…urges FG to assent to move by Northern elders
…says Igbos are no longer safeguarded
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has said that the move by some Northern elders and groups to have Igbo exit Nigeria before the conclusion of the ongoing constitution amendment is a welcomed development.
The apex Igbo Socio-cultural group has also urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency approve the call of Northern elders to hasten the exit of the Igbo from Nigeria.
News Echo reports that a group of Northern elders have asked the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to compel the National Assembly to hasten the exit of the South-East region from the Federal Republic of Nigeria before concluding the ongoing constitutional amendment.
The Northern elders led by Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam, averred in a supporting affidavit that their action was informed by the need to stem the tide of violence and destruction being allegedly occasioned by the agitation for secession championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Just within the week, the Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA) led by Chuks Maoma (SAN) also asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to join them as defendants in a lawsuit lodged by the Northern elders.
Secretary-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said Ohanaeze has assessed the standpoints of the Northern groups and has described it as a welcome development and a perfect ending to the sufferings of Ndigbo in Nigeria.
Isiguzoro said that since the Northern groups and their elders are now the ones stepping up the move to get Ndigbo out of Nigeria, it goes to show that the Igbo are no more wanted in the country and the best option is to go in peace and build their own prosperous nation.
He applauded the Northern elders for indirectly divulging that there are clandestine conspiracies from the North to push out the Ndigbo out of Nigeria, as being championed by the Coalition of Northern Nigeria Groups.
Isiguzoro said that since the decision has been made after secret orchestration from Northern elders and groups, it will be the perfect time for Ndigbo to go out of Nigeria without any problem.
“We are supporting the Igbo lawyers led by Chuks Maoma (SAN) on their verdicts to join the suit, as the Northern Group is sponsored by politicians to tow this destructive routes.
“The exponents of these demonic and erratic campaigns to exit the South-East from Nigeria was sponsored by Northern Governors and we are urging the Federal Government to assent to their requests since it appears that South-Easterners are no longer acceptable and protected by the Federal authorities in policies and practices.
“All these shenanigans are afraid of Igbo succeeding President Buhari in 2023. The Northern coalition forces are supposed to be the disciples of late Mallam Maitama Sule, who was the first to admit that the South-East does not deserve to succeed Buhari in 2023.
“We cautioned that Igbo are already on the ground and we are open to all options either to remain as part of Nigeria or FG to assent to the Northern conspiracy theories of exiting the South-East from Nigeria.”
Isiguzoro went further to say that it is high time the Federal Government negotiated with Igbo because Nigeria unity is negotiable.
