ABUJA – Elder statesman and foremost Igbo leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has urged the Federal Government to review its operation in the Southeast and initiate dialogue with the pro-Biafra groups to tone down the agitations.
Iwuanyanwu, who spoke in Abuja, when he was conferred with awards by the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, and the Inter-Faith Youth Council of Nigeria, the Vanguard of Good Leadership and Epitome of Hope and Integrity Award of Selfless Service to Humanity respectively, maintained that the issue of insecurity in the country cannot be resolved through the barrel of a gun.
He wondered why any group would be thinking of breaking away from the country when the world is already a global village, adding that bringing all parties to the dialogue table, remains the most viable option in pacifying all the warring groups across the country.
Commending President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the area of infrastructure development, Iwuanyanwu however noted that Buhari was voted into power based on his promise to tackle insecurity, adding that “the protection of lives and property was the essence of life and not even to dole out money to somebody.”
He said, “you have seen it already and you know this is very serious and very bad. I think really that the government should now realise that this thing cannot be solved through barrel of guns. So, I think it has reached a point when the government should realise that peace cannot be attained from the barrel of guns. It is now time to start searching for these people.
“Go to Southwest, go to the man, Igboho or so or whatever they call him; go to Southeast, get those people from the Southeast, get all those people who are causing trouble, bring them together, they are your children, they are Nigerians, let us know what is the matter.
“That will be the best solution because it will save us money. But if you think we can solve it by this thing, it will embarrass us. If one day, these people come and start throwing bombs in Abuja here, Abuja will scatter and that could embarrass this country anywhere in the world. It means that all the embassies will run away, everybody will run away.
“And these people are not showing any sympathy. They kidnap in schools, they kidnap children; call them. Let’s beg them and see how we can solve the problem,” Iwuanyanwu further said. (The Nation)
