The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development, (CNEEPD) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for adopting civil approach in tackling the uprisings that resulted in mass looting and burning of private and public infrastructures in some states.
The group, which comprises of elders from the north, said the President’s directive to security forces was why violent protesters were handled professionally in spite of the quantum of looting and destruction of properties during the ugly development.
The northern elders said the President’s wisdom in handling the youth uprising was the reason normalcy is returning in a short time in spite of the violence that trailed the youths’ action.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Engr Zana Goni and National Women Leader, Hajiya Mario Bichi, the elders also hailed the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohaneze Ndigbo for distancing itself from inciting statements credited to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The Northern elders, who vowed that they will project the issues of alleged marginalisation of the South East region with a view to changing the equation, appealed to all Igbos to support the administration of President Buhari to succeed.
“We wish to sincerely thank president Muhammadu Buhari, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces for his wisdom in handling the youths uprising that resulted in killings, looting, stealing, and burning down of both private and public properties in some states of the federation.
“These actions by some misguided youths and criminal elements who were out to deliberately instigate religious and ethnic tensions in Nigeria were unfortunate.
“But we thank the president for the civil approaches he used in dousing the tension,” the statement said.
The elders commended youths from the north for exercising restraint despite the high level of provocative comments and videos on social media during the violent protests which were intended to provoke the region into reaction.
“The northern youths were smart enough not to allow themselves to be used by crisis entrepreneurs who are out to destabilise our country. They have proven that they have outgrown the antics of the agents of destabilisation,” they said in the statement.
The elders commended Ohaneze Ndigbo and other South East groups for disowning inciting statements from IPOB members and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, saying their actions have proven that the region has unshaken belief in the unity of Nigeria.
The statement added: “We also wish to strongly commend how swift the Ohananze Ndigbo, South East Peace Practitioners, Igbo Youths Worldwide, Igbo Leagues of Professionals and several other Igbo groups from distancing themselves from the so called leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu over his inciting comments which was aimed at setting us up against each other during the protests.
“This has endeared the Igbo nation to the north once again. This also has shown their resolve to build one and prosperous Nigeria of our dream where peace and justice shall be the hallmark.
“As elders, we must clearly state that the country has not been fair to Igbo people in all ramifications and we must admit this fact as true Muslims.
“The Igbos must believe and work for the unity of Nigeria to enable other parts of Nigeria to speak up for them. We are so pleased with the speed at which many Igbo groups disowned Nnamdi Kanu and his evil intention.
“In solidarity, we shall continue to speak for peace, justice and equity for every region of the country, because Nigeria belongs to all of us.
“We therefore call on our Igbo brothers to support the government of President Muhamamadu Buhari to enable him succeed.
“President Buhari is doing a lot in terms of projects in the South East. The facts are there to see except for people who want to deliberately distort facts.”
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