The Southern and Center Belt Leaders’ Discussion board (SMBLF) has requested President Bola Tinubu to not solely restructure Nigeria, however “dare the powers that be by decisively take care of the perpetrators of the spate of mindless killings and lands annexation by marauders”.
The group charged the president in an announcement collectively signed by Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Afenifere; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-Common, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide; Dr Pogu Bitrus, President, Center Belt Discussion board; and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, Nationwide Chairman, PANDEF and made accessible to journalists on Tuesday.
Within the new yr message to Nigeria President, the group stated it’s “moved by the patriotic need for the company continuity of Nigeria and, the peaceable and mutually respectful coexistence of its various nationalities, to strongly urge Nigeria President to do the next:
“Your authorities holds an trustworthy and truthful safety inquiry to find out communities whereby the unique inhabitants have been displaced within the final 2 many years and implement the fast return and resettlement of the individuals of their ancestral houses.
“Additional to the above, the federal government ought to, in no distant future, shut all IDP camps to finish the shameful and sinful coverage of constructing such refugee camps for the indigenous peoples whereas their ancestral houses are allowed to be occupied by the armed invaders.
“That the Safety companies, together with the police, the Civil Defence Corps, and others be specifically educated and geared up to rise to the challenges as Nigeria is quick changing into a banana or pariah state of its kid-gloves therapy of terrorism.
“That the Nigerian state which fought a tribal civil battle to safe its company existence shouldn’t enable one other internecine battle of various tribes caused by its permissive dealing with of provocative actions of native Fulani militias aided by collaborators from the West African sub-region and the Sahel.
“The need of the Fulani to be handled as an unique “race” can’t be allowed to proceed in a free and egalitarian Nation. They need to search land for his or her commerce in the identical manner different Nigerians purchase and handle land and cease this sense of entitlement.
“Pressing steps be taken to restructure Nigeria in step with the tenets of true federalism, to legitimize multi-level policing such that states and communities will present commensurate safety for his or her individuals.
“That you just, Mr President, ought to rise to the event and dare the powers that be; decisively take care of the perpetrators of the spate mindless of killings, finish the bloodbath, and assure the security of lives and property of residents in all elements of our nation, particularly the Center Belt Area, and restore the dignity of residents and nationwide satisfaction; for which you’ll ever be remembered!”
SMBLF additional warned that since it’s “self-evident that each one ethnic nationalities have been and have settled of their parts of Nigeria earlier than the amalgamation and institution of Nigeria in 1914, the present rabid territorial ambition and quest for the alteration of the demographic constructions of the federation will result in chaos and internecine wars, the top of which would be the dismemberment of the delicate Nigerian Federation.”