BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The South East Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Very Rev. Dr. Fr. Abraham Chukwuma Nwali has urged the Igbo stakeholders to embrace spirit of unity in order to arrest the challenges facing their people these days.
He made this call on Sunday during his Thanksgiving ceremony over his emergence as the CAN Chairman in the region, at St. Paul Parish Onuebonyi, the Catholic Church of Abakaliki Diocese.
Fr Nwali advised the South East political stakeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, among others to work together to address a seven (7) day lock down plan by Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) before it would be too late.
He said the adverse affects would be unbearable to the region, if the sit-at-home order by the group later holds especially as it clashes against the November 6, Anambra election.
He further urged the IPOB to consider dialogue as the best option while advising the people of the region to always respect the rule of law, saying such approach would facilitate their freedom in line with the law.
"We are also entering another phase which is the challenges of Anambra election on 6th November and that of 10th of November.
"We are going into dialogue to ensure we don't shoot ourselves on the foot. If we refuse to participate in the election, we give chance for possible corruption, because law doesn't take excuses. Law is so stringent that if only one person vote, whoever he voted for has won and it's not contestable, because, it is not specified the number of the voters must be, before it becomes election. The law doesn't say all must vote. If election takes place in one local government, that means election. These stakeholders are so mindful of the law. Let's know the best way to go so that we can't give them chance to impose candidate on us.
"The second aspect of it is that when a matter is in the court, nationally or internationally, we must allow the rule of law to prevail. If we the Igbo people stampede the law, the law will be against us, and our freedom is only granted in law and the law that should grant you freedom is the law you people are disobeying, because the court is the common man's hope.
"Now if the court said we are bringing him (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) for trial we cannot say, no trial because at that time, we have challenged the law and tommorow if we ask the law to grant us our freedom, the law will say why did we challenge them. So we have to respect the law, that's one.
"We have to come to a round table, because we in South East have a challenge. Our political stakeholders have to come together. They should enshew their private interests and talk like Igbo people. The stakeholders, captains of industries, religious leaders and traditional rulers have to come together and speak in one voice.
"Let's listen to the yawning of these our children. That's possible through prayers, that's possible through dialogue, that's possible through extension of grace and that's through negotiation," Fr Nwali said.
Nwali during the event also preached peace and unity among Igbo sons and daughters, noting that the ceremony which came after his inauguration as the South East CAN Chairman, involved other executives from the five states of the region including Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo to thank God for having graciously given them the opportunity to serve their people.
Nwali said it should be considered more importantly by the Southeastern people to pray over the challenges facing their region.
"It's a time for counseling, prayers, dialogue and also a time to bring our leaders together.
"Let's listen to the yawning of this our youth. Let's know where Nigeria is going and where South East is going. So, it's an opportunity to thank God for making it possible to be together again.
"We have to dialogue with our youths in three phases. We have to make first contact involving captains of industries, all the leaders - the South East governors and traditional rulers.
"We were also requested to bring them into sub-committes through Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and also to put in writing as a way of contacting them and we've done that.
"After next week, we are also going to meet with them. The most important thing is that we've been able to secure God's grace till 31st October because when we contacted them they asked us to let the President to know that Nnamdi Kanu must be brought to court. So, we've to send delegate to him, through the governors' forum, the traditional rulers and religious leaders. He granted that, meaning there's peace," the Priest said.
Nwali who is also the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, insisted that the yawning of the youths would be easily addressed through prayers, dialogue, extension of grace and negotiation, urged the people of the region to seek their right in rightful direction.
"We have gone to the media and also heard from the youths who contacted us, and hopefully, we are going to reach them next week. Our prayer, is let's seek our right in rightful way, if we do that Heaven and Earth will hear us and God will answer our prayer. Concerning the election of Anambra, I'm appealing the youths to allow the rule of law to prevail," he stressed.
He therefore, pledged his continuous support to Governor David Umahi, whom he described as an angel of transformation in Ebonyi State, and wished him greater opportunities to serve humanity after his successful completion of two terms in office.
Governor David Umahi, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kenneth Ugbala, the first Lady of the State, Chief Mrs Rachel Umahi, many government functionaries were among other guests, friends and well-wishers who attended the event, wishing Fr. Nwali well in his new office as the South East CAN Chairman.
