NO fewer than 60 prominent Igbo leaders met yesterday in Lagos where
they called for an end to the ongoing pro-Biafra street protests in
Nigeria.
The
Indigenous People of Biafra on a Peaceful Protest over the Arrest of
the Director of Radio Biafra, along Ikwerre road in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke
The eminent persons, who met under the auspices of Concerned Igbo
Elders, Traditional Rulers and Stakeholders cautioned against exporting
the protests.
At the event which was attended by serving and former public office
holders, academicians, traditional rulers and the clergy, the assumption
that the outrage was provoked by the poor state of infrastructure in
the South-East geopolitical zone was unanimously dismissed.
The leaders noted that the alleged exclusion of the zone in the sharing of key political offices, informed the protests.
Those at the event included the Deputy Senate President; Sen Ike
Ekweremadu, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, retd, Mr. Peter Obi, Prof Ben
Nwabueze, SAN, Prof A.B.C Nwosu, Chief Joe Irukwu, SAN, Senator Hope
Uzodinma, Senator Sonni Ogbuju, Sen Ben Obi, Prof George Obiozor, Chief
Gary Enwo-Igariwey, and Elder Uma Eleazu.
Others were Osita Ogbu, Chief Guy Ikokwu, Chief C.C Ifeanyi, Bishop
Sunday Onuoha, Chief Charles Odunukwe, Eze C.I. Ilomuanya, Eze Gibson
Nwosu, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluije, Chief Dr. E. A Ukpabi, Mr. Emeka
Ugwu-Oju, Chief C.C Ifeanyi, Chief Christopher Eze, Chief Charles
Odunukwe and leaders of various market associations in Lagos among
others.
A communique issued at the forum reads: “This meeting was convened at
the instance of the Deputy Senate President, Sen Ike Ekweremadu. The
meeting was of the view that Ndigbo are dissatisfied with their current
position in Nigeria. The meeting noted that Nigeria is a negotiated
federation of three regions in 1960. And our fore fathers played a major
role in bringing it to be.
“Ndigbo have reviewed the ongoing street and public protests by the
youths calling for Biafra and are of the considered opinion that these
are outward expressions of the psychological and physical pain arising
from the current exclusion of the South East geo-political zone from the
governance of the country and this should be addressed and redressed.
“Consequently, Ndigbo strongly recommend that dialogue be embraced in
order to remedy the situation. All public protests should be stopped.
And more importantly the public protests should not be exported. Ndigbo
are deeply saddened by the loss of lives arising from the protest.
Enough Igbo blood has been spilled in Nigeria.’’
#beinformed #triumphuchenna #triumphurch
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