Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has lamented over the directives issued to the Nigerian army, to shoot at sight in Igbo land, while condemning the irrational deployment of only Northern soldiers to the South East and South-South region.
The group urged the government to abstain from the use of force, which it said might lead to eventual disintegration.
This was contained in a statement by the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor, through its spokesperson, Alex Ogbonnia, saying, the injustice in governance, gave rise for secession agitation.
The group said, “The attention of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to the shoot at sight order given to the Nigerian soldiers on how to engage the Igbo youths in the incoming week.
“The report further revealed that the exercise will Commence from Orlu in Imo state, South East, Nigeria. This is very disturbing.
“The pattern of deployment of Northern millitary officers to the South East lends credence to the above report. It was revealed that in preparation for the above, the Nigerian Army has posted Northern Muslims as commanders over its operations and brigades in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, Edo, Delta and Rivers.
Previous reports by Obinwannem News, Conveyed, “Nigerian Army deploys Northern Commanders to oversee operations in S’East”.
The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, prof George Obiozor, admonished the Nigerian government to, “learn a lesson from history by not fighting an unwinnable war against nationalism, but seek possible peaceful options that are the only solution that guarantees national unity and peaceful coexistence”.
Obiozor lamented that, “Sub-national consciousness or ethnocentric nationalism which is a dangerous form of nationalism to national unity has taken over Nigeria.
“The dream of Nigeria unity is receding and fading fast with violence crises and conflicts.
“Ohaneze Ndigbo is unequivocal that the current problem confronting Nigeria; ethnic militia, agitation for secession, insurgency, etc, are product of sustained, orchestrated injustice in governance. For instance, Senator Shehu Sanu, the former Senator for Kaduna Central, vehemently decried that the Igbo have been systematically marginalized, since the civil war.
Sani had described the marginalization as a “collective pirnishment,” speaking in Kaduna at a meeting organized by the Association of Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora on Saturday, May 8, 2021.
“There has been a systematic exclusion and marginalization of your people, streaming from historical Biafra war. This is a collective punishment,” he declared.
Prof. George stated that “every right thinking Nigeria, who loves the corporate existence of Nigeria, should align with Sani’s position”. He added that “the problem with Nigeria in general and the Igbo in particular, is located in injustice and the simple solutions lays in manifest dialogue, equity and justice”.
“Ohaneze Ndigbo warns that shoot at sight order to soldiers on Igbo land is a call for another pogrom and genocide.
“Ohaneze asks the federal government to refrain from the use of force in resolving the present national crises.
“History shows that military and violent means to solve the national question is bound to fail, as it leads to further national fractionalization, anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration, as in all Empress or Multinational states or countries.”
Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News
