Mixed reactions trail calls for dialogue with IPOB

MIXED reactions have continued to trail the recent suggestion by former President Olusegun Obasanjo calling on the Federal Government to dialogue with the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), with a majority of respondents to an opinion poll by the Sunday Tribune on the issue opposing the idea of a dialogue.

Responding to the question against the backdrop of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s advice to the government to dialogue with leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, should President Muhammadu Buhari, engage Kanu, IPOB in dialogue?,” more than 362 respondents gave their views, with more than 60 per cent kicking against the dialogue option, while others embraced the idea.

Some of the respondents maintained that such action would amount to a dialogue with terrorists and that if the president dialogued with IPOB, which could give a fillip to the rise of more dissenting groups who might use violence to force the hands of the president for a dialogue.

Others, who supported thedialogue idea, however, kicked against that position, noting that the agitation by IPOB was due to the marginalisation of the South-East and that it was part of the ongoing clamour for the restructuring of the country.

They advised Buhari to heed former President Obasanjo’s suggestion.

According to some of the respondents, such as Femi Ilori and Tunde Akinyera, dialogue with IPOB will be dangerous, as every agitating group may use the same means to get government’s attention to dialogue with them.

Ilori said: “No todialogue. It’s dangerous. It will become something that at the end of the day, every Tom, Dick and Harry will want to use to get the president’s attention. Many dissident groups will emerge after them and insist that the president must meet them. The president should not have direct dealing with Nnamdi Kanu and his gang, but he could discuss with popularly recognised representative organisations such Ohanaeze Ndigbo, professional associations and others from the region. Mind you, these IPOB people cannot be said to represent the interest of all Igbo people or their feelings.”

Akinyera said: “No. If he does, this will encourage anybody or group of persons to follow suit and expect government to dialogue.”

Another respondent, Usman Abdullahi, who believed government should not negotiate, jovially wrote: “Did I here you say negotiation, the devil must surely be a liar.”

But for Nweze Onyeka, dialogue with IPOB would be a great idea, as he noted that Kanu might be able to convince Buhari on the need for a referendum.

Continue reading responses HERE

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