The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide, OYC, on Sunday described the series of consultations between Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and some Northern and South-East leaders as faulty and unproductive.
The youths in a statement by the OYC publicity secretary, Mr. Obinna Adibe said holding such meetings without involving the youths would not achieve the desired outcome.
It could be recalled that owing to the quit notice on Igbos in the North, Osinbajo has held meetings with political and religious leaders from the two regions.
However, the OYC said since the issues centred around the youths, they ought to be made active partners in the peace process.
“We watch with keen interest the on going consultative meetings the Ag President Yemi Osibanjo had with both South-East governors, traditional rulers, Igbo leaders and also a similar one he held with Northern leaders.
”We observed that Osibanjo’s meetings with all these groups lacked youth representation. There was no youth representatives in the consultations, which makes the peace meeting a stalemate”, the group stated.
They saluted the South-East governors for their efforts and vision towards making the South-East peaceful, stressing that “such efforts should be sustained in order to ensure safety of lives and property and as well pave the way for the development of our region.”
On the quit notice to Igbos in the North, the Igbo youths said their doors were open for dialogue as violence would do no one any good.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth council worldwide has open doors for dialogue with Ethnic nationality Youth leaders across the country to find lasting peace, especially as it regards the safety of Igbos in every part of the country.
“We have decided to sacrifice our freedom and resources to ensure that lasting peace is achieved, as regards the safety of Igbos in the 19 northern states ahead of the October 1 ultimatum from the northern youths.
“We have built a bridge of dialogue for peaceful co existence. We will not allow this opportunity to pass us by if there’s any opening for dialogue with other ethnic nationality Youth leaders across Nigeria”, the OYC declared.
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