Kayode Sesan
A former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope has urged the federal government to negotiate with pro- Biafra agitators in the interest of peace and progress of Nigeria.
While describing himself as a loyal and staunch supporter of Biafra, Babatope, a member of the Board of the Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, urged the demonstrators to eschew all forms of violence and be law abiding while pressing home their demands.
“I am in total support of Biafra. I just wrote that in my column in Tribune Newspaper. I have always said that the federal government should talk to them because, not only that they are part and parcel of Nigeria, but they are citizens of this country and subjects of the federal government”.
“The Biafra agitators on their part must stop all the violence if they desire any serious talk with the federal government. They can’t achieve anything by being ruthless and violent. Once they are law abiding, I believe the federal government should dialogue with them” he said.
It will be recalled that series of protests by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement of the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has resulted in confrontations with security agents leaving many dead and others injured.
The protesters are demanding the release of Radio Biafra director, Nnamdi Kanu who is facing trial over treason allegations.
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