Mazi Okpalaezeukwu addressing the audience
About seventy-two hours to the commencement of the planned nationwide protest over acute hunger in the land, rising cost of living and bad governance, the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. on Monday resolved not to participate in the exercise, saying that doing so could lead to the destruction of businesses and properties owned by Igbos residing outside Igboland.
This is just as the group demanded for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as well as several other Igbo youths languishing in many Correctional facilities across the country.
The group said that the Igbo nation had suffered many years of marginalisation and exclusion from the mainstream of governance of the country, and maintained that joining the upcoming nationwide protest slated to begin on August 1, could exacerbate the existing problems facing the region.
It rather resolved to have an audience with President Bola Tinubu to discuss how to ameliorate some of the major challenges facing the zone.
These resolutions were taken during a one day convention of the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, held in Enugu, the Enugu state capital on Monday.
Addressing a large audience made up of Igbo youth leaders and stakeholders from the five states of the South-East and beyond, including representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), the Youth Council of Nigeria(YCN), and several others, the President of the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said that the youths from the region had many reasons to engage in protest, but preferred the option of dialogue to achieve their collective objectives.
He said: “There are so many reasons why the Igbo youths should protest, and these include, but not limited to:-
” The unwarranted, undue and unjust detention of so many Igbo youths in many detention facilities across the country, especially the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which we all know.
“The destruction of the properties of our brothers and sisters living in Lagos and Abuja.
” If you come to the South-East, we the youths are not accommodated. We don’t know what the governors of the five South-East states are doing. We don’t understand what they are doing because they do not carry us along. If there is an employment slot. they do not give to us, rather they give to those close to them, especially their relations…
“The South-East has only five states, whereas other zones have six states, while one zone has seven states. This is injustice. This is not equity. This is not fair.
” National infrastructure is not established in the South-East. Since I was born, I have not seen any national infrastructure here engaging and employing Igbo youths.
“Like I said before, we have so many reasons to protest. but we are not going to join the upcoming protest. If we do, our people will be targeted at, and we are going to lose. Those who hate Igbo’s in the North and West will destroy the businesses and properties of our people.”
Mazi Okpalaezeukwu said that in the past few days many Igbo leaders and organisations had cautioned the youths against joining the protest, adding that the youths will not take any action capable of jeopardizing the interests and welfare of people of the region.
Nevertheless, the group demanded the release of all Igbo youths unduly kept in detention in the Correctional facilities across the country,
It also demanded an immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the Ohanaeze boss, “we the Igbo youths demand an audience with His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, to discuss our grievances, because we acknowledge the efforts of this government to ensure a better society.
” We also demand the appointment of our youths into Tinubu’s administration.
” And going forward, we demand the creation of one more state in the South-East for equity and fairness.”
The group, however, commended President Tinubu for signing the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law, saying that the action of Mr President signposts the end of the Nigeria/Biafra war.
The decision by the Igbo youths not to take part in the planned protest was reached through a voice vote.
