Ohanaeze Ndigbo flays Buratai over threat of state of emergency in S'East

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo flays Buratai over threat of state of emergency in S’East

* Accuse him of hypocrisy

By Steve Oko

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has lampooned the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai over his alleged threat to push for the imposition of a statement of emergency in the entire South East zone over the purported security concerns in the zone.

Miffed by the alleged threat by the COAS, Ohanaeze alleged ethnic bias and plot to sack constituted authorities in the zone.

The apex Igbo body challenged Buratai to first test such drastic measure in the North East and Central zones where the killing of innocent Nigerians including security personnel by terrorists, Fulani herdsmen and bandits had become a daily occurrence.

Accusing Gen. Buratai of hypocrisy, Ohanaeze wondered why the COAS watched the leader of bandits fully armed and pose for a photograph with the Governor of Katsina State after killing many people including soldiers, yet he was never arrested nor a state of emergency declared in the volatile Northern State.

Arguing that the COAS lacked the constitutional powers to impose a state of emergency on any state , Ohanaeze urged the National Assembly to call the Army Chief to order to avoid plunging the country into avoidable chaos.

Below is the full text of the press statement signed by Ohanaeze Acting Secretary-General & National Publicity Secretary, Prince Uche Achi -Okpanga:

“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to a statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, threatening to impose a state of emergency in the South East if Governors of the states allowed any further attack on security forces in the states.

” While Ohanaeze Ndigbo decries violence in any form in the states, it takes particular exception to an open threat and warning to South East governors who by the country’s constitution are chief security officers of their states but are lame ducks in practice as all security commands come from Abuja.

” Ohanaeze Ndigbo finds it particularly provocative for General Buratai to issue such a warning to governors of the South East where relative peace prevails while he has not done the same in the North Central, North West and North East which have become theatres of war and where army posts and bases have been subjected to incessant attacks by the Boko Haram, ISWA/ISIS, bandits and Fulani herdsmen, killing and maiming Nigerian soldiers.

” Ohanaeze Ndigbo also wonders where the army chief derives the power to issue such a threat which under the country’s constitution can only be carried out by the National Assembly on demand by the President.

” It is highly surprising that an army chief who was watching as the governor of Katsina State was negotiating and taking pictures with armed bandits would turn round to threaten to impose a state of emergency in states where unarmed citizens are agitating against the harsh and inhuman conditions they have been subjected to by their country.

” Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that the threat by General Buratai is a vindication of the belief that the South East is being regarded as a conquered territory, exemplified in the army of occupation stationed in the area.

“It is also a glaring example of the reckless impunity of public officers and a tacit manifestation of the vacuum in governance at the Federal level.

“Prince Uche Achi-Okpaga

Ag Secretary-General & National Publicity Secretary

Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.