The Coalition of South East Peace Practitioners Network SOEAPAT has warned that Nigeria cannot afford another war as a result of inciting comments attributed to some persons in the society.
In a statement signed by its Zonal Chairman, Dr. Obi Chibuzor and Legal Adviser, Barr Amadi Ojukwu, the coalition states that despite some actions in parts of the country which seemed to incite the north against the Igbo race, the northern youths have maintained restraint.
The coalition took exception to inciting remark attributed to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu which linked Igbos with destructions of properties, particularly in Lagos state.
According to the South East group, there are some deliberate falsehood in the social media orchestrated by those it referred to as crises merchants to get the northern youths to negatively react towards people of South East extraction.
They urged Nigerians not to take the IPOB leader serious, saying as a fugitive, Kanu cannot speak for the Igbo race and appealed to igbo people to be patient, calm, and press home demands for inclusiveness legitimately and not to demand for cessation.
The coalition called onreligious leaders to preach messages of peace and unity in places of worship, while disassociating from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and all his ideologies.
The coalition tasked governors in the north to constructively engage youths in the region on peace advocacy. It said this would go a long way in consolidating the youths’ response to national issues considered unfavourable to the region.