The President-General of the Igbo apex body, the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, has dared the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the Igbo Nation “has no reason to break away from Nigeria”.
He spoke his mind at his maiden World press conference held at the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Secretatriat, Enugu.
Obiozor who spoke on the Theme; “The Dawn of a new era” touched several national issues and conditions of the Igbo nation.
He said that Ndigbo, in all indications, have no reason to break away from Nigeria.
“The Igbo is not at war with Nigeria and has nothing pending before any institutional authority that demands a separate existence from Nigeria”
On the agitation for Biafra by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Obiozor said “Nnamdi Kanu is one of us and he must listen to some of us for several reasons. The fact and reality are that the issues of Biafra are above his capacity to decide.
“Nnamdi Kanu must listen because he is one of us and we are all in this dilemma together. And our mutual and collective responsibilities are sacred and must be respected. Consequently, all actions or utterances that put Ndigbo in present and imminent danger or harm’s way must be avoided.
“We must also understand that when Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu said the bones shall rise, he did not mean conflict, violence and war. The bones have arisen, reincarnated, or resurrected but in Ojukwu’s idea, the mission is creative and constructive. Ndigbo is builders and not nation wreckers or destroyers” he said.
The new President General pointed out that many things unite Igbo nation but emphasis was given to the things that divide Ndigbo.
He promised that his administration will help to invent a well-defined common cause and a common sense of direction, urging the Igbo people in diaspora to join hands to bring about the accelerated development of Alaigbo.
“The goal of this administration is aggregating our successes into a common action that will lead to a collective success. Nothing unites a people more quickly that prospects for success and with a well known Igbo spirit, this seemingly difficult task can be done.
“Our position should, therefore, begin with efforts to effectively reintegrate Ndigbo into Nigeria’s political process, significantly, and relevant. He added that it requires serious diplomacy and not confrontation or conflicts.
The Ohaneze Ndi Igbo leader maintained that Nigeria’s restructuring, the devolution of power, renegotiation or decentralisation of Nigeria must be done to save the country.
