The Presidency on Sunday said the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was not invited to be part of the ongoing consultations with leaders of the geopolitical zones because he was not considered as a leader of thought in the South East region.
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu who said this on Sunday affirmed that the IPOB leader was not invited to series of conversation meetings with leaders of thought, politicians, traditional rulers and the clergy over rising ethnic tensions in parts of the country for this reason.
He said: “Well, the thing is that we were looking for leaders of the people, leaders of thought and we do not see him as a leader of thought in the East.
“May be opportunity will come at one time or the other for him to be engaged.
“But so far, what we have done is to look at people who have influence in the communities, whether it is religious, whether it is traditional, whether it is political, social or governance. These are the people we brought in for discussion.” he added
Ojudu also said that the South leaders including Ohanaeze Ndigbo who have been part of the meeting with the Acting President have neither asked for a referendum on Biafra or secession.
Rather, the Special Adviser said they have only complained about marginalization in appointments and harassment by police at road blocks.
Such concerns are issues that could easily be addressed, said Ojudu.
He said, “Nobody has tabled that in all the discussions we have had. Nobody, I can tell you. Ohanaeze came with a prepared document. They never talked about referendum. They never. They never even talked about secession.
“They made complaints about police harassment at road blocks. They made complaints about losing some key positions, not being appointed into security positions and all those kinds of things.
“And these are things that can easily be addressed. Nobody canvassed secession at those meetings, nobody canvassed referendum.”
He affirmed that the South East leaders who have met with the Acting President were all in support of one united, peaceful Nigeria.
According to him, the federal government would tackle the perceived injustice in parts of the country through equitable distribution of resources and employment creation.
“We should address injustice where we find it and the government should be equitable in the distribution of resources across the country and then, find solution to youth unemployment and the frustration that is confronting most of the young people across this country,” he added.