* S’East govs, others plan panel to discuss with
FG
State governors and members of the National Assembly from the
South-East; the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; traditional and
religious leaders and other leaders of thought from the zone ended
their meeting in Enugu on Sunday with a declaration that Ndigbo
were for a “united Nigeria.”
A communique issued at the meeting, read by the Chairman of the
South-East Governors Forum, Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi,
stated that the Igbo leaders concluded that the Igbo were in “full
support” of a united Nigeria.
The South-East stakeholders’ meeting, which held at Nike Lake
Resort in Enugu, commenced on Saturday night and ended in the early
hours of Sunday.
The regional leaders also called on the Federal Government to
start the process of restructuring the country without delay.
Our correspondent learnt that issues surrounding the agitation
for Biafra, including the three-month ultimatum to quit, given to
Igbo in the northern part of the country by some youth groups,
informed the decision to convene the meeting.
The governors of the five South-East states were in attendance
as well as all the National Assembly members from the zone, led by
the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Chairman of
South-East Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe.
The leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by the President
General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was also at the meeting.
The Igbo leaders, in the same vein, insisted on the
restructuring of the country, and asked the Federal Government to
begin the process of actualising the restructuring of the nation
within a reasonable time frame.
They also demanded the implementation of the recommendations of
the 2014 national conference.
Part of the communique read, “Ndigbo are in full support of a
united Nigeria, where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and
equality of opportunities are paramount, regardless of creed,
ethnicity, gender or political affiliation.
“We condemn all hate speeches and misconduct from any segment of
the country.
“Igbo leaders lend their full support to the restructuring of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of fairness and
equity.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government and all Nigerian
leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the
modalities of achieving this pressing question within a reasonable
time frame.
“Ndigbo supports the report of the National Conference of 2014
and we urge the Federal Government to set up structures that will
enable the implementation of the same within a reasonable
time.”
The Igbo leaders at the meeting, also resolved to “constitute
official organ” that would, henceforth, speak on behalf of the
Igbo.
“The South-East governors, members of the National Assembly,
leadership from the South-East and the leadership of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo shall henceforth constitute the official organs that shall
speak on behalf of the Ndigbo.
“South-East leaders, in consultation with other parts of the
country, will set up a committee to engage the Federal Government
on all issues that concern Ndigbo,” the communique added.
In the same vein, the Igbo leaders stated that they were taking
steps to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the Igbo in
all parts of Nigeria.
They also guaranteed the safety of lives and property of all
Nigerians living in the South-East.
Religious and traditional leaders at the meeting include the
Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Prof. Godfrey Onah; the Enugu
Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma; and
Chairman, South-East Traditional Rulers Council/Obi of Onitsha,
Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
Others at the meeting are a former Senate President, Ken
Nnamani; a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof.
Chukwuma Soludo; a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam
Egwu; National Chairman, United Progressive Party, Chief Chekwas
Okorie; a former power minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji; a former Chief
of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.), and a former
Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih.
MASSOB accuses Igbo leaders of betrayal
MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, who spoke for the
secessionist group, described the decisions reached at the Enugu
meeting as “insensitive.”
He stressed that the outcome of the meeting would not derail the
struggle for realisation of Biafra, saying the position of the
leaders could only postpone the “inevitable.”
Madu stated, “The Movement for the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra berates Igbo religious, traditional,
political and opinion leaders for their nonchalant and insensitive
attitude towards the current agitation for Biafra.
“Why is it that whenever these self-acclaimed Igbo leaders meet
among themselves or with the Nigerian Presidency, they always
sideline the primary and principal reasons and cause of the Biafra
agitation?
“Yesterday’s meeting of Igbo leaders in Enugu is tactically
helping the Nigerian government in postponing the explosion of the
inevitable and unstoppable ticking time bomb which Nigeria is
comfortably sitting on.
“Their decisions are not the true minds and positions of the
people of Biafra – we want Biafra and nothing but Biafra.
“Nigeria must disintegrate; her faulty foundation has broken
beyond repair.
“Majority of Igbo leaders have brazenly betrayed Igbo cause and
interests in Nigeria.
“We wish to inform Ndigbo that the reawakening of the spirit and
consciousness of Biafra among the people can never be demoralised
again – the Biafra revolutionary struggle can no longer be betrayed
by personal or group interests.”
The MASSOB leader expressed regrets that the Igbo elite, who,
according to him, had gained a lot from the pro-Biafra agitation,
did not appreciate the activists.
“In this struggle, numerous sacrifices have been made, supreme
prices have been paid.
“We have been tortured, mesmerised, killed and incarcerated for
the sake of Biafra and the glory of Ndigbo, yet we are neglected,
abused and abandoned by people who benefit from our exploits,” he
said.
Punch
* S’East govs, others plan panel to discuss with
FG
State governors and members of the National Assembly from the
South-East; the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; traditional and
religious leaders and other leaders of thought from the zone ended
their meeting in Enugu on Sunday with a declaration that Ndigbo
were for a “united Nigeria.”
A communique issued at the meeting, read by the Chairman of the
South-East Governors Forum, Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi,
stated that the Igbo leaders concluded that the Igbo were in “full
support” of a united Nigeria.
The South-East stakeholders’ meeting, which held at Nike Lake
Resort in Enugu, commenced on Saturday night and ended in the early
hours of Sunday.
The regional leaders also called on the Federal Government to
start the process of restructuring the country without delay.
Our correspondent learnt that issues surrounding the agitation
for Biafra, including the three-month ultimatum to quit, given to
Igbo in the northern part of the country by some youth groups,
informed the decision to convene the meeting.
The governors of the five South-East states were in attendance
as well as all the National Assembly members from the zone, led by
the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Chairman of
South-East Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe.
The leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by the President
General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was also at the meeting.
The Igbo leaders, in the same vein, insisted on the
restructuring of the country, and asked the Federal Government to
begin the process of actualising the restructuring of the nation
within a reasonable time frame.
They also demanded the implementation of the recommendations of
the 2014 national conference.
Part of the communique read, “Ndigbo are in full support of a
united Nigeria, where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and
equality of opportunities are paramount, regardless of creed,
ethnicity, gender or political affiliation.
“We condemn all hate speeches and misconduct from any segment of
the country.
“Igbo leaders lend their full support to the restructuring of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of fairness and
equity.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government and all Nigerian
leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the
modalities of achieving this pressing question within a reasonable
time frame.
“Ndigbo supports the report of the National Conference of 2014
and we urge the Federal Government to set up structures that will
enable the implementation of the same within a reasonable
time.”
The Igbo leaders at the meeting, also resolved to “constitute
official organ” that would, henceforth, speak on behalf of the
Igbo.
“The South-East governors, members of the National Assembly,
leadership from the South-East and the leadership of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo shall henceforth constitute the official organs that shall
speak on behalf of the Ndigbo.
“South-East leaders, in consultation with other parts of the
country, will set up a committee to engage the Federal Government
on all issues that concern Ndigbo,” the communique added.
In the same vein, the Igbo leaders stated that they were taking
steps to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the Igbo in
all parts of Nigeria.
They also guaranteed the safety of lives and property of all
Nigerians living in the South-East.
Religious and traditional leaders at the meeting include the
Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Prof. Godfrey Onah; the Enugu
Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma; and
Chairman, South-East Traditional Rulers Council/Obi of Onitsha,
Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
Others at the meeting are a former Senate President, Ken
Nnamani; a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof.
Chukwuma Soludo; a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam
Egwu; National Chairman, United Progressive Party, Chief Chekwas
Okorie; a former power minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji; a former Chief
of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.), and a former
Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih.
MASSOB accuses Igbo leaders of betrayal
MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, who spoke for the
secessionist group, described the decisions reached at the Enugu
meeting as “insensitive.”
He stressed that the outcome of the meeting would not derail the
struggle for realisation of Biafra, saying the position of the
leaders could only postpone the “inevitable.”
Madu stated, “The Movement for the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra berates Igbo religious, traditional,
political and opinion leaders for their nonchalant and insensitive
attitude towards the current agitation for Biafra.
“Why is it that whenever these self-acclaimed Igbo leaders meet
among themselves or with the Nigerian Presidency, they always
sideline the primary and principal reasons and cause of the Biafra
agitation?
“Yesterday’s meeting of Igbo leaders in Enugu is tactically
helping the Nigerian government in postponing the explosion of the
inevitable and unstoppable ticking time bomb which Nigeria is
comfortably sitting on.
“Their decisions are not the true minds and positions of the
people of Biafra – we want Biafra and nothing but Biafra.
“Nigeria must disintegrate; her faulty foundation has broken
beyond repair.
“Majority of Igbo leaders have brazenly betrayed Igbo cause and
interests in Nigeria.
“We wish to inform Ndigbo that the reawakening of the spirit and
consciousness of Biafra among the people can never be demoralised
again – the Biafra revolutionary struggle can no longer be betrayed
by personal or group interests.”
The MASSOB leader expressed regrets that the Igbo elite, who,
according to him, had gained a lot from the pro-Biafra agitation,
did not appreciate the activists.
“In this struggle, numerous sacrifices have been made, supreme
prices have been paid.
“We have been tortured, mesmerised, killed and incarcerated for
the sake of Biafra and the glory of Ndigbo, yet we are neglected,
abused and abandoned by people who benefit from our exploits,” he
said.
Punch
Read more https://nairalaw.com/massob-insists-on-break-up-as-igbo-leaders-support-united-nigeria/