YNaija brings you 5 things we learned from the interview.
All statements in quote were made by Balarabe Musa.
1) The agitation for Biafra was provoked by President Buhari through his actions and/or inaction.
“Well, the government provoked them (Biafra agitators)! When this government appointed its kitchen cabinet, was there anyone to represent the interest of the South-East there?
2) Alhaji Balarabe faults President Buhari’s handling of the situation and says that the continued detention of leader of the movement, Nnamdi Kanu, doesn’t bear well for the country.
“Detaining Nnamdi Kanu, the arrow head of the agitation, is not in the best interest of our dear country. President Buhari, being the father of the country, should try to reconcile with the South-East, the same way the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua reconciled with the Niger-Delta militants.”
3) Balarabe says there is a disconnect between Igbo leaders and the people of the region. He proposed that the president, as a leader, should reconcile the southeast region:
“That is the major reason he should reconcile with them because there is a disconnect between these agitating youths and their leaders. They have been provoked with the exemption of the region from his kitchen cabinet! He is the leader of the country. They are not like Boko Haram that you can’t identify. You simply work with them. He should call them for peace talks and they will respond.”
4) He implored on the presidency to work fairly and justly.
“He has the people’s mandate to rule this country, he should make use of that mandate fairly and with justice. Secondly, he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and, therefore, the chief security officer of Nigeria. He is the financial controller of the country, so he can do a lot. The President of Nigeria is what the Yoruba in the South-West refer to as Oga patapata! And in Hausa, they say Sariki yanka (highest king in the land). He should be able to compel everybody to march along.”
5) On the unity of Nigeria, the elder statesman noted that marginalization should be corrected and federal character properly utilized:
“With this, the marginalization mentality of the Igbo will be corrected and result in peaceful Nigeria. Buhari should run a government of national unity in which other political parties will be involved according to their relevance. The Igbo should be given all their entitlements in representation, according to federal character and as enshrined in the Constitution.”
“If the marginalization of the Igbo in the kitchen cabinet of the President had happened to the North in the event that a southerner is the head of government, where would Nigeria be? So why is it happening to Ndigbo that are part and parcel of Nigeria? That is why I feel it is a mistake that should be corrected immediately, and things will be favourable to Nigeria and the President. The fact that a great number of Igbo had abandoned Biafra and called for one Nigeria, is a call for peace. I think Buhari should embrace it and make amends.”
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