Southeast traditional rulers and religious leaders have urged President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to grant audience “as requested” so that all hands can be on deck towards restoring peace and security in the region.
Speaking on the presidency’s handling of insecurity in the zone, the leaders in a joint statement under the aegis of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, expressed their displeasure with President Buhari over his “silence” on the insecurity being experienced in the southeast region. It said it had written Buhari, requesting an audience.
The statement reads in part: “It is puzzling that the President and the South-East Governors appear to be ignoring the demonstrated value of dialogue and consensus-building in finding a lasting solution to the region’s security issues. As leaders who are continuously required by our burden of service to interface with the populace, the Joint Body is desirous of confirming the sincerity and commitment of the Federal Government, in particular, to find a lasting solution to the security crisis.
“In anticipation of an audience with the Federal and State Governments, however, the Joint Body has continued fastidiously with its engagement with stakeholders across the dimensions of the conflict and ensuing insecurity, rigorous fact-finding and data gathering exercises, and bridge-building through dialogue and moral suasion.
“The Joint Body urges the President and State Governors to grant audience as requested so that all hands can be on deck towards restoring peace and security in the region while improving the welfare of its citizenry.”
