By Raphael Ede, Enugu and Agboola Bayo, Ibadan
Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has defended the non-arrest of the Arewa youth who issued quit notice to the Igbo to leave the 19 states of the North, saying the non-arrest of Yerima Shetimma and other leaders of the Arewa youth coalition was “strategic.” “Arrest and detention wittingly and unwittingly make agitators celebrities,” he said. Okechukwu was reacting to the speech of John Nwodo, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo during the inauguration of 100-member advisory committee on economic and political aff airs, in Enugu at the weekend.
“What remains worrisome is the incapacity of the police to make needful arrests in the situation pointing to double standards from our security forces,” Nwodo reportedly said. In a statement at Akpakwume Nze, Enugu state, yesterday, he disagreed with Nwodo that the security agencies were playing double standards by not making arrests over the quit notice. He recalled that it was the arrest and long detention of an equally provocative and unknown Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that made him a celebrity.
“His detention gave rise to the disgusting and sordid situation in the country today. Methinks the non-arrest of Yerima Shetima and cohorts of the Arewa youths for their arrant, unpatriotic, unconstitutional and provocative quit notice is strategic. ‘”Strategic in the sense that more than any other factor was the arrest and long detention of harmless, but as well provocative Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which led to this sordid scenario. Detention made Kanu with no fi xed address became an instant celebrity.
Had Kanu not been arrested his agitation could have fi zzled out unnoticed.” Asked whether he consulted the Inspector General of the Police before coming to this conclusion, Okechukwu said: “I didn’t consult the InspectorGeneral of the Police or any security offi cer for that matter, but common sense. Th e security chiefs might have reasoned that it is better to allow the storm to boil over, instead of creating another celebrity; as time is the healer of all wounds.”
“I’m surprised why Chief Nnia Nwodo, our President General, who loves us, the millions of Ndigbo who live in the north more than ourselves did not worry, why Nnamdi Kanu was not rearrested after serial violation of court order. Is it not double standard to allow somebody who fl agrantly violates court order to move about freely? If by the same token, Kanu is not rearrested, I bet you that his sponsors will thin down,” he said. While agreeing that as the President General of Ohaneze, Mr. Nwodo should be concerned about the fate of Ndigbo worldwide, Mr. Okechukwu said, “I have great and tremendous respect for Chief Nwodo and was part of his campaign against Professor Chinwike Ejike, who incidentally hails from my area.”
He, however, advised that “in times like this, prominent leaders like Mr. Nwodo should be more pragmatic and strategic.” “We have passed this road before and we know that the fault lines can be strengthened.” He said the Ohanaeze leader should not bother himself with unknown Arewa youth or fringe groups in the North, but rather listen more to the likes of the Emir of Katsina, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Governors Forum and the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, by extension the federal government. Okechukwu further argued: “Did you hear him talking of being in solidarity with Afenifere? Is that strategic choice among two contending Yoruba groups?
Afenifere without being immodest is no more the Afenifere of yesterday. Does it make strategic sense being in solidarity with Afenifere, instead of the major Yoruba group, led by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who today are quietly and smartly harvesting the silent infrastructural revolution going on under President Muhammadu Buhari.” On the advisory economic and political aff airs committee Ohanaeze set up on Saturday, Okechukwu said it was a welcome development, adding that he would like to work with them.
He advised the committee to work with Igbo ministers and other offi cials, especially Geofrey Onyeama of the Foreign Ministry, Okechukwu Enelamah of Trade and Investment, Ben Akabueze of Budget Offi ce and Abraham Nwankwo of Debt Management Offi ce. “It bothers one that Chief Nwodo seems to be playing politics with our destiny. Yes ooOh! we are marginalised, but has Chief Nwodo led Ohanaeze ever found time to summon some of us to ask what our scant offi ces can off er Ndigbo? I doubt if he neither met nor replied the profound congratulatory letter President Buhari wrote to him?”
He said there were commonalities between the terms of reference of the committee and President Buhari’s projects in the South-east, which included completion of the 2nd Niger Bridge, revamping of Enugu coal and establishment of University of ICT Campus in Enugu. On whether or not he was opposed to return to regional government and the report of the national conference of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Okechukwu said it does not matter whether he opposes or supports the conference report, arguing that the conference did not recommend regions, but creation of more states.
“If we join hands and demand one additional state based on equity and justice, Nigerians will listen to us, than outright secession.” Meanwhile, Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi, has urged advocates of secession to be wary of divisive tendencies associated with such calls. He argued that such calls could plunge the nation into another crisis. Th is was contained in his Sallah message, propagated by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka. He emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence among diff erent religious groups and service to humanity, in the interest of the sustenance of the nation.
He specifi cally called for spiritual rebirth among Muslim faithful, urging them to continually pray for unity and peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups in the country. “Th ose fanning the embers of secession should shun all divisive tendencies capable of plunging the country into avoidable crisis that could draw back the wheel of its progress. “Since Ramadan symbolises the period of spiritual rejuvenation, I urge our Muslim brothers and sisters to continue to put into practice the teachings of Prophet Mohammed. “
Part of such teachings is to be our brother’s keeper and ensure service to humanity. May our prayers during the holy month be answered and may our good deeds be rewarded by Allah. “Don’t let us forget to continue to assist our leaders in all the tiers of government with prayers, so that they can lead us aright and move the country forward in all ramifi cations. “It is also important for us to move closer to Allah, even after the Eid el-Fitr celebrations and eschew actions and deeds that are against His will and commandment.”
