By Michael Peter, The Sight News
Abuja: Despite government’s proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalong has towed a diplomatic path when he said the group has a right to agitate.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, organised by the Peace Corps of Nigeria to commemorate this year’s International Day of Peace, Barrister Dalong held that like every group, IPOB has a right to self determination but must approach it civilly without infringing on other people’s rights.
He said, “My message to the IPOB members is that if they are agitating for self determination it is allowed. It is recognized globally. You can agitate. I don’t have a problem with that. But I will have a problem with the method of agitation that will transit beyond the boundaries of the rights of other people to freely moved about and transact their own businesses”.
He appealed to the IPOB members to, as much as they have grievances and agitation for self determination, conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and respect other Nigerians.
“The problem with the IPOB agitation is not with the agitation itself but in the method”
The Minister further stated that except Nigeria addresses the issue of injustice in the country, there will be no end to agitations.
“Injustice is a phenomenon that once it is present in a system breeds discontent and frustration. We cannot deny the fact that peace has deluded us this long. We need to revisit this, so we can address our social system”.
“We have not been able to manage the affairs of this country judiciously that the reason for these injustices”.
Earlier the Peace Corps of Nigeria National Commandant, Dickson Akoh charged Nigerian youths to make peace not just a priority but a daily passion, noting that by so doing, a conducive atmosphere for sustainable development and nation building, is created.
“The youths must be wary of what they are doing and how they go about their agitations. There is nobody who has not been denied justice in one way or the other. But we must learn to channel our grievances appropriately”.
