BY AGNES NWORIE,
ABAKALIKI
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Youths Worldwide forum has decried what it described as ‘total neglect of the southern states by Federal Government of Nigeria.’
The National Youth Leader, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Engr Damian Okafor, in a statement issued in Abakaliki on President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit, regretted that the southeast region has been neglected and marginalised.
He urged the President to pay attention to the zone by addressing the numerous injustices against the zone because “what is good for the geese is also good for the gander”.
In the statement, he called for calm among the youths in the region and that a resounding welcome should be accorded the President.
Okafor said, “The marginalisation 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 calls for concern.”
On infrastructural development, employment opportunities, protection of lives and property, he maintained that the region has not been getting its due share from the Federal Government, which has made the job of governance tough and endangered the governors of the southeastern states.
“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 for equity sake,” he added.
Engr Okafor said that the hope of the people rested on the number one citizen and that the visit should be a good opportunity for the President to see things for himself and rub minds with the leaders for solutions.
“As the number one citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria visits Igboland, Owerri the capital city of Imo State on the 9th of September 2021, I call for a total calm in the length and breadth of the Land as Igbo leaders are 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.
“It is believed that Mr. President cannot come to the Igboland, 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 the 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 has 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”, he stated.
