We ‘ll not accept govt of insurgency, blackmail— Southern peoples assembly

Statesmen, prominent leaders of the three geo-political zones of the Southern part of the country, under the aegis of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA, rose from a meeting yesterday, with a strong condemnation of insurgency in some parts of the country, warning that it would not be ruled by a government that would be a product of insurgency or blackmail against President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the group, no amount of intimidation by the insurgents and their sponsors would force President Jonathan to abdicate the powers given to him or refuse to seek re-election.

The leaders, who called on President  Jonathan to urgently close the borders with neighbouring states, warned: “Let it be known that the people of Southern Nigeria shall not allow themselves to be ruled by any government that is a product of insurgency or blackmail if the sponsors of insurgency in this country think they can brow-beat and pummel the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to abdicate the authority and mandate freely given to him by Nigerians to rule this country.”

The meeting, which took place Tuesday night in Abuja, had former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, and Retired Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Akure Diocese, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, as co- leaders.