The
former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has called on those
using his picture during Biafra protest to cease from using it and that he is a
strong believer of united Nigeria where the rights of every citizen is held
sacrosanct.
He also stated that the peace that the country enjoyed for forty
five years after the civil war should not be broken by residues being dug up by
some people to further divide the nation and betray efforts at national
reconciliation and development. This he said must not be allowed.
This was made known in a statement signed by Tony Eluemunor,
Ibori’s Media Assistant.
The
Statement read thus
Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s attention has been drawn to the way and manner his picture has been misused by some people who are involved in street demonstrations to drum up support for the establishment of the state of Biafra.
Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s attention has been drawn to the way and manner his picture has been misused by some people who are involved in street demonstrations to drum up support for the establishment of the state of Biafra.
His
photograph, embossed on banners, have been reportedly held aloft by some of the
demonstrators, as they marched through several cities in many states of the
Southern half of the country.
Ibori wants to make it clear that he is absolutely, completely
and entirely committed to the indissolubility of the Nigerian State, as
stipulated unambiguously in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
He said that all through his life, he has believed in a strong,
united Nigeria where the rights of every citizen is held sacrosanct, where no
region of state or even Local Government Area, is neglected or is made to feel
alienated in whatever way, no matter how infinitesimal.
He therefore calls on those who have been misusing his name and
picture – indeed his personality – in furtherance of a project he has never
believed in at any time an in any way, to desist forthwith from using his
picture and/or name during their demonstrations.
To everyone involved in the Biafran demonstrations in any way,
Ibori said: “The world hailed Nigeria for the peaceful way the rather fierce
Nigerian Civil War ended in 1970. It is worrisome that 45 clear years after the
end of that war, its residues are being dug up to further divide us and betray
our efforts at national reconciliation and development. This must not be
allowed to continue.
Nigeria has lived in peace in the past 45 years, and whatever
challenges, disagreements even, that may have re-surfaced, are not beyond our
collective ability to resolve.
I therefore call on all concerned, the demonstrators and the
leaders of the different strata of government to identify the problems,
determine the solutions, and turn the stumbling blocks into genuine building
blocks for real nation building.
Ibori pointed out that many other countries including Canada,
the United Kingdom and Spain, have sections agitating for various kinds of
autonomy.
But if those countries have managed to keep such agitations at
the level of peaceful discussions, Nigeria’s case should by no means lead to
another national tragedy. Nigeria has split enough blood in internecine
squabbles, he said, now is the time for genuine peace, national unity, and
thorough-going, all-inclusive fast-paced development.
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