By Adadareporters
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide says it might drag the federal government to court for allegedly marginalising the Igbo race in Nigeria’s super structure.
On the current economic downturn in the country, leading to pockets of protests in some parts of the country, Ohanaeze called on Ndigbo to remain calm and resilient.
The president general of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said in a release that he had received some entreaties requesting Ohanaeze to “call Igbos to join in demonstration and violent action in the country against the government”.
He said, “I’m directing that no Igbo group or community in Nigeria or in the diaspora should join in this action. I am still studying the situation. I have asked Nigerians who approached me the following questions, what did they do when the past government disfranchised Igbo land?”
He alleged that the Igbo had been marginalized, adding that, “We are the only geopolitical zone that has only five states. This situation has cost us billions of financial losses. It has also cost us losses in both political appointments and legislative representations.
“In 2005 and 2014, we raised this issue at various political conferences. All men of goodwill at the conference agreed that it was unfair for the Southeast to have only five states and recommended that an additional state be created in the Southeast but up till today, this has not been done.”
Iwuanyanwu stated that he had severally drawn the attention of the federal government to the Igbo injustice, advising that his latest statement “should serve as a notice that if no step is taken by the federal Government and the National Assembly towards the creation of an additional state in the Southeast, I will have no choice than to go to court.”
He continued, “In the 1999 Constitution, as amended, we all endorsed a federal character. Igbos by nature would have preferred the free competitive process rather than a federal character paradigm. But we realised that Nigeria is a federation comprising so many ethnic nationalities and as part of our sacrifice towards the unity of Nigeria, we accepted the federal character option but unfortunately, it has been used to manoeuvre the Igbo out of most critical positions in government.
“Former President Muhammadu Buhari openly confessed that he didn’t give us our due because we didn’t vote for him. Youths all over the world are very restive and sensitive to any issue affecting their future. In Nigeria, Igbo youths and youths from other tribes at various times 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 the Igbo youths are 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 the Igbos. Many Igbos, including governors, members of the National Assembly, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and business leaders pleaded with Mr President for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu but without success. Also, there are many Igbo youths detained in various correctional centres for flimsy excuses.”
Iwuanyanwu also claimed that “Since after the 2023 general election, Igbos have been victimised over the failure of APC to win in Lagos and Abuja. It has been brought to my notice that there is a conspiracy to cripple Igbo business enterprise in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of Nigeria. All these are aimed at incapacitating the Igbos from all future political activities.”
On the prevailing economic crisis, Iwuanyanwu said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide intends to convene a meeting of Igbo top economists and experts in diverse fields to strategize on how to overcome the hardships. We will also proffer advice to President Tinubu on the economy.
“It is important to note that the best thing for us as Igbos is to rally round President Tinubu and to do what we can to enable him to complete his tenure. Igbos are opposed to military rule. We prefer a democratic government where we can express our views.”
