As Osinbajo Meets Regional Leaders
As a direct fall out of events of the previous week, Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo devoted most of last week to rounds of meetings with regional leaders. He is expected to hold more meetings this weekend with traditional rulers and clergymen and will hold still more meetings in the coming week with state governors. […]
As a direct fall out of events of the previous week, Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo devoted most of last week to rounds of meetings with regional leaders. He is expected to hold more meetings this weekend with traditional rulers and clergymen and will hold still more meetings in the coming week with state governors. Osinbajo’s first meeting, which took place at the State House’s Old Banquet Hall in Abuja, was with what the government called Leaders of Thought from the Northern States.
Prominent Northern leaders at the meeting included Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum [ACF] and former Police Inspector General Ibrahim Coomassie; Deputy Leader of the Northern Elders Forum Wantaregh Paul Unongo; former Sokoto State governor Aliyu Wamakko; former Army Chief General Martins Luther Agwai and former Plateau State deputy governor Mrs. Pauline Tallen. Also present was Prof. Ango Abdullahi, the only prominent Northern leader who publicly endorsed the youth groups’ ultimatum to Igbos to quit the North within three months. Top government officials that accompanied Osinbajo to the meeting included Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki; House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara; National Security Adviser Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonishakin.
The Northern youth groups’ so-called ultimatum, which they said was in response to the secessionist agitation by South Eastern groups such as Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB] and in particular the shutting down of Eastern cities on May 30 to mark “Biafra Day,” caused tension across the country and elicited reactions like no other issue in recent times. It also presented the Acting President with his biggest political and security challenge since he took charge in President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence from May 7.
He has responded admirably to the challenge. His address to the Northern leaders was a mixture of warnings, appeals and exhortations. Prof Osinbajo said the Federal Government promised dire consequences for anyone who makes hate speeches capable of disrupting the country’s peace. No one, he said, “will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or violence.” He cited the Northern youth groups’ quit notice as one such speech which he said “if not well managed, could lead to ethnic hostilities that may cause the disintegration of the country.” He also likened hate speeches to throwing stones in the market, which he said could hit unintended targets.
The next day, Wednesday, Osinbajo met with Leaders of Thought from the South East. Prominent Igbo leaders at the meeting included Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, former Anambra State governor Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Roman Catholic Archbishop Igwebike Onah of Nsukka, Mrs. Joy Emordi and former Ambassador to the UN Prof. Viola Onwuliri. Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Willy Obiano of Anambra and Rochas Okorocha of Imo were also present, as were top government officials including military service chiefs and Police Inspector General.
The Acting President’s address to the South Eastern leaders was a similar mix of warnings, appeals and exhortations. He urged them to speak out against hate speeches capable of destabilising the country. Referring to what he called “loud and sometimes hostile” agitations by some South Eastern youths calling for secession from Nigeria, he said the leaders should “address these agitations and proclamations urgently and decisively” and not “burying our heads in the sand and expecting the storm to blow over.” He also urged them not to “fall for the temptation for tit-for-tat.” Osinbajo also said the Federal Government “will do everything within our power to protect the lives of every citizen anywhere and in any part of the country.”
In the tense atmosphere that the nation found itself following IPOB’s incessant calls for secession, its leader Nnamdi Kanu’s treasonable threats to unleash violence on the country unless he gets to recreate “Biafra,” the shutdown of the East to mark “Biafra Day” on June 30, the loud silence and suspected acquiescence of Eastern leaders to the dangerous agitation and finally the irresponsible ultimatum handed down by some Northern youth groups for Igbos to quit the North by October 1 are all reckless gambits and brinkmanship of the kind that could spiral out of control and plunge the country into avoidable crises and needless violence. The government’s first response to this crisis should be to intensify security measures and ensure that hoodlums do not take advantage of the threats to unleash mayhem.
The second obvious measure is to hold these meetings with various interest groups. While these meetings hold much political and psychological significance, the regional, clerical and traditional leaders must demonstrate their influence and control by reigning in their overzealous youths, in the South East, in the North and in all other parts of the country. Too often in this country we have seen a disconnect between assurances given by community leaders and the action of youth groups. Sometimes the leaders are genuinely unable to control the youths but in some cases, the leaders at least hope that the youths’ reckless gambit could serve their own political goals. For example, some Eastern groups said last week that “Biafra” agitation will only end if the presidency is conceded to Igbos in 2019. No one should claim the presidency through blackmail of other Nigerians. The way to get the presidency is by playing adroit politics, displaying firm leadership qualities and building alliances based on mutual trust and give and take.
We urge Acting President Osinbajo to continue his search for peace through genuine engagement with all legal groups. He should also not spare the rod from any reckless gambler who makes hate speech, incendiary remarks or issues illegal ultimatums that seek to curtail other citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms.