OHANEZE NDIGBO REPLIES CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, BURATAI FOR THREATENING TO IMPOSE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE WHOLE SOUTH EAST
{…You Lack Powers To Declare State Of Emergency In Southeast, Ohaneze Tells Burutai}
Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo have reacted over the comment credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, in which he threatened to declare a State of Emergency in the five states of the Southeast, if the youths continue to attack security agents in the zone.
In a Press Statement signed by the Ag National Secretary & National Publicity Secretary Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prince Uche Achi-Okpaga, the group told the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Burutai that he hasn’t the powers to impose a State of Emergency in the Southeast, as it maintained that such a threat, considering the country’s constitution can only be carried out by the National Assembly on demand by the President.
The group noted that while it 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.
The group added: “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.
“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.”
It would be recalled that two officials of the State Security Service (SSS) were killed last month in Enugu during a clash with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which also led to the death of about twenty one IPOB members.
Below Is The Full Text Of The Press Statement Made By Ohaneze Ndigbo::
PRESS STATEMEMT
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, a statement he has not denied.
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 National Secretary & National Publicity Secretary
Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
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