Ohaneze Youth Ndigbo Worldwide, Wednesday, called for calm in the southeast as President Mohammadu Buhari visits Imo State on Wednesday, September 9, 2021.
National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Engr. Damian Okafor, made the appeal in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
In a release signed by Engr. Okafor, he urged people of the zone to give president Buhari a warmth reception, stating that his optimistic Mr. President will use the opportunity to address some of the issues affecting the zone.
He said that the Ambassador George A. Obiozor, led Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, His Excellency Engr. David Nweze Umahi, and the host Governor, Sen. Hope Odidika Uzodimma, were ready to lay the facts on the challenges affecting the Igbo nation to Mr President.
“Hence, I encourage Igbo Youths to come out en mass to give Mr President a resounding welcome. We have been patient and expectant with maximum hope placed on God Almighty to help us again as Jehovah did to the people of Israelites while they were in Egypt as Ndigbo still believe in the 11th hour miracle.
“Our region (southeast) has survived one of the most gory and grisly civil war in the history of mankind. Based on the realities of unfolding events, the war was suspended but not ended.
“The Marginalization of Ndigbo has proven to us that we are enjoying a virtual relationship with the people that have promised to put the past behind.
“A situation where an Igbo Man is not considered worthy to be appointed into key security structures (Service Chiefs) of this country even when the region has fallen under a constant attack, basic infrastructural development of the region has been neglected by the central government at the peril of our Governors, when the federal character commission that is supposed to ensure the equitable distribution of job opportunities to all nooks and crannies of the country appears to be working against the Igbo nation.
“When we are constantly accused of such crimes that we don’t have the capacities to commit; the worst of it all is when it has been established that the Igbo nation is living in existential threat, we did not only put our only hope on God but we also believe that this golden opportunity with your Excellency, the President will help us address some of the issues.
“It is believed that Mr President cannot come to the Igbo land, hear all our problems and leave us without a solution especially in the carnage being perpetrated by the herders, the exclusion of the IGBO in service chiefs appointment, the underdevelopment of Igbo Nation, the high rate of unemployment among Igbo Youths, the socio-economic war against the Igbo nation; among other things.
“Let us once again rekindle our hope and believe in the word of God which says that “To the living, there is hope”. Ndigbo should have a better bargain than secession.
” A situation where our brothers and sisters in the northern communities especially the city of Jos that was recently under ruthless attack have refused to return back home even when the delegations from southeast have approached them to come back should be a thing of concern to all of us.
“Continuing the violent agitations is endangering millions of Ndigbo living outside the Igbo Land. Every IGBO man’s life matters in this critical time that the enemies of Ndigbo have sworn to invest heavily to ensure that the ever growing population of Ndigbo is commuted and abated.
“As for our brothers that are in detention facilities, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo under the watch of Ambassador. Professor George A. Obiozor is not sleeping over them. He has lined up a team of lawyers to ensure that they get justice.
“To Mr President, I say welcome to the Igbo nation. While we believe that your coming will leave us better than your absence, I wish Your Excellency successful trip to the Eastern”, he stated