A Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Atayese, has urged the Federal Government to pursue dialogue in addressing the 2017 crisis surrounding the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group warned that efforts to resolve the dispute should focus on preventing further tension and avoiding circumstances that could lead to widespread violence, particularly in the South-East.
In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, Atayese said calls for restructuring had become increasingly important and urged the Federal Government to give serious consideration to proposals for a reorganisation of the country’s political structure.
The group expressed support for the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC), then the ruling party, to establish a committee on true federalism and hold public hearings where Nigerians could submit memoranda on restructuring.
Atayese, however, urged the APC and the Federal Government to ensure that the process was treated as a substantive political initiative rather than merely a means of deflecting attention from other issues.
The organisation also called on members and supporters of IPOB to pursue their demands through constitutional and peaceful means, arguing that violence could undermine public support for their cause and further escalate tensions.
Atayese stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and said disagreements over the country’s political structure should be addressed through dialogue and other democratic processes.
The group said it had submitted a memorandum outlining its position on restructuring during the APC’s zonal public hearing on true federalism and expressed its readiness to participate in any subsequent government-led process on the issue.
Atayese maintained that dialogue, constitutional engagement and peaceful negotiation offered a better path towards addressing grievances and strengthening national unity than confrontation.
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