We Must Reconcile Now To Avoid Self-Destruction In Southeast, Group Begs IPOB, Govt

A group, Global Peace Foundation has called on leaders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and government agents to immediately begin reconciliation and forgiveness in the South East region to mitigate the losses being incurred as a result of the separatist agitations.

The group in a statement made available to ABN TV on Wednesday titled, ‘An Urgent Call For Forgiveness And Reconciliation – Before It Is Late’ the group observed that even though disagreement sometimes occur, forgiveness and reconciliation is however the way to go.

In the statement signed by Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, Board Member, GPF and Global Peace Award Recipient (2013), the group said the people of the region are passing through pains and trauma as well as deaths while their peace are being threatened.

“It is said that “when brothers fight to death, a stranger inherits their property”

“I make reference to this insightful adage in view of the agony we have all witnessed over the years; the pain and trauma that many people have gone through, and the various ways the lives and properties of our people in the South Eastern part of Nigeria have been negatively impacted.

“The very essence of our human existence has been threatened by a perpetuation of injury, violation and scarring of our land; and we appear to be a people at war. It is painful to see these level of broken or fragmented relationships everywhere, as it is leading us on a path of self-destruction.

“I therefore call for forgiveness and an attempt at reconciliation by all persons. If this does not happen- and happen fast- we shall all pay heavily for it and our children will not forgive us! The time to act is NOW!” Dr. Onuoha, the President Vision Africa appealed.

The organisation said each group both government and non-state actors claiming to be acting on behalf of the people of the region and defending their welfare, calling for key players to be brought to the dialogue table.

Highlighting the need for true forgiveness, the organisation says at the dialogue table, there is need to relinquish all moral indignation, give up the desire for retaliation, and focus on the urgent need to regenerate our relationships.

It says, “As we break the Kolanut of peace, signifying our mindset is tuned to allow peace to reign; may this cognitīve process give us a fuller understanding and recognition of what hurts the other, and together agree on how to address our individual differences while acknowledging and dealing with the past.

“We can do it, knowing fully well that there is no government that wants to manage an unstable/ungovernable society. Let us come together and extract commitments from every aggrieved party, as we frankly confront this hydra-headed enemy that threatens us.

“In a family we all quarrel. Even the tongue and teeth sometimes have misunderstanding. The leaders of IPOB must see the pain on the faces of our people and be willing to forgive anyone they feel have offended them. The state actors should also look for a way of forgiving the agitators and treat everyone as members of the same family who have their ways of expressing themselves in protest to perceived injustice.

“We must release or let go of justifiable emotion and retaliation related to the event and dismantle all enemy images and misrepresentations that demonize the “other”.

“I plead with all parties, in God’s name, to halt the trampling of rights immediately, and take steps to healing our land.”