Igbo angry with Buhari over appointments, arrest of MASSOB leaders

Apparently reacting to the latest arrest of MASSOB leaders in the country, Igbo leaders yesterday said that the 1999

Constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and “expression, manifested particularly in lawful protests, as a fundamental right.”

They further accused President Muhammadu Buhari of allegedly violating the constitution by ruling the country without ministers since May this year.

These were contained in a communique signed by the Chairman of the Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, after its meeting at MODOTEL Hotel in Enugu, yesterday. It also noted that President Buhari’s one man rule had generated much tension and retardation as well as serious retardation of the

economy, social dislocation, insecurity and polarization along ethnic and

religious lines.

The communique entitled, “PLENARY MEETING OF THE IGBO LEADERS OF THOUGHT,” read, “The ILT met in a full session Thursday, October 22, 2015 and deliberated extensively on the state

of the nation. “The ILT noted that five months since he was sworn in President

Buhari has not been able to form a government but has continued to

rule alone.

“The ILT noted that the President Buhari has violated the Constitution of the country in so many ways including the appointments he has made so far.

“The ILT noted that President Buhari’s one man rule has generated much tension in the land, and has caused serious retardation of the economy, social dislocation, insecurity and polarization along ethnic and religious lines.

“The ILT supports the fight against corruption provided it is not

selective and subject to constitutional limitations on power, especially

limitations arising from our federal system and the guarantee of civil and political rights.

“The ILT reminds the President that the main problem of the

country today is the national question, which demands, among other

things, the restructuring of the federation, and calls on him to set

up immediately the machinery for the purpose and for the

implementation of the 2014 National Conference resolutions.

“The ILT noted that the Fulani cattle-rearers have continued to

constitute a menace and security problem in the country and calls on

the President to restrict them to cattle ranches as is done in all

cattle-rearing countries all over the world.

“The ILT condemns in no uncertain terms the movement of Boko

Haram terrorists to the prison in Ekwulobia in spite of the protests

of Anambra State people.

There is no reason or justification for this act if it is not to further

threaten the security of Anambarians many of whom are victims of

the sect’s violence and have been driven out from North-Eastern

part of the country.

“If the Boko Haram insurgents are awaiting trial, simple logic dictates that they should be located near the courts in the North-East. In any case such criminals should not be allowed to contaminate and endanger the security of non-members of the sect. “There is a feeling among Ndigbo that these Boko Haram insurgents are advanced groups of Jihadists, just like the Fulani herdsmen

roaming over the South-East, South-West and North-Central armed

with AK47 guns.

“The ILT would like to remind President Buhari that there are

thousands of internally displaced persons (refugees from North-East)

in Igbo land who also should be catered for like other IDPs in other

parts of the country. “The ILT noted that Igbo young men who are protesting against

brazen injustices against Ndigbo are being hounded. The ILT would

like to remind the President that the constitution of this country

guarantees freedom of expression, manifested particularly in lawful

protests, as a fundamental right.”