GO urges IPOB to stop wanton killings in southeast

Juliana Francis

The General Overseer of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministry, otherwise known as Grace Nation International, Dr. Chris Okafor, has urged members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) to stop the wanton killings in southeast just because they wanted to make a point.

Okafor, who is also the head pastor of the church, spoke at his church, while remarking on 61^st anniversary of Nigeria, stressing that there was nothing to celebrate.

He stated that intensive prayers should be done by Nigerians in order to avert further mayhem and bloodletting in the country. He also advised IPOB to review its mode of operations.

His words: “I agree with the cause IPOB is pursuing, but I disagree with them in the manner they are going about it. I'll like to advise them to stop the wanton killings and destruction of property in the Southeast. They should stop killing their people in order not to create another problem for future generations. Rather than killing in the name of making a point, my advised is that they use the immense popularity they have garnered through the sit-at-home policy to buy political power that will ultimately be channeled towards the same goal they are trying to achieve now.”

The cleric opined that years of trying to stifle dissenting voices, which had been asking for a change in the status quo, especially in the face of undisguised marginalization of some sections of the country, was now manifesting in the wanton killings seen across the country.

He added: “I was supposed to cut a cake to celebrate Nigeria at 61, but I'll not because there’s nothing to celebrate! Is there anything to celebrate in a country where a life has become so cheap that it can be taken in the most gruesome manner?”

According to him, the phrase, “one Nigeria,” was a mirage, adding: “How can anyone say we’re one when we all know that in practice, it’s not so! As long as a part of the country believes that it is their God’s given right to lord it over the others in terms of the number of times they enjoyed power at the centre, then the concept of one Nigeria will continue to be a mirage. Look at the appointments into sensitive positions in government, it’s lopsided. It favours only a section of the country to the detriment of others.  Again, how come some people be given so much latitude by the government of the day to make inciting, inflammatory statements that threaten the very unity of the country without being sanctioned? These are some of the reasons the level of agitations for self-determination by these ethnic nationalities has grown even louder in recent times.”

Okafor calls on the federal government to do all within its power to resolve the issues causing calls for succession by these ethnic nationalities groups through re-structuring, referendum and the release of political prisoners like Nnamdi Kalu and Sunday Igboho.

“The issue of power sharing should be looked into. If power is made to rotate from region to region in an equitable manner, I tell you some of these agitations will die down,” Okafor said.