Akpabio urges South-East to sustain peace, reject armed struggle against Nigeria
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to people of the South-East to sustain peace and guide youths away from violent agitation against the Nigerian state. Akpabio made the
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to people of the South-East to sustain peace and guide youths away from violent agitation against the Nigerian state.
Akpabio made the call at the funeral of Albert Ikechukwu Nnamani, a former Administrative Secretary of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission, held in Ikem, Enugu State.
He stressed that meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment, urging community leaders to provide proper guidance to young people.
“For Ndigbo, I want to plead with you to continue to maintain peace and watch over the youth. Development can only take place in an atmosphere of peace,” he said.
Akpabio warned that attempts to pursue political goals through armed struggle would not succeed, noting that state authority would prevail in such situations.
He, however, assured that the National Assembly is willing to consider legislative measures that would address concerns in the region, including the possibility of creating an additional state to ensure parity with other geopolitical zones.
“We are prepared as a parliament to make the right laws and take necessary steps to ensure fairness for the South-East,” he added.
"The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very eager to right the wrongs of the past. That is why, even in terms of appointment, he has done his best to ensure that Ndigbo is not marginalised. But everything you want should be negotiated.
"I'm saying this to underscore the fact that through peaceful means and negotiation, we shall get our rightful place in Nigeria. I want this to happen in your lifetime. May we not lose our youth because of wrong politics and wrong advice? May we not lose our youth because of disaffection and people misleading us?
"We need a solid base in Ndigbo land. I am not happy that the economy of Onitsha and Nigeria is affected by the so-called sit-at-home. It has affected your economy so badly.
"Ndigbo are known for nothing but enterprise. When we came out of the war, all your accounts were frozen. If you have two million pounds, they gave you three pounds. What will you do with three pounds?
"So when I was given an award in 2010 by Silver Bird. I saw all the gladiators sitting together. Then I asked them: how come the so-called three Rs - Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction - that Reconstruction happened in other areas of the country where the war was not fought.
"But in the area of the South-South and South East, where the Biafran War was fought, there was no reconstruction. They only tried reconciliation and rehabilitation. That R (Reconstruction) was missing."
Akpabio said the Nigerian past leaders at the event were not comfortable with his speech. He, however, ended his speech by saying it was time for Nigeria to do justice and prayed "that justice shall be done to Ndigbo in our lifetime in Jesus Name."
Akpabio paid glowing tribute to the former OMPADEC administrator who was buried, stressing that "as administrative secretary of the former OMPADEC, he discharged his duty with dignity and with candour, and he set the tone for the development of the Niger Delta region.
"Before his ascension into that position, many used to say that so much is being promised to the people of the Niger Delta and that all the promises were in the pipeline. After a while, our people started breaking the pipelines to bring about the Federal Government's promises. But those things are now things of the past."
