measures to support them under any
circumstance the northerners find themselves.
By Maina Maina
