Igbo Leaders of Thought,
a body of eminent Igbo personalities, has warned that the plan to probe the
immediate past federal government should not be a ploy to humiliate political
opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari, including former President Goodluck
Jonathan.
The group, led by
constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, also urged Buhari to immediately
restructure Nigeria without delay.
In a statement
titled “Only truth and justice endures,” which was signed by its deputy
secretary, Evangelist Elliot Uko, the group said the impending probe must be
devoid of “witch-hunting and smear agenda.”
It stressed that
the probe would be reduced to a jamboree if it becomes an avenue to humiliate
political opponents.
Using the probe
to humiliate political opponents of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal
Government would cause problems for the country, the Igbo Leaders of Thought
warned.
“Desirable as the
probe and prosecution of corrupt officials of the outgone regime is, we must
endeavour to avoid witch-hunting and smear agenda.
“Only the probe
and prosecution of factual, traceable and clearly identifiable cases of abuse
of office and misuse of public funds will inspire confidence and receive
commendation of the citizenry and the international community.
“Humiliating and
deliberately degrading political opponents in the guise of probe and
prosecution of corrupt officials will only reduce the whole exercise to a
jamboree, that could lead to a lot of a acrimony and bad blood which we
believe, is the last thing Nigeria needs at the moment,” the group said in the
statement.
The Igbo Leaders
of Thought also insisted on the restructuring of the country into federating
units.
The proposed
restructuring of the country was canvassed by several groups, including the
pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo
socio-cultural body, during the 2014 national constitutional conference.
Insisting on
restructuring, the Igbo Leaders of Thought argued that it would amount to
living in denial to pretend that the current federal structure was sustainable.
The group noted
that fighting corruption and insurgency alone would not be enough to restore
the confidence of Nigerians in the country’s future.
Arguing that the
current federal structure, which was established by the military, was the bane
of contemporary Nigeria, the Igbo Leaders of Thought described the proposed
restructuring of the country as urgent.
It said, “We
believe that Nigerians from all persuasions, political divide, zone or status
all agreed that the unity, security, stability of Nigeria should be the
priority of all concerned at this juncture of our national growth.
“Sincerity of
purpose, commitment to what is best for the country and for the good of all
should guide actions and steps of our new leaders.
“While views and
opinions may differ on solutions to the myriad of problems confronting us as a
people, truth is usually located somewhere near the court of justice, equity
and fair play.
“Continuing to
pretend that the present political structure is sustainable is clearly to live
in denial of reality.”
Niger Delta: MEND assembly aborted!