The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Friday declared that it does not support Nigeria’s disintegration.
The organisation, however, urged the government to use dialogue to solve the national question rather than using force. It appealed to Igbo youth involved in violence to stop, noting that there was nothing to celebrate in violence.
It also tasked the government to conduct urgent in-depth investigations on the destruction of lives and property in the South-east by security agents, which it described as “unacceptable.”
The president-general of Ohanaeze, Prof. George Obiozor, who stated this while addressing journalists in Enugu, the Ohanaeze Secretariat, added that Ndigbo would not support break-up of Nigeria, but would neither be victims of Nigeria’s unity.
Obiozor, however, described as “unfortunate” the implications of the president’s statement on civil war, adding that “last time I checked or heard a president speak of shock and awe, it was reserved for the enemy, not the citizens.”
He said, “I also want to appeal to all Igbo youth involved in violence and strongly advise them that there is nothing to celebrate in violence. We cannot change our lots and situations by steering and provoking hatred amongst ourselves, raining insults and abuses on ourselves and declaring war against those who disagree with our own ideas and approach to resolving our common problems.
“What good does it do to us in the destruction of government institutions and facilities, most of which were built by our own people and donated to the government for our own benefit and the general good of society? I appeal to Igbo youth to kindly avoid violence in spite of all provocations. We know how aggrieved we all are, but peace options are the best.
“Ohanaeze once more urges the federal government to reconsider the use of force in resolving the present national crises.”
