South East legislators to FG: Don’t brand IPOB a terrorist organization

The South East National Assembly caucus has asked the Federal Government to reconsider its classification of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization.

The caucus also asked IPOB to suspend its activities to allow members of the caucus to engage their colleagues at the National Assembly to address issues of concern to members of the group and people of the zone.

The caucus said that it resolved to reject the branding of any organization terrorist without cause or following due process.

It insisted that their position became necessary because of the implication of such branding to innocent citizens who might be affected by such branding.

Besides, it said that such branding would foreclose any dialogue that would lead to a peaceful resolutions of issues at stake.

This is contained in a communiqués issues after a meeting of the caucus in Abuja.

The meeting held in the Apo Legislative quarters of a principal officer of the National Assembly was said to have last till the wee hours of yesterday.

A source said that members of the caucus used the opportunity of the meeting to review happenings in the South East especially since the deployment of soldiers to the area.

The meeting, the source said, became necessary “so that we can review issues, take position and articulate the way forward.”

The communiqué signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman Senate South East Caucus and Hon. Chukwuka Onyema, Chairman, House of Representatives South East Caucus, read in part:

“Rising from a meeting of National Assembly Caucus of the South East geo political zone of the country, the following resolutions were reached.

“We call on IPOB to suspend all its activities as we engage our colleagues in the National Assembly and work with them in addressing all issues of concern to IPOB in particular, and the entire people of the South East in general.

“We appreciate the efforts of the South East governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the handling of the agitations in the South East with regards to the confrontation of the military with IPOB, especially in Abia State.

“We condemn all acts of terrorism. In the case of IPOB, we reject the branding of any organization in Nigeria as terrorist without cause or following due process where such cause exists. We take this position because of the implication of such branding to innocent citizens from the area who may be affected by the consequences.

“The branding, we believe, will foreclose any possible dialogue that will bring about a peaceful end to the activities of such group.

“We call on the leadership of Nigeria to look into the problems that feeds the never ending agitation by the youths of the South East and other geo-political zones in the country.

“We condemn the use of hate speeches and remarks by any body as the dignity of person must be respected at all times, even while dissenting on any issue.

“We affirm our support for unity of Nigeria anchored on justice, equity and fair treatment to all parts of the country.”

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