September 27, (THEWILL) – The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other secessionist agitators in the South-East region to stop all forms of “anarchy” in the land and explore dialogue.
The President-General of the Group, Prof George Obiozor, made the call on Monday on the occasion of the annual celebration of Igbo Day.
Prof. Obiozor, who appealed for a return to normalcy in Igboland, said, IPOB leaders should take note of the danger violence has posed in Igboland; adding that the South-East geopolitical zone “must avoid being a race that has voluntarily chosen to perish in violence and insecurity”.
Obiozor described current happenings in the South East (Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States) as destruction and devastation rather than liberation.
The Group in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, traditional rulers and stakeholders call for an end towards anarchy in Igbo land.
“Our youths, particularly the leaders of IPOB, should take notice of the danger violence has posed in Igbo land.
“Ndigbo must avoid being a race that has voluntarily chosen to perish in violence and insecurity, and we must stop threatening ourselves and there must be a stop to violence and violence rhetoric. Something other than the initial objectives of IPOB is taking place and it is dangerous.
“Today, what we are seeing in Igbo land is not liberation but Ala Igbo destruction and devastation. It is a national tragedy for Igbos. The liberty and freedom of Ndigbo are threatened internally and externally. I call on IPOB leaders to reassert the authority and control of the organization.”
The statement urged all the secessionist agitators to embrace dialogue and eschew violence.
“We repeat our preference for dialogue instead of violence or military solutions to national problems. The dialogue should not be delayed further.
“For Ndigbo, the demand is simple, that the Nigerian Federation should be sustained and have a sense of stability; it must be a union of equals and the composite units must have the ability to survive without begging the centre.
“We must tell ourselves the truth or keep deceiving ourselves by ignoring the calls for decentralization and devolution of power in Nigeria. Ironically, in history, societies where truth comes last, tragedy comes first. We must learn the lessons of history, particularly our own Nigerian history on how the story began. Nigeria must avoid being a failed state”, it said.
About the Author
