Friday, 13 November 2015

Recent Wave of Pro-Biafra Protests



        There were worries yesterday that lingering rift within the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and that of the South-East Governors’ Forum may be hampering opportunities for Igbo leaders to take a collective position on the recent wave of pro-Biafra protests taking place in parts of the area.

Moreover, according to competent sources, Igbo leaders are also said to be in a fix on what to do about millions of the youths from the South-East agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra following what they described as marginalization and discrimination by “the owners of Nigeria.”

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is enmeshed in crises, with Enwo Igariway and Ralph Obioha leading different factions of the group.

Also, the South-East Governors’ Forum, which met frequently when Mr. Peter Obi and Chief Theodore Orji, former governors of Anambra and Abia states held sway as chairmen at different periods, appear to be in limbo.

The governors, who had been at logger-heads over where the forum should hold its meetings, with Okorocha insisting on Owerri while his colleagues argue that Enugu remains the headquarters of the South-East and should serve as venue.

It was also gathered that the governors with the exception of Willie Obiano of Anambra State, had been bogged down with court cases challenging the validity of their elections, thus preventing them from taking special interest in the affairs of the forum and Ndigbo in general.

Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, declined comments on the issue whenVanguard cornered him at the national secretariat of the association in Enugu, yesterday.

However, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has not met for a long time to discuss issues of marginalization, appointment of ministers and other officials of the Federal Government, among others, as Igariway, from Ebonyi State, who had since completed his tenure, was accused of still clinging to the position instead of giving way for Enugu State to produce the next president of the association, based on the group’s rotation of offices sharing formula Some members of the Nwabueze- led Leaders of Thought include Professor Lawrence Ocho, Col. Hyacinth Chukwuka (rtd), Major Goddy Onyefuru, Chief N. O. Izuako and Col. Ben Gbulie (rtd).In an apparent move to give a semblance of existence of leadership for the Igbo, a former National Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor Ben Nwabueze, had since formed the Igbo Leaders of Thought, who met in Enugu recently.

Others include Chief Chris Okoye, Professor Ike Oluka, Bishop Obi Onubogu, Professor Chiweyite Ejike, Justice G. U. Oniniba, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, Senator Anyim Ude, Evangelist Elliot Uko, Prince Emeka Onyesoh and Chief Enechi Onyia, SAN, among others.

Nwabueze’s group blames the crises facing the country on lack of what he described as true federalism and marginalization, and not corruption or Boko Haram, among others.

A former Minister from the South-East, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described marginalization of Ndigbo in the security forces, Police, Customs and Immigration, among others, as main reasons for the agitation.

However, the President of Igbo Youths Movement, IYM, Evangelist Elliot Ukoh, who spoke on the issue, attributed agitation for Biafra to what he called unfair treatment of Ndigbo.

According to him, “the feeling among our youths is that Nigeria has been unfair to the Igbo andNdigbo believe that they will never get justice in Nigeria.

“They believe for example that the JAMB cut-off marks are skewed against them because they get higher marks and, get dropped for northerners who score lower grades in the name of federal character.

“They have no jobs because of quota system which ensures that people are given jobs because of where they come from and not based on merit or competence.

“They are frustrated and therefore, the agitation for Biafra becomes an option. The older ones are more cautious.

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