The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio- cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has told the leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra that seceding from Nigeria, as being agitated by the group, would not be in the interest of the Igbo.
The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro stated this on Saturday during a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, to unveil plans for this year’s Igbo Youths Day slated for Monday in Umuahia.
According to him, it is better for Ndigbo to remain in Nigeria and struggle for their fair share of the ‘national cake’ than fight for self-determination with its attendant consequences.
He said, “ It is better we remain in Nigeria and fight for our rights than secede. We have been patient enough and in 2019, it will be our turn to produce a Nigerian President. It will take a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction to heal the wounds of Biafra.”
He called on the Federal Government to unconditionally release all members of MASSOB and other Biafran activists detained in various prisons across the country.
Isiguzoro also appealed to the Federal Government to address what he described as injustices against Ndigbo in the country, which he said were the major reason for the agitation for self-rule by MASSOB and other pro- Biafran groups.
He further argued that it defied logic for members of MASSOB who are non-violent to continue to be held illegally for years in detention, ‘‘while the same government is busy releasing captured members of violent groups like Boko Haram and Niger Delta militants who have taken up arms against the state.”
“Since the Federal Government is secretly negotiating with Boko Haram terrorists, why can’t it also negotiate with MASSOB, which is non-violent? Since it is releasing some Boko Haram fighters, it should also consider MASSOB members detained illegally in prisons.”
The OYC helmsman however declared support for the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that those responsible for the woes of Nigeria should be brought to book.
He also said the Igbo Youths Day would be used to sensitise Igbo governors on the urgent need to invest in agriculture for youth empowerment.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the organising committee and National Vice-Treasurer of OYC, Dr. Lawrence Dozie, said the theme of this year’s celebration is “Ndigbo: The Challenges of our Youths.”
Now I can see a true leader emerging from the south east of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteFor goodness sake this is how leaders speaks, not divisive language.
Permit me to say a very big thank you for your matured statement. Every reasonable Nigerians knows that Nigeria can not afford another civil war. Let all of us remain in Nigeria and fight for the correct thing to be done. I bet every one if every Ibos take and nurture thess Mazi Okechukwu's kind of thinking no body will ever look down on the Ibos. They will be loved like any other ethnics group. The Ibos will not be described as greedy or haters of other Nigerians. You can emerging what an individual can do to make a change.
Chief Mazi, I hail your stand in all ramifications. You stand to be remembered in years to come if your new idea is maintained and sustained. Chief birikwe o!
@Emany I don't know which tribe you belong, but you too deserve to be thanked for your solidarity to Chief Mazi. May Allah continue to guide us
DeleteBreaking up does not mean civil war.
DeleteEmany, you are an idiot by saying that igbos are greedy and haters of other tribes. It's other tribes that hate igbos because of their great success and progress. But we don't even care. So stop saying what you don't know.
ReplyDeleteBros relax, other tribes hate igbos yet they have allowed them build business empires all over the country. Other tribes allow igbos to name streets in their names... Can the igbos allow that? How many obafemi awolowo/ahmadu bello streets are in igbo land? Yet we have nnamdi azikiwe streets all over nigeria.
DeleteThe truth is the igbos have refused to integrate with the rest of yhe country and that is the reason y'all always feel cheated
Because nobody goes to live in igbo land as there is no infrastructure. so why would they be rewarded ?
DeleteBroses, what your all saying is not the true picture if an average Igbo man. How many other tribes apart from the Hausa would leave thire areas and venture into commercial activities in other places other than thire own area. They are very few. Unlike the Igbos. Even most of the Hausa would not reinvest in the community the leave rather prefer taking thire monies home. Unlike the Igbos that that would build and develop thire environment of abode. I am an Igbo man and thankful that Mazi Ikechukwu , a leader in Ohaneze has this view. Every tribe in Nigeria is of a great importance to the country and the world at large so should be treated with courtesy and respect. Igbos has contributed immensely to the development of our Nation .
DeleteWell said, am a northern married to an igbo woman, I must say, we are better together, although our tradition is completely different, in this difference is what makes Nigeria beautiful, I love the indigbos as much as I love the yoroba and my own people the Hausa #oneNigeria
DeleteThe earlier the ohanaeze caution their dissident youths the better for the Igbos to be taken seriously in vying for a stay in aso rock as number one citizen by other Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteZebedee Chimex, Igbo kwenu!!! kwezuenu.
ReplyDeletePlease name the successes and progress, that other group have not done. Is the robberies, drug peddling, selling of second hand cloths, fake spare part and fake drugs. Dora Akinwuli was poison by your people because of her hard stand about fake drug imported and sold by the Igbos. Imbecile like you calling our good friend idiot.
I have read so much from emany and I am sure he will never join issues with you. He is simply telling the truth. Even when comedians crack their jokes, always listen to their jokes as it affect the various ethnic group that make up the country Nigeria. I beg Let the truth be told Ibos are too greedy compare to other groups
Yes ibos are greedy, we don't lov our selves, but you refuse to let them go, mazi you mentioned 2019 presidency, that is ibo turn to provide who will lead Nigeria, was it written in Nig constitution?, South East are till today still five state why? Yoruba and hausa agreed that ibo man will not rule Nigeria are you awear? Do you know that federal capital was in cross river state? Where is it now, why did it's left there, in what ever reason why can't you return it.
ReplyDeletePls let's us make use of our senses and reason together and build A better places for our descendant, stop being personal, if dividing Nigeria will bring peace, stop killing one another , stop maltrution, and tribalism and unemployment,then let it come now. Take care.
Yes ibos are greedy, we don't lov our selves, but you refuse to let them go, mazi you mentioned 2019 presidency, that is ibo turn to provide who will lead Nigeria, was it written in Nig constitution?, South East are till today still five state why? Yoruba and hausa agreed that ibo man will not rule Nigeria are you awear? Do you know that federal capital was in cross river state? Where is it now, why did it's left there, in what ever reason why can't you return it.
ReplyDeletePls let's us make use of our senses and reason together and build A better places for our descendant, stop being personal, if dividing Nigeria will bring peace, stop killing one another , stop maltrution, and tribalism and unemployment,then let it come now. Take care.
Okay lets all calm down. Good point from Ohaneze. United we stand divided we fall - thats even common sense. The moment Igbos accept they are Nigerians and join hands to lift Nigeria up then the powers that be (world powers) that are hoping and predicting that we will divide, they will all be put to shame. Imagine china divided, will they have achieved as much as they have today or even USA lets not forget they also tried to divide. Germany divided long time ago but when they realised it wasn't leading them anywhere they joined again and look at them now. God bless the Igbos all other tribes and Nigeria - Obas
ReplyDeleteObas God go bless you well well. Nigeria would surprise the world very soon. Let's continue to support good processes in governance, as Buhari administration has started and let's see what would happen in the next 3yrs.
DeleteIgbos are similar to a nuisance that other tribes tolerate.They talk of succession everytime. Who cares if they go? it will be good riddance.Stop threatening-go if you want to!
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What is the attendant consequences of Igbo pulling out of Nigeria? Mr Isiguzo talks from both sides of his mouth. Today he speak for secession, tomorrow he is against it. Catalonians just voted in majority to pull out of Spain and heaven has not fallen. Scotland voted but majority decided to stay with Great Britain so be it. Some other countries did too. I don't see anything wrong if majority of Igbo decides to be independent. Other tribes can as well do. It is their choice. Why so much fuss about it.
ReplyDeleteThe igbos are beautiful people, just like every other tribe has their short comings so is the indigbos, but it's so disheartening to know some set of people in Nigeria don't consider themselfs Nigerians, pple complain about marginalization all over the world, the best way to go abt this is to build human resources the entire Nigeria will have to reckon with, well what ever will be will be, as am not bothered, but God knows we the hausas have nothing against the indigbos,become to the north and see how the igbos live big, intact, it's a Hausa boy that is his gate man, that doesn't bother us, cos we all Nigerians, I wish every man of the soil will themselves as one #iloveNigeria
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