Leaders of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have agreed to work for Nigeria’s unity based on equity, justice and cooperation among the various ethnic nationalities.
At the end of their meeting yesterday in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, they jointly issued a terse communiqué, which said both sides agreed that the channel of communication opened by the meeting should be maintained.
The two regional groups could not reach a consensus because the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was said to have requested time to study and respond to the issues the ACF raised on a future meeting.
ACF, through its chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, spoke on inter-regional dialogue, temporary challenges of development, tackling challenges with courage, national/sovereign conference, federal structures and revenue allocation formula.
The ACF said it was not opposed to any talks that could engender a better and united Nigeria.
It, however, frowned at the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) because “it amounts to vote of no confidence on our democracy and its institutions”.
It added: “Moreover, most of the issues, which agitate the minds of proponents of the SNC, or National Conference, have now been listed for review with the Constitution underway by the National Assembly.”
The ACF did not accept the call for a “people’s Constitution”, which is said to have the potential to enhance “true federalism” or “fiscal federalism” through which each ethnic nationality can develop at its pace.
It said: “This school of thought feigns ignorance of the fact that the 250 ethnic nationalities cannot reasonably be expected to be the federating units of the envisaged true federalism.”
The ACF said the North was not also opposed to derivation as a basis for revenue sharing as long as it is designed to reward efforts and compensate environmental degradation.
“We have made the distinction that in the case of off-shore exploration, no efforts are expended by litoral states nor does any appreciable degradation of environment of any host communities occur,” it said.
The group regretted that Ndigbo has been the target of ethnic fury in the North.
ACF said: “We have frequent outbreaks of conflicts accompanied by violence. At times, the brunt of such violence has been borne by relatively well-off members of the community which, unfortunately, in many urban centres of the North, include your members, Ndigbo.
“As a result, allegations have been made suggesting that Southerners, especially Igbo, are deliberately marked out for attacks. Even more distressing is the damning propaganda that the violence that has taken place in the North was masterminded by Northern leaders, supposedly for political reasons.”
Praising the Igbo for promoting national unity through their settlement in larger numbers across Nigeria, the ACF said it was “under pains to reassure Nigerians, especially our brothers, the Igbo, that leaders of the North do not, and will never condone violence, let alone those targeted at specific groups of Nigerians.”
The meeting was jointly presided over by the chairmen of the two groups, Ralph Uwaechue and Mohammed. It was attended by leaders of both groups.
Ohanaeze had former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; former President-General of Ohanaeze, Justice Eze Ozobu; Prof. Joe Irukwu, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu; Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, Prof. Obiorah Ike, Chief Nduka Eya and Senator Offia Nwali.
Others include Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Chief Kalu U. Kalu, Col. Victor Ozodinobi (rtd), Chief Onyenso Nwachukwu, Dr. Emmanuel Omeh and O. A. U. Onyema.
The ACF delegation had Alhaji Mohamed and the Secretary-General Col. Musa Shehu (rtd).
Others were Deputy Chairman Saidu Barda; Assistant Chairman Joseph Kennedy Waku; Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd.); Ambassador Adamu Mohamed; Hajia Halima Alfa; Amina Ladan Baki, Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule and Alhaji Ladan Shinnu.
The Legal Adviser, Mr. Bitrus Gada; the Publicity Secretary, Mr Anthony Sani; the Treasurer, Ismaila Zarma; Amina Ladan Baike and Col. Mohamed Abdu, also attended the meeting.
