The threat of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to shut down the South East tomorrow (Friday) has started taking its toll on Anambra State where Bishops of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, cut short their five- day conference in Awka and fled the state.
The conference scheduled to end on Friday, barely started on Wednesday but was cut short following fear that the 170 bishops attending the meeting could be trapped in Anambra State if IPOB carries out its threat.
The Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicolas Okoh, had earlier in the conference expressed fear that the bishops could be trapped in the state should their meeting go on as scheduled.
He had asked the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to prevail on IPOB members to shelve their Friday protest so that the bishops’ conference could go on because the IPOB sit-at-home protest would hamper their activities and movement.
He also implored the pro-Biafra agitators to postpone their action until after the end of the bishops’ conference.
The Primate had said: “We are not against whatever their agitations are, but we ask them to wait until we leave Awka on Friday.
“If they go on to carry out that protest, we may be trapped in Anambra as the Niger Bridge is the only exit way from Anambra State.
“So, help us beg them to allow us to go,” the Primate pleaded with Obiano.
However, there was no assurance to that, it was learnt.
A source said: “We are human, so we had to put our heads together and decided to cut short the conference.
“That’s the most ideal thing to do in the circumstance.
“I will leave this evening and most others will do same. Those who can’t make it today will do so early tomorrow (Thursday).
“There is no need waiting, it doesn’t make sense”, the source maintained.
Meanwhile, the Anglican bishops had in the summit appealed to the Niger Delta militants to stop the bombing of oil facilities in their region in the interest of the country.
They also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a roundtable meeting between the government and the agitators to address their grievances.
They reminded the militants that shutting down the economy of the country would not do anybody any good.
Delivering his address at the conference held at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith, Awka, the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Reverend. Nicholas Okoh, appealed to the Federal Government to disarm the Fulani herdsmen, whom he said, had murdered the peace of the country.
He stated: “The Standing Committee wishes to make passionate appeal to the militants to spare our economy and stop the bombing of oil facilities.
“Shutting down the economy is like pulling down the roofs with all of us inside; nobody will escape the negative impact. We equally call on those who can reach them to join in this appeal for the greater good of all.
“The presence of herdsmen in our countryside is not new; they have always been around. What is, however, new are the unprovoked attacks on their host communities sometimes justified by saying that cow is missing.
“They lay ambush and waylay people going to their farms, rape women and destroy farmlands; and their victims are at their mercy because they are armed.
“We call on the federal government to immediately disarm this people to return Nigeria to a state of peace.
“Our roads are in bad condition all across the country. Since our major means of transport is road, we call on the federal government to give the required attention to the roads to reduce the inconveniences, accidents and deaths.
“Airlines operating in the country are going through difficult times, some have grounded operations. No doubt, we need them.
“We therefore call on the federal government to expedite action on floating the national carrier or rejuvenate the private ones to enable them perform better.
The clerics also decried persistent scarcity of aviation fuel which has disrupted many programmes in both government and private sector.
They called on the government to solve the problem of aviation fuel permanently so that people can move about their businesses with less difficulty within the country.
