In a bid to quell the tensions arising from the separationist agitations calling for the division of the country, Former State Governors under the aegis of Forum of Former Governors (Class of 99), have called on governors of South-east states to engage the separatists and diffuse the tension in the region.

They also advised Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to convene a joint meeting of the various stakeholders at which assurances could be given.

The ex-governors in a communiqué signed by Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Chief Niyi Adebayo, the forum’s chairman and secretary, said “No sacrifice is too much to avert chaos, prevent any further incidence of criminality, protect human lives and spare the lives of the country.”

The former governors’ intervention came against the background of an advisory by the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday, asking Igbos in the North to leave the region by August ahead of the October 1, 2017 quit notice deadline given them by a coalition of Northern youth groups.

But the erstwhile state helmsmen who met in Abuja called for restraint, pleading with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to urgently meet and rein in all antagonists of a united Nigeria.

“The elders and leaders of thought from both the South East and the North should jointly meet to state a common position; we further recommend that traditional rulers from the two areas should do same,’’ they said.

The meeting of the past governors, which was convened in an effort to add their voice, and lend support, to all the efforts that were being made to smooth down the rising tempo of threatening rhetoric that has occupied the public space recently, was attended by Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom); Chief James Ibori (Delta); and Alhaji Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) among others.

They expressed their appreciation to Osinbajo for quickly summoning various stakeholders in an effort to contain the looming danger.

Condemning the agitators for the breakup of the country and those who reacted by issuing the quit notice, the forum affirmed its belief in the continued existence of Nigeria as one indissoluble entity and also in the inalienable right of every citizen of this country to live securely, without fear or risk of any form of molestation in whatever part of the country.

The forum also observed with concern the failure of the leaders and elders on both sides to quickly rein in their youths, emphasising the need for every effort to be made to ensure that peace and good order was maintained and that there was no incident that could trigger a violent reaction.

The forum appreciated individuals and groups that issued re-conciliatory statements and acted to avert danger, but felt that a lot more needed to be done, recommending that additional steps be taken to stem the agitations.