As Igbo leaders gathered in Owerri at the weekend to discuss the future of Ndigbo in Nigeria, Gov. Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State has said that the political marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria cannot continue.
He that despite the clear marginalisation, dialogue and not violence is the only vehicle that will lead us to the desired destination, adding that there is no evidence in history to show that any race can ever become great through violence or self-destruction.
Uzodimma said that when a man begins to urinate into a well which he drinks from, it only proves that he is on a suicide mission, reiterating his position that violence, criminality and destruction are not and can never be the way out or way to go in addressing the concerns of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria.
The Governor stated this at the grand reception held in honour of Prof. George Obiozor, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo at the Government House Banquet Hall on Saturday.
Uzodimma maintained that as a people who have suffered and endured a brutal past, the Igbo Nation should be wiser.
He said: “No one in Nigeria would deny the fact that Ndi Igbo are zealous, patriotic and committed to the oneness of Nigeria. All that the Igbos demand from Nigeria is a level-playing field for all of us to operate and compete. Simply put, Ndi Igbo want justice and equity for all Nigerians, no more, no less”, he stated.
Uzodimma noted that it is already clear from all indications that the Igbo people had cried enough about marginalization and that it was time for the political class in Nigeria to wipe the tears of Ndi Igbo.
He further urged the political class who made sure that the people of the South-West produced the President of the country in 1999 and are still active to do the same for Ndi Igbo.
“Most of the patriots who engineered the plan that made the South West produce the Presidential candidates for the then two major political parties in 1999 are still alive and active in Nigerian politics today. That same underlying love for the country that inspired them to do what they did for the people of the South West in 1999 should inspire them to do the same for the South East in 2023.
“Time has come for every patriot to rise and address the Igbo question. What cannot be taken away is that for too long Igbos have cried out profusely over their plight. This plight is comparable to the plight of the Southwest over the annulment of the June 12 elections.
“Following that annulment, the Southwest felt short-changed. They cried out for justice. While some groups did so responsibly, others resorted to violence. The instructive thing here is that at a point the patriotic zeal of the political class in Nigeria was touched and they rose in unison to acknowledge that the Yorubas had cried enough and that it was time to wipe their tears.
“It is now obvious from every indication that Ndigbo have also cried enough about their marginalization. It should also be clear to the political class that the time has come to wipe these historical tears of Ndigbo. What is more, most of the patriots who engineered the plan that made the Southwest produce the presidential candidates for the two major political parties in 1999 are still alive and active in politics.
“That same undying love for the country that inspired them to do what they did for the Southwest in 1999, should inspire them to do the same for the Southeast in 2023. The West, the North, the East and the South are all important in our quest for national unity. This is a clarion call on the political class to do the needful.”
Obiozor in his address recommended dialogue between federal and state governments with restive Igbo youths.
He also urged the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to embrace peace and end the sit-at-home, stressing that the people in the south-east region are suffering as a result of it.
“We highly recommend that the federal, as well as state governments, engage the restive Igbo youths in some form of dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the present crisis,” the president-general said.
“In this context, we equally appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to exercise his prerogative of mercy for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Igbo youths in detention in various places.”
“We equally urge them to lift the sit-at-home order to restore normalcy in the south-east,” he said.
“The brunt of sit at home order is borne by the millions of Ndigbo families, who depend on their daily income for survival. Sit-at-home is not a favour to Ndigbo but condemnation of these countless millions of daily income earners to untold hardship.”
In attendance were Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Mbazuike Amaechi, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, a frontline PDP presidential aspirant, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Prof. ABC Nwosu, former Minister of Health, and Prof. Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Others were Lady Victoria Akanwa, a former commissioner in the old Imo State during the Second Republic; General Ike Nwachukwu, former Minister of External Affairs; Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southeast; Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State; former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara; Chief Nnia Nwodo, immediate past President General of Ohanaeze; and his predecessor, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey; former chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Simon N. Okeke; former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Uche Ogah; Senator Frank Ibezim; Hon. Chike Okafor, a member of the House of Representatives, also graced the event.
Also in attendance were former Chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; Chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze E. C. Okeke; Imo State Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku; Secretary to Imo State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmas Iwu; Ohanaeze Secretary-General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, among several others.
