THIRTEEN Igbo organisations Tuesday rose from
their meeting in Enugu State, insisting that anything
short of true federalism built on six regions affirmed
at a referendum to throw up a new constitution
would mean a failure of the ongoing national
conference.
The groups, which reminded Igbo delegates at the national
conference that about 50 million Igbo people are monitoring their
move, stressed that they must speak out in matters that must
reposition the geo-political zone in the affairs of the country at
the conference.
In a statement issued after the meeting, they noted that the
ongoing bloody campaign by Boko Haram has really redefined
Nigeria’s image internationally and jolted Nigerians into a new
consciousness, explaining that it has the capacity to either make
Nigeria stronger or create fears and distrust.
They agreed, however, that either way, Nigeria would never be
the same, when she must have pulled out of her security
challenges and called for joint efforts.
Those who signed the statement at the meeting held at the Igbo
Youths Movement (IYM) secretariat were representatives of Igbo
Leaders of Thought, South-East Elders’ Forum, Igbo Youth
Movement, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State
of Biafra (MASSOB), Ohanaeze Overseas Forum, Ohanaeze Youth
Alliance, Igbo Traders’ Congress, Igbo Women Assembly, Igbo
Students Congress, South-East Professionals, South-East/South-
South Alliance, Civil and Human Right Forum and World Igbo
Diaspora Congress.
The group commended the military and other security agencies
for their sacrifices and commitment to the defence and protection
of the country, stressing however, that until moles and Fifth
Columnists are identified and dealt with, the battle remains far
from being over.
The statement continued: “We note an improved security
situation in the South-East but maintain that unemployment
remains a time bomb that must be defused before the demons at
work in the North-East infect others elsewhere, especially as
those who let the dogs out in the North-East have since lost
control of the demons they created.
“We condemn, in no uncertain terms, the ugly politics of painting
one’s country black in the foreign media, all in the hope of
rubbishing our leaders.
“This unkind blackmail is capable of unleashing a hard-to-
eradicate bitterness in our body polity. Truth is: this government
did not create this Islamist insurgency. “The government has
suffered attacks from protectors and sympathisers of Boko
Haram, who at one time threatened to drag the head of the Army
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.
“The deliberate attempt to brand the government as weak and
inept while pretending to conveniently forget that some people
inspired this madness by forcefully attempting to introduce a
religious code 14 years ago, is wicked and devilish.
“The Boko Haram boys who were probably teenagers 14 years
ago when Sharia Code was launched, are now only trying to help
former Governor Sani Yerima of Zamfara State complete what he
started in year 2000”.
The group warned desperate politicians, who would rather set the
country ablaze in their quest for power, that the sophistication of
the younger generation of Nigeria makes it impossible for self-
centred manipulators to escape the judgment of history, and the
judgment of the masses.
They also condemned the “mindless pillorying of the President
and the First Lady” and urged support for his silent revolution to
create a new Nigeria for all.
their meeting in Enugu State, insisting that anything
short of true federalism built on six regions affirmed
at a referendum to throw up a new constitution
would mean a failure of the ongoing national
conference.
The groups, which reminded Igbo delegates at the national
conference that about 50 million Igbo people are monitoring their
move, stressed that they must speak out in matters that must
reposition the geo-political zone in the affairs of the country at
the conference.
In a statement issued after the meeting, they noted that the
ongoing bloody campaign by Boko Haram has really redefined
Nigeria’s image internationally and jolted Nigerians into a new
consciousness, explaining that it has the capacity to either make
Nigeria stronger or create fears and distrust.
They agreed, however, that either way, Nigeria would never be
the same, when she must have pulled out of her security
challenges and called for joint efforts.
Those who signed the statement at the meeting held at the Igbo
Youths Movement (IYM) secretariat were representatives of Igbo
Leaders of Thought, South-East Elders’ Forum, Igbo Youth
Movement, Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State
of Biafra (MASSOB), Ohanaeze Overseas Forum, Ohanaeze Youth
Alliance, Igbo Traders’ Congress, Igbo Women Assembly, Igbo
Students Congress, South-East Professionals, South-East/South-
South Alliance, Civil and Human Right Forum and World Igbo
Diaspora Congress.
The group commended the military and other security agencies
for their sacrifices and commitment to the defence and protection
of the country, stressing however, that until moles and Fifth
Columnists are identified and dealt with, the battle remains far
from being over.
The statement continued: “We note an improved security
situation in the South-East but maintain that unemployment
remains a time bomb that must be defused before the demons at
work in the North-East infect others elsewhere, especially as
those who let the dogs out in the North-East have since lost
control of the demons they created.
“We condemn, in no uncertain terms, the ugly politics of painting
one’s country black in the foreign media, all in the hope of
rubbishing our leaders.
“This unkind blackmail is capable of unleashing a hard-to-
eradicate bitterness in our body polity. Truth is: this government
did not create this Islamist insurgency. “The government has
suffered attacks from protectors and sympathisers of Boko
Haram, who at one time threatened to drag the head of the Army
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.
“The deliberate attempt to brand the government as weak and
inept while pretending to conveniently forget that some people
inspired this madness by forcefully attempting to introduce a
religious code 14 years ago, is wicked and devilish.
“The Boko Haram boys who were probably teenagers 14 years
ago when Sharia Code was launched, are now only trying to help
former Governor Sani Yerima of Zamfara State complete what he
started in year 2000”.
The group warned desperate politicians, who would rather set the
country ablaze in their quest for power, that the sophistication of
the younger generation of Nigeria makes it impossible for self-
centred manipulators to escape the judgment of history, and the
judgment of the masses.
They also condemned the “mindless pillorying of the President
and the First Lady” and urged support for his silent revolution to
create a new Nigeria for all.
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