OHANEZE NDIGBO PRESIDENT CHIEF IWUANYANWU
The Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has instructed groups in the area not to demonstrate against Bola Tinubu’s government.
Since May 29, 2023, when the president declared an end to the petrol subsidy regime, food costs have been skyrocketing.
A few Ibadan, Oyo state citizens demonstrated against the dire economic conditions on Monday.
Citizens of the states of Kano, Ogun, Niger, and Sokoto have already protested against Nigeria’s economic crises.
In response to the growing expense of living, organised labour has also scheduled a statewide protest for February 27 and 28.
Speaking on Monday, Ohanaeze President-General Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said he had received entreaties for him to invite Nigerians in the zone to participate in the nationwide protests.” No Igbo group or community in Nigeria or the diaspora should join any protest against this government,” Iwuanyanwu declared in his capacity as your leader.
“I have asked those who have made entreaties to inform me what their attitude was before the current administration, but I am currently researching the matter.
“I want to know what they did when Igbo land was denied the right to vote in the past.”
Iwuanyawu referred to Nigeria’s current economic crisis as regrettable.
But he promised that he would get together leading Igbo economists and specialists to plan a way out of the difficulties.
He said Tinubu will receive economic advise from professionals and economists.
He declared, “Igbos prefer a democratic government where we can express our views and are opposed to military rule.”
“Youths are very sensitive to issues affecting their future and restless everywhere in the world. Youths from different tribes and Igbo descent have occasionally voiced their displeasure with developments in Nigeria.
“It is evident to us that when young people from other tribes in the nation become involved, they receive criticism and forgiveness; nevertheless, when Igbo youth get involved, they face arrest, incarceration, and even criminal charges.
For instance, there were numerous issues for the Igbo people as a result of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest and imprisonment.“Many Igbos, including governors, law-makers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and business leaders pleaded for the release of Mazi Kanu without success.”
Iwuanyanwu further said that a large number of Igbo youths are incarcerated for dubious reasons.
“The majority of Igbo people live in the southeast, and because it is the only geopolitical zone with only five states, the region is sadly marginalised in all ramifications,” the speaker stated.
Our financial losses as a result of this circumstance have been billions. Additionally, it has lost us legislative representation and political appointments.
We brought up these concerns at several political forums between 2005 and 2014.
“At the conferences, every well-meaning man concurred that the Southeast’s five states were unfair.
“They suggested that a new state be established in the southeast, but as of right now, that hasn’t happened.”