- Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma told Nnamdi
Kanu that his latest order for a boycott of the upcoming Anambra
elections is like somebody firing gun on his toes
- He advised the IPOB leader and his followers to stop calling for the division of the country and work for peace instead
-
He however supported the call for restructuring and noted that there
has to be a unifying umbrella where Igbo stakeholders will gather and
register their protest
- The
cleric also thanked God for the safe return of President Muhammadu
Buhari, stating that his entire ministry had been praying for the
president
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, a fiery Catholic priest,
gave his opinion about the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
agitations in a closed door meeting with the group’s leader, Nnamdi
Kanu, Vanguard reports.
information gathers that during a visit by the IPOB leader, the priest who presides
over the Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish, Umudioka, Dunukofia local
government area of Anambra, reportedly stated that Igbos are selfish in
nature, yet they are clamoring for a sovereign state
He told Kanu that his latest decision to boycott the upcoming Anambra elections is like “somebody firing gun on his toes,” as he asked him whether Igbos are mature enough to handle their own affairs.
He condemned the call for the boycott by Kanu and his group and advised them to stop calling for the division of the country.
Obimma asked Kanu and his supporters to work for peace instead.
In
a chat with newsmen, the priest stated that he had a fruitful
discussion with Kanu on issues of general concern and the way forward.
Speaking further on the details of the meeting, he said: “For
me, it will be more problematic to say that there won’t be any election
in Anambra, it is like somebody firing gun on his toes.
“Christ
came into the world and reincarnated the message of peace and that was
why I advised Kanu to uphold peace, following the tensions everywhere in
the country. Let love lead all that we do.
“I advised him to do anything within his power to instill peace. Even in their agitation, let there be prudence.”
Obimma
however criticized the marginalization of certain sections of the
country, lamenting over the inequality in the distribution of the
nation’s resources.
He expressed his support for a restructuring of the nation, stating: “In our country Nigeria, it is certain that there is marginalization, nepotism and tribalism.
“We are one Nigeria but some people are
being marginalized and that is why we have all these agitations; but in
everything, let there be prudence as we also pray for divine
intervention.
“Igbos are clamoring for
Biafra but an average Igbo man is selfish in nature and the question is,
how matured are we to handle our affairs.
“Where
are the Igbo cabals and stakeholders; like Nnia Nwodo, Peter Obi, Emeka
Anyaoku, Ifeanyi Ubah, Prof. Charles Soludo, Emmanuel Iwuanwaywu, and
many others?
“There has to be a unifying umbrella where they will gather and register their protest.”
He spoke further about the recent return of President Muhammadu Buhari stating: “We thank God for Buhari’s return and the entire ministry has been praying for his safe return.
“Nobody will wish a fellow human being dead. The President should know that Nigerians love him.”