Unban IPOB before any dialogue – HURIWA charges Buhari, S/East governorship

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has carpeted the Governors and political leaders of the SouthEast for denouncing the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and other like-minded groups in the region and beyond.

HURIWA noted that it was illogical for the governors who initially proscribed the group before it was nationally outlawed by President Muhammadu Buhari, to pretend not to know how significant their agitation has become.

HURIWA said this in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Zainab Yusuf, its National Secretary.

HURIWA called on the Governors to, without further delay, undo the illegal banning of IPOB and to convince President Buhari to withdraw the national proscription of the group and then begin a constructive dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

“In as much as we believe in a united Nigeria, these agitations from all over means that Nigeria’s status quo is unjust and unfair and should be restructured,” the group added.

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The rights group said, there is “no reasonable ground for the proscription of IPOB when it is notorious that they are non-violent and indeed all the alleged violent actions attributed to them by the police and Army have been denied by them and also the same organisation enjoys global legal recognition.”

Furthermore, HURIWA wondered why the Buhari government has refused to proscribe Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN.

The human rights group pointed out that MACBAN has publicly backed armed Fulani herdsmen but the government has maintained the ban on IPOB.

“The Southeast leaders ought to engage IPOB and others to step down their agitations for the break up of Nigeria but to opt for a fundamental restructuring of the country instead.”