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Press Conference: SED’21 Convener makes case for Restructuring.

By Debbie Egbo

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As the Southeast Debate comes up on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the Convener of the academic event, Monday Diamond Ani, has, in a press conference in Enugu, harped on Restructuring as having the potency to end National insecurity issues.

The document titled “Restructuring: A Panacea towards tackling rising insecurity, regional agitation and propelling national unity, peace and progress” read “The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum and the Monday Diamond Foundation hereby express our concern over the rising spate of Insecurity and Violence in the South-East, which could be aggravated if nothing is done to stem the tide.”

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“It is no longer news that the South East has practically lost trillions of Naira for missing out severally on the first day of work week due to the Sit-down-at-home order in the South East issued by the IPOB as a result of the continued detention of its Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

“While we commend the Leaders of the Southeast on their efforts towards managing the rising tensions in the region, we request the South East Leaders to intensify more efforts towards engaging the Federal Government of Nigeria to give Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a fair hearing especially as the scheduled commencement of his trial which is slated for 21st October 2021 is around the corner.”

“We implore the FG to leverage this opportunity to prove wrong several insinuations of purported attempts to mar Anambra Elections and collapse business activities in the South East by the needless denial of the IPOB Leader a fair trial for all the charges.”

“The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum and the Monday Diamond Foundation hereby charges Mr. President to use the forthcoming court hearing scheduled for 21st October as an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment towards the stability of peace and economic prosperity in the South East, by ensuring that the commencement of the trial employees all rightful judicial processes as enshrined in the law of the land.”

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“If a region that is a part of the One Nigeria equation says they should be fairly treated especially as it concerns their general welfare and political positions in the country, it is the responsibility of the Father of the Nation to treat the issue judiciously and diplomatically.”

“Having made this appeal to the Federal Government, we hereby call on the good people of Anambra State to turn out en masse and vote for the candidates of their choice in the forthcoming Guber Elections. The indigenes of Anambra should be rest assured that the radar of the whole Nation would be on the state on the 6th of November 2021 as Stakeholders across the Nation, including Governors,Senators, Civil Society Organisations and the Media will be on ground to ensure a free and fair election, thus the fear of intimidation should not replace the commitment of the good people of Ndi Anambra towards exercising their franchise for the emergence of the Candidates of their choice.”

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“We equally want to use this opportunity to remind all Stakeholders in the South East of the debate coming up on Wednesday, the 20th Day of October in the South East Capital of Enugu State, where the issues of the agitations in the South East and Security shall be discussed by the elites, youths and students as a propellant of National Unity, Peace and Progress.”

“It will be a day where the Royal Fathers, Religious Leaders, University community and Leaders in the South East will brainstorm to come up with recommendations on the Way forward at this point in time in the South East and the rest of the country as a whole.”

Asked how he thinks the Southeast Debate will provide a solution especially to the IPOB order, he said “This is a summit that involves the Royal fathers, political leaders, clergymen, all and sundry, to discuss a way forward to tell them that, look they should come out on Monday. Whether we like it or not the Igbo nation makes up most percent anywhere in the world and that’s why people say any place you go and don’t see any Igbo man, you should run away from that place because its neither economically viable nor safe to live in”.

The event will hold at The Base Landmark Event Center, Independence Layout, Enugu.