By Charles Igbo
“It is clear to us that when youths from other tribes of the country are involved, they are reprimanded and forgiven. But when Igbo youths get involved, they are arrested, incarcerated and charged for serious offences”
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has, officially, explained why the Igbo will not join in the protests quickly spreading across the Country over the unprecedented hardship being suffered by Nigerians.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, is the apex socio-political and cultural group of Nigerians of South-east extraction.
No thanks to the unprecedented hunger, from State to State, angry Nigerians are trooping out in protest of the scary situation.
However, no Igbo group or State has joined in the protest. This prompted a vocal academic/politician of Northern extraction, Professor Usman Yusuf to, in an interview with Arise Television, wonder why the Igbo have remained quiet in the face of the protests rocking other ethnic groups over the hardship in the land.
In an apparent response to the Professor, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Monday in Enugu explained why. He asked Nigerians from the South-east geopolitical zone not to partake in any planned national protest.
There are alleged plans by some groups urging that Nigerians at home and in the diaspora should embark on protests over the crushing economic hardships in the country.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, revealed that even though he had received entreaties asking him to call Nigerians from the geopolitical zone to join in the violent demonstration across country, he would never do it, and that Ndigbo will not join.
He wondered why the Igbo would join when they have always been discriminated against, even in the creation of States. He threatened to go to Court over the non-creation of an additional State in the Zone if that was not done soon.
Iwuanyanwu: “As your leader, I am directing that no Igbo group or community in Nigeria or in the diaspora should join any protest against this government.
“I am still studying the situation and I have asked those who made entreaties to me to tell me what their position was prior to the current administration.
“I have asked what they did when Igbo land was disenfranchised in the past.
The current economic crisis in Nigeria is unfortunate, but I will convene a meeting of top Igbo economists and experts to strategise on how to overcome the hardships.
“The economists and experts would proffer advice to President Bola Tinubu on the economy, and Igbo would rally round the President to ensure that he completed his tenure.
“Igbo are opposed to military rule and prefer a democratic government where we can express our views.
“Youths all over the world are very restive and sensitive to issues affecting their future. In Nigeria, Igbo youths and youths from other tribes at various times have expressed their dissatisfaction with events in the country.
“It is clear to us that when youths from other tribes of the country are involved, they are reprimanded and forgiven; but when Igbo youths get involved they are arrested, incarcerated and even charged for serious offences.
“For example, the arrest and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu generated a lot of problems for Igbo.
“Many Igbo, including Governors, Lawmakers, Religious leaders, Traditional Rulers, and Business leaders pleaded for the release of Mazi Kanu without success.
Many Igbo youths are in Correctional Centers over flimsy reasons.
“Most of the Igbo are in the Southeast and the region is sadly marginalised in all ramifications as it is the only geopolitical zone that has only five states.
“This situation has cost us billions in financial losses. It has also cost us losses in political appointments and legislative representations.
“In 2005 and 2014, we raised these issues at various political conferences.
“All men of goodwill at the conferences agreed that it was unfair for the Southeast to have only five states.
“They recommended that an additional state be created in the Southeast, but up till today, this has not been done.
“This statement should serve as a notice that if no step is taken by the Federal Government and the National Assembly to create an additional state in the Southeast, I would go to court.”
