By Ifeanyi Iheakanwa
The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has advised Igbo youths and all those planning to protest the prevailing economic crisis in the country, to rescind the agenda in the interest of peace.
The Elderstatesman, in an address issued on Wednesday, said it would amount to a total bridge of public peace if the race joins some northern states in protesting the food and economic.
He said, “I write as your elder at this critical period, in our country, Nigeria. Events in Nigeria today, are no doubt disturbing. The economy has turned very bad, a scepter of frustration is everywhere.
“I have received many entreaties from many parts of the country requesting me to call Igbos to join in demonstration and violent actions in the country against the government.
“As your leader, I am directing that no Igbo group or community in Nigeria or in 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 disenfranchised Igbo land? Most of the Igbos are in the Southeast and Southeast is very sadly marginalized in all ramifications.
“This situation has caused us billions of financial losses. It has also caused us losses in both political appointments and legislative representation. 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. I have severally drawn the attention of the Federal Government to this injustice against the Southeast.
“This 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 Southeast, I will have no choice than to go to Court.”
He further recalled the last elections as a defining moment in the country when all Igbos generally believed it was their turn to produce a president but some groups of Nigeria ganged up against Igbos and they failed in the quest.
H however advised that the best thing for the Igbos to do in the trying period is to rally round the President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and to do what they can to enable him complete his tenure because, according to him, the race is opposed to military rule.
