By Raphael Ede
Enugu
The United Nations yesterday expressed support for a peaceful and united Nigeria, calling on the leaders of the South-East zone to seek ways in which they can work with other parts of the federation with a view to strengthening the country’s unity.
The UN-Secretary General, Antonio Guterres stated this when he led UN delegation to Ohaneze Ndigbo in Enugu, advising Ndigbo to adopt constructive approach to seek dialogue in order to redress whatever short coming there may be stressing: “we are all young democracies, young countries, so there are still some structural imbalances here and there and the correct way to address them is through deepening the democracy that we have all embarked on and trying to accommodate one another”.
Represented by Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Guterres said, “I believe in this one Nigeria project because a united peaceful Nigeria is not only for the people of Nigeria, but indeed for the people of West Africa and for all of Africa.”
According to him, “I’m indeed very honoured and extremely please by the warm reception I have been accorded by the President General of Ohanaeze, very eminent Nigerian, former Minister of the Federation; and by the Chairman of Council of Chiefs, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, eminent and respected Ambassador of the Federal Republic and also former Assistant Secretary General of the African Union. So you can tell by the high profile leaders, it’s a respected organisation with persons of substance”.
Addressing the newsmen after a closed door meeting that lasted about two and half hours, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, disclosed that on July 12, 2017, Ohaneze wrote to UN Secretary General about the security infrastructure in our country as it pertains to Ndigbo.
“We had very fruitful and frank discussions with Ambassador Chambas. He has assured us that the United Nations represents prevention of conflicts, represents promotion of development in a manner that improves quality of life and prevents resort to conflicts and protects our human rights and that the United Nations will be alive to the responsibilities of that organization as it pertains to our country,” he said.
