Few days ago, our Movement put up an advertorial pointing on the way forward for Nigeria. However, some Northerners joined issues with us bordering on the rationale behind the Movement. We hereby wish to state that our Movement is not involved in militancy as some Northerners think. Rather it is a Movement designed to promote Southern unity which has eluded us in the past. We also articulate and defend the interest of Southern Nigeria, just as the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Union articulate and defend the interest of the North. Our position is clear- southern unity is our goal!

Against this background, the attention of the Southern Protectorate Movement (SPM) has been drawn to the horrendous calls for the resignation of our daughter- the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akinyili.

The Cabal

The agents of darkness who have made this call are those whose stock-in-trade is the continuous exploitation of the South, deceit of the Nigerian state and her people. Nigeria was erected on lies and has been sustained on lies and the so-called Northern caucus in the National Assembly is uncomfortable with the refreshing breath of fresh air provided by Dora Akunyili who has decided to call a spade a spade.

Now, is it not interesting that the Northern caucus of the National Assembly called for the resignation of Prof Dora Akunyili for speaking the truth, while the caucus refused to address the core issues? Is it not a known fact that a cabal has imprisoned our President, making him inaccessible for over a 100 days? Why can’t the caucus address this issue that has been troubling Nigerians instead of chasing shadows?

The Hypocrisy

Late last year, the Minister of Petroleum Dr Rilwan Lukman had arrogantly stated that the removal of the Petroleum Institute from Warri in Delta State to Kaduna was not a big deal and that government cannot reverse itself on the matter. He insisted that the college he attended in Glasgow in Great Britain was not in an oil producing area yet it was sited there. Many southern leaders , including the South South governors called on him to resign or be called to order. Where was the Northern caucus of the National Assembly at that time? Would they say they were unaware of the insensitive remark made by Dr Lukman? Yet , today when a princess from Southern Nigeria merely defended public interest and her office as an Information & Communications Minister of the nation who deserve to be informed of the happenings around the President, they are calling for her to be crucified. How sad! Akunyili dey kam pke! No shaking! No tension!

Nigerians may recall the unfortunate utterances of the Honourale Ibn Allah who exhibited political neophytic exuberance by calling for the extermination of 20 million Niger Deltans to pave way for continuous parasitic expedition. The so called Northern caucus of the National Assembly were in such a slumber when he made that comment that they could not reprimand one of their own neither did they scold him with a possible recall.

The Southern Protectorate Movement is watching this set of leaders who hide under tribe, prefer untruths, and should know that Prof Dora Akunyili, a proud daughter of Nigeria and a thoroughbred, has earned all that she is worth not on the altar of dismissive quota system but because of her patriotism and competence. If ordinary people like us are not afraid to tell the truth, why would an amazon of her status be? In any case, the Acting President should dismiss these childish calls for her removal. We call on Nigerians to stand by the truth which Akunyili and other leaders like her represent. We are tired of sycophants who rose to their positions through mediocrity, ethnic and tribal considerations.

Conclusion

We wish to call on the leadership of the House to stop forthwith these divisive meetings of ethnicity bent which is holding Nigeria’s development hostage. We also demand the unconditional apology from the so-called Northern caucus for the show of arrogance . The caucus has forgotten that they are being sustained by the resources from the South.

Professor Dora Akunyili is therefore advised to ignore the calls by these unpatriotic elements parading themselves as representatives of their people but who daily erect legacies built on mere sand (lies).

Lekan Adeyemi (Lagos) Etim Bassey (Calaber)

08131602320 08021278613

Felix Idahosa Ebiweni Ebiokpo (Yenagoa)

08035163967 07036797730

Chukwuma Nwokedi (Enugu)

(08035163967)



March 8, 2010