‘They feel marginalised’ — Moghalu asks FG to invite IPOB, Igboho for dialogue

Kingsley Moghalu, former presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), has asked the federal government to invite groups agitating for secession for a dialogue towards addressing their concerns. 

In a tweet shared on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke about the civil war experience and threatened to deal with those “bent on destroying” Nigeria through “insurrection”.

But speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels TV programme, on Wednesday, Moghalu said a better approach to addressing the problem will be to “invite them to the table”.

“There are many places in Nigeria that are theatres of low-level war at this point, especially the north-east. We know what is happening in the north-east. And so what happens is that when you respond to the rising violence in the south-east in a manner that shows a lot of muscularity, but we know that the government has not been able to contain full-blow terrorism and war against the country in the north-east, people begin to draw inferences of a double standard. And this I think is what the government must avoid,” he said.

“The whole question of the secessionist movement is that the government is running the risks of making that movement mainstream by its response.

“I think that the government should be able to invite, whether it is IPOB or Sunday Igboho, all the secessionists; invite them to the table.

“They are essentially political agitators. You can call them terrorists. That is your own prerogative but we know what terrorism means in reality. Boko Haram are terrorists. We know that.

“When people begin political agitations and we very easily throw terrorism at them just because they are mouthing off and speaking in a language that nobody likes or insulting their fellow citizens, that is their way of handling this type of thing. So, you bring to the table and say ‘what’s the grouse?’

“This country needs to be stable. This country needs to be peaceful. Can we address the agitations? Don’t be afraid to address the core reasons behind the agitation because they are crying out for justice. They feel marginalised. What is wrong with addressing those issues?”

Moghalu noted that he believes in one Nigeria, adding that the country can function properly if things are done the right way.