The South East Governors Forum (SEGF) has dispelled rumours
that the governors have met and agreed to mobilise vehicles and cash for the
evacuation of Igbo resident in the north.
“The rumours should be disregarded, as they are nothing but
tissues of lies,’’ the Chairman of SEGF and Ebony governor, Mr. David Umahi,
said in a statement, on Friday.
“ No amount of provocation would lead us to such a
precipitate and irresponsible action at this time.
“Those exploiting such vacuous tittle-tattle as a basis for
divisive rhetoric in public spaces are simply playing juvenile politics and we
urge them to cease and desist.’’
He appealed to Igbo resident in the North to go about their
lawful daily engagements without fear of intimidation, hindrance or molestation
and assured them that of corporate existence of Nigeria.
“The Forum has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to and
preference for the existence of a virile, united, prosperous and progressive
Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, mutual respect and equality of
opportunity to all citizens regardless of creed, ethnicity or gender will reign
supreme under the inflexible rule of law.
“We have had occasions recently to take this position
publicly in response to the agitation, but peaceful actions of some Igbo
youth.’’
The governors, he said, would continue to take a similar
stance in response to any action that might threaten the cohesiveness of
Nigeria or designed to cause its rupture.
He said that the lives and property of law-abiding citizens
Igbo were as precious as the lives and property of all Nigerians, irrespective
of the region of their abode within this Republic.
“These must be guaranteed and defended against all forms of
threat and aggression, both domestic and external, by the security forces and
agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’
The governors are collaborating effectively with the
security agencies to ensure that no harm of any description was done to any
law-abiding Nigerian citizen resident in the South East, including those from
the North.
He called on all serious minded patriots, religious
leadership in the North; the leadership of other socio-cultural groups;
Nigerian Governors Forum; and all the service branches to rise up with voices
of peace and wisdom to counteract the mischievousness and exuberant excesses of
the northern youth.
“The ugly lessons of history are too grim to be stoked with
carelessness,’’ he warned and that as leaders,“ we must exert the full measure
of our powers and influence to forestall a repetition’’.
He expressed appreciation to all Nigerians, including the presidency; reputable
socio-cultural group, including Afenifere, who have declaimed the threat by the
northern youth, and “thus underscored the unity and oneness of this nation’’.
The forum also appreciated Senate President Bukola Saraki;
former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; “our brother Governors particularly
Alhaji Kashim Shetimma (the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum).
The Forum also thanked Rtd. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, the
Honourable Minister of Interior;, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna
state; the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the security agencies
and many others.
[The Sun]
