Chidi Samuel || Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political organisation for the Igbo has urged the people of the South East region to forget about Biafra and instead work towards the restructuring of Nigeria.
The call was made in Umuahia by Ohaneze President John Nwodo in Umuahia, the Abia State capital during the inauguration of state and local government executives of the state chapter of Ohaneze.
Nwode said, “We should forget Biafra and insist on restructuring. There is no Igbo person that is happy with the situation of things in Nigeria. We must seek peaceful ways of resolving the issues.”
The Ohaneze President recalled that elders in the region warned Nnamdi Kanu, the on the run leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) against the manner he was going about his agitation for Biafra, but he did not listen.
According to Nwodo, the restoration of Biafra was a tall order, given the constitutional roadblocks which, he said, will not be in the overall interest of Ndigbo in their socio-economic and political relationships with other Nigerians.
Nwodo maintained that while youths were justified in expressing their anger at Ndigbo’s marginalisation in national affairs, he, however’ advised that they should moderate their actions and words.
The Ohaneze president also justified the proscription of IPOB activities in the region stating that the singular action prevented the region from being turned into a killing field.
He equally expressed concern over the spate of hate speech on social media platforms by Igbo youths under the guise of agitating for Biafra.
According to him, “There are 11.6 million Igbo people living in the North and it will be wise for Igbo people living in the South-East and elsewhere to put them into consideration while speaking or engaging in certain activities.
“I urge Igbo youths to desist from activities and comments that could spark violence in the nation. At the moment what Igbo people need to fight for is restructuring of the nation.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in his speech noted that the south-east is not passing through the best of time, hence the need to seek peace.
He advised Igbo youths to always listen to elders and channel their grievances to appropriate quarters.
The governor said, “We believe in justice, equity and fairness. I believe in ‘live and let live’, as nobody delights in being oppressed.”