South East Monarchs Task FG On Protection Of Igbos
SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, (THEWILL) – The South East Council of Traditional Rulers on Monday called on the Federal Government to protect all Igbos against what it described as the wanton killing of their kinsmen in various parts of the country.
Rising from a recent meeting of the council, its Chairman, Eze Cletus I. Ilomuanya, the Obi of Obinugwu, Monday, led other members of the council to present an eight-page address to President Goodluck Jonathan, as they warned that the blood of their kinsmen should no longer be shed again.
The traditional rulers also called on the Federal Government to create an additional state within the South-east geopolitical zone as they called for the repair of some of the deplorable roads in the zone.
Other monarchs in the entourage included Eze Bar. C. A. Osuebi, Eshimotee of Azara-Obiofo Kingdom, Imo state; Igwe Osisi Itodo-Agu, Chairman Enugu Council of Traditional Rulers and HRM Eze J. Nzenwata Mbakwe, Egwu Uga 1 of Umuosu Oaiugu Nkwoegwu autonomous community, Umuahia North LGA; among others.
While making their demands, they promised to support President Jonathan and his administration in its efforts to address the issue of insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram.
Their address signed by the Chairman, Eze Ilomuanya, said: "Mr President can bear us witness that the blood of innocent Igbos has flown enough in Nigeria through tribal and religious attacks and no government has said anything about it.
"The Igbos have also lost much properties and other valuables to extremists in Nigeria, still we all are watching. It is therefore our wish to state in strong terms that enough is enough. One can start to imagine why Boko Haram sect has chosen to bomb Churches, markets, motor parks and other places where the Igbos converge in their large numbers, especially in the Northern Nigeria?
"We therefore call on the Federal Government to take necessary measures to offer the Igbos the deserved security and protection in Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to all of us and there is no religion or tribe that is superior to others."
Calling for the creation of more states in their zone, the monarchs noted that "what is good for the goose is good for the gander," as they observed that the South East region has suffered enough deprivation with the inbalance in the number of states in each geo-political zone, with the South-east having the least number of states compared with other regions.
"We therefore call on the Federal Government to employ all machinery to ensure that additional one state be created in the South -East to put the region at par with other states before the creation of additional states in the country," they said.
They also expressed worry over the slow pace of work on the Enugu- Onitsha express road, the deplorable state of Enugu Abakaliki, Enugu-Port Harcourt road , 9th Mile-Nsukka road, Afikpo-Abakaliki road, among others.
The monarchs also called for a constitutional role for traditional rulers which they said was expunged from the 1999 Constitution, maintaining that “All Constitutions since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 had defined roles for the traditional rulers."