By Adebisi Adeyemi, Lagos
A Pan Yoruba Socio-political Group, Atayese, has cautioned the Federal Government on the handling of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) crisis, urging that negotiation should be embraced in order avoid a chaotic situation in the eastern part of the country.
The organization which is committed to the attainment of a Yoruba regional autonomy where each region develops at its own pace advises that every effort should be made towards preventing any situation that can degenerate to another civil war.
Atayese, in the statement by its National Chairman, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin said that the calls for restructuring are very crucial at this stage and is happy that the APC, the party in control of the federal government has already taken the right step by instituting a public hearing for presentation of memoranda to its committee on true federalism. He however warned that this matter should not be treated as a mere distraction, but a strong move towards the fulfillment of the party’s manifesto.
He equally advised members of the IPOB to follow constitutional means to achieve their goals, adding that the violent steps being used would make their agitations less effective because they would not only lose the sympathy of the people but they would play into the hands of government might, no matter the justness of their cause.
Atayese stressed that every citizen has the right to peaceful coexistence in any part of the country, pledging that it will always preach peace and harmony to the general public.
The group disclosed that it has submitted a position on its stand on the restructuring of the country during the APC Zonal Public Sitting on True Federalism, adding that similar step will be taken whenever the federal government starts the process of restructuring.
