Why Southern/Middle Belt Leaders Boycotted Abdulsalami’s Peace Meeting

'Dotun Akintomide
Writer

Ad

U.S. Oil Output Beats Weekly Estimates in June

U.S. crude oil production hit a new record in June at 13.58 million barrels per day, according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest Petroleum Supply Monthly. That’s 133,000 barrels more than May and 2.5 percent higher than a year ago. The new monthly figures also show a sharp disconnect from the EIA’s weekly estimates. For…

Zelenskyy fumes as ex-Ukrainian parliament speaker is shot dead

By Obinna Uballa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the killing of former parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy as a “horrendous murder,” vowing that every resource will be deployed to track down the attacker. “All necessary forces and means are engaged in the investigation and search for the killer,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on social…

Rivers Crisis: Fubara will return as governor after September 18, Wike declares

• Hails LG election as peaceful By Obinna Uballa Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the State House of Assembly will resume their constitutional duties once the emergency rule in the state expires on September 18. Wike, who spoke to journalists on Saturday…

Ad

Some of the key ethnic nationalities groups invited to a peace meeting by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, have turned down the invitation.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on July 29 and 30, 2019.

But leaders of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Middle Belt Forum have pulled out of the talks.

In a letter to Abubakar, the leaders of the groups said they would not be attending because of the invitation extended to Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Gan Allah Fulani Development Association.

In the letter, signed by Chief E.K. Clark for PANDEF; Chief Ayo Adebanjo for Afenifere; Chief John Nwodo, President General of Obanaeze Ndigbo; and Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum, the ethnic nationalities leaders said they do not see themselves discussing with the two groups.

The letter reads in full:

Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (GCFR)
Former Head of State,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Minna.

Dear General,

Re: Roundtable on National Issues and Security

Greetings to you from the leaders of Southern and Middle Leaders Forum.

We individually received your invitation to the above event holding in Minna between 29-30 July, 2019.

We thank you for your interest in the affairs of our country which made us to accept your invitation in good faith.

It was in the thick of our preparations for the journey that fuller details of the roundtable came to our attention, some aspect of which has necessitated this last minute communication with you.

We observed that the roundtable will have in attendance all the National Security Heads, Chief of Defence Staff and notable Nigerians, underscoring the high level of the consultations.

Ad

X whatsapp