Igbo won’t secede from Nigeria –S’East governors

The South-East Governor’s Forum has advised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and other groups agitating for the actualization of sovereign state of Biafra, to desist from embarking on the sit-at-home order planned for Tuesday May 30, so as not to plunge Igboland into irredeemable conflagration.
The governors also stated that Igbos will not secede from Nigeria as that would not be in the interest of South East zone. Speaking through its Chairman, and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, the governors, said: “The South-East Governors are fully aware of the saturation of various news and information outlets, particularly the social media platforms, with the call by leaders of a movement known as IPOB, who are agitating for cessation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and formation of sovereign state of Biafra, for a total shutdown of economic activities in the entire Eastern region on May 30, 2017.
“It would be a tragic dereliction of our responsibility as leaders if we failed to take a clear and definitive stand at this potentially explosive moment in the history of Ndigbo at home and in the Diaspora, and our compatriots within the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the governors said.
The statement signed on behalf of the Forum by Governor Umahi also said that the South-East governors and indeed most Igbo leaders believe that the peculiar and collective aspiration of all Nigerians can yield to calm, reasoned, deliberate and dispassionate negotiations.
Umahi said that Ndigbo cannot find those solutions by taking actions that will do nothing but further retard their progress, adding that the Forum added it strongly believe that a negotiated settlement is the best strategy.
The South-East Governor’s Forum has advised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and other groups agitating for the actualization of sovereign state of Biafra, to desist from embarking on the sit-at-home order planned for Tuesday May 30, so as not to plunge Igboland into irredeemable conflagration.
The governors also stated that Igbos will not secede from Nigeria as that would not be in the interest of South East zone. Speaking through its Chairman, and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, the governors, said: “The South-East Governors are fully aware of the saturation of various news and information outlets, particularly the social media platforms, with the call by leaders of a movement known as IPOB, who are agitating for cessation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and formation of sovereign state of Biafra, for a total shutdown of economic activities in the entire Eastern region on May 30, 2017.
“It would be a tragic dereliction of our responsibility as leaders if we failed to take a clear and definitive stand at this potentially explosive moment in the history of Ndigbo at home and in the Diaspora, and our compatriots within the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the governors said.
The statement signed on behalf of the Forum by Governor Umahi also said that the South-East governors and indeed most Igbo leaders believe that the peculiar and collective aspiration of all Nigerians can yield to calm, reasoned, deliberate and dispassionate negotiations. Umahi said that Ndigbo cannot find those solutions by taking actions that will do nothing but further retard their progress, adding that the Forum added it strongly believe that a negotiated settlement is the best strategy.