Sodiq Oyeleke Igbo traditional and religious leaders under the auspices of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representati...
Sodiq Oyeleke
Igbo traditional and religious leaders under the auspices of
South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo
Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution have expressed concern
over the killings and violence in Imo State.
They expressed their concerns in a statement titled, ‘Imo
politicians must de-escalate hostilities to save Imo State’, signed by the Obi
of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia,
Chibuzo Opoko, on Sunday.
While lamenting that Imo State has become “a war zone”, they
frowned on the action of the police in arresting a former governorship
candidate in Imo State, Uche Nwosu, in a place of worship recently.
Part of the statement read, “The dramatic and condemnable
invasion of a place of worship by officers of the Nigeria Police Force on
December 26, 2021 ostensibly to effect the arrest of a former governorship
candidate in Imo State has brought to the public consciousness the long-running
troubling state of affairs in the state, which has led to the loss of many
lives, hundreds of millions of naira of property, a deterioration of the
environment for business and a debilitating poisoning of public culture and
trust.
“Even as we write
this statement, a report is breaking of an exchange of gunfire between unknown
gunmen and law enforcement officers, which may have left several people dead.
Imo has become a war zone and the Igbo nation is appalled that those
responsible seem unable to gauge the consequences of their conduct.
“The tensions, violence, and failing law and order situation
have resulted in a significant number of deaths, including those of traditional
rulers, a considerable number of missing persons, and the abduction of scores
of youths presumably by law enforcement and non-state actors.
“Many attribute this to the prevailing political differences
in the state. These arrested and kidnapped young men are said to be held in
concentration camp conditions.
“This state of affairs in Imo State, blamed largely on a few
politicians of the state and their cohorts, constitutes an assault on the
dignity and well-being of Ndi Imo and the Igbo nation. It is unacceptable and
must be brought to a speedy resolution.”
The traditional and religious leaders also proposed meetings
with the governor, Hope Uzodimma, past governors, former governorship
candidates, and elders of the state.
“We, as the clergy, traditional rulers, and elders of
conscience of Alaigbo, under the auspices of the Joint Body of the South East
Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and
Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution (J. B.) are compelled to intervene.
“First, we urge all the political leaders in contestations
and their followers to cease and desist from all actions that will escalate or
compound the situation on the ground in the state.
“Next, we ask for an examination of conscience of the actors
in Imo State, FCT, Abuja, or elsewhere.
“We trust that the Igbo Spirit, which guided our
intervention in the run-up to the recent Anambra State governorship election
and resulted in peaceful and salutary outcomes, will lead the key antagonists
in Imo State politics to collaborate with us to help reconstruct the social
order in Imo to greater civility,” the statement added.
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