Engage MASSOB, IPOB in meaningful dialogue, CCC tells FG

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(Nigeria) The Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, has noted the serious threats of secession in the past several months by a few individuals and groups in parts of Nigeria including some Yoruba elders and other Igbo groups.
It however, asked the Federal Government to engage the MASSOB, IPOB and indeed any group in a meaningful dialogue within the laws of Nigeria with a view to resolving current or emerging crisis, noting “This is no time to stroke new crisis in the country, but rather a period to cement our unity as one, strong, indivisible and progressive nation.”
Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (retd), who addressed newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, said  “The Centre views this development as not only grossly uncharitable to the entire nation but unwarranted coming at a time the country is not only consolidating its nascent democracy but also celebrated its 100 years centenary and its fifty-first anniversary.
 “These unfortunate secessionist agitations are also coming on the heels of the widely acclaimed free and fair elections that brought about a new government in Nigeria.”
Buttressing his point with video clips of leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Daniel Kanu on his radio broadcast threatening to burn down Nigeria which he described as “Zoo”, Anas declared recent disruptive protests in some South East and South- South as condemnable.
He said “the Centre strongly believes that the issue of the State of Biafra was historically rested in 1970 following the end of the civil war.
“Therefore, secession should not be an option for any individual or group in Nigeria especially after the 30 months war that killed, maimed millions of lives and destroyed unquantifiable property and infrastructure.
“Unguarded statements and violent demonstrations are therefore unhelpful and capable of escalating unnecessary crisis.”
After monitoring activities of Radio Biafra, “it is the Centre’s conclusion that several contents broadcasted were seditious and even bordering on treason against the Nigerian state.
“This is akin to similar hate messages by a radio station during the Rwandan genocide against sections of the country and the government.
“Indeed, at an earlier media briefing in August, the Centre highlighted the menacing broadcast of the pirate Radio Biafra which no doubt could be described as being on a mission to orchestrate disunity in Nigeria.”
He then urged the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and IPOB to seek legitimate avenues of channelling their grievances or injustices on any perceived socio-economic and political issues in their region within the current democratic space.
The Centre then commended efforts of the governors of the South East and other leaders in the region to broker peace and observed that “true leaders in any society always quickly wade into a crisis before it get out of hand.”
CCC however, asked the Federal Government to engage the MASSOB, IPOB and indeed any group in a meaningful dialogue within the laws of Nigeria with a view to resolving current or emerging crisis. This is no time to stroke new crisis in the country, but rather a period to cement our unity as one, strong, indivisible and progressive nation.   

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