Professor Yemi Osinbajo met with Igbo leaders at the Aso Rock Villa
The meeting was a sequel to one he had with northern leaders over the need for unity in the country
The acting president assured Nigerians that the government would protect them all the time
Acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has sent a strong message to Igbos assuring them and other Nigerians of the government’s protection in any part of the country.
The acting president gave this assurance when he met with Igbo leaders on Wednesday, June 14 in Abuja.
NAIJ.com had earlier reported that Osinbajo met with northern leaders on Tuesday, June 13 and followed it up with a meeting with Igbo leaders.
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The acting president is expected to meet with both parties together in order to encourage national unity.
The series of meeting is in response to growing agitation in the country sparked by an ultimatum issued to Igbos in the north by Arewa youths.
Osinbajo insisted that if there is no peace in the country, there will be no progress and development.
Osinbajo flanked by Saraki and Dogara
Read the full statement below
Yesterday I kicked off a series of consultations and engagements with Leaders of Thought from Northern Nigeria. It was a useful meeting
Igbo leaders in a meeting with Osinbajo
Today’s meeting, the second in the series, is with you, Leaders of Thought from the Southeast.
After this, I will meet with Religious and Traditional Leaders from the North and from the Southeast, on Friday and Monday respectively. And then, in the final consultation, next week Thursday, all of us, from North and South, will come together in the same room, for further engagement and consultation.
I also plan at some time in between to meet with the Nigerian Governors Forum.
South east governors at meeting with Osinbajo
These consultations are necessary, and important, because of recent events in the country. You are all aware that there have been loud and sometimes hostile agitations by youth in the southeast, calling for secession of the region from Nigeria. Then there was the recent ultimatum issued by a group of youth from the North, asking all south-easterners living in the North to leave by October 1 this year.
Both of these expressions and agitations from both sides, have been attended with some controversial and hateful vituperations including patently illegal and violence-inducing remarks.
I firmly believe that we ought to address these agitations and proclamations urgently and decisively. Burying our heads in the sand and expecting the storm to blow over of their own accord is not an option.
But equally not reasonable is falling for the temptation for tit-for-tat. It has never worked or moved us closer to a solution or resolution.
And so it is in our bid, as government, to deal with these pressing issues and grievances, that we have convened this series of consultations, with various groups. We will never shy away from the responsibility to ensure and uphold the peace and security of Nigeria.
It is in my view the role and responsibility of those privileged in society to be leaders to chart a progressive and lofty course for the ordinary people. As leaders, we carry the burden to secure the peace, progress and prosperity of our people, and that is why our voices ought to be heard and heard loud and clear at moments like this in the defense and articulation of what is truly beneficial to the nation and the people, and what is right and patriotic.
Our dear nation has gone through some really difficult times. We have survived bloody coups, several rounds of ethno-religious violence, and emerged from a long and bloody Civil War. All of us here have seen close-up what violence can do to a country, and I believe I speak for us all when I say that no one here is keen to see Nigeria embroiled in violence or bloodshed of any kind.
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