Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the pan-Igbo apex socio-cultural group, has called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take action and implement the recommendations and resolutions of the 2014 constitutional conference.
This plea comes in response to the ongoing hardships faced by the nation.
In a commendable display of restraint, Ohanaeze acknowledged and applauded the people of the South-East for refraining from participating in the nationwide protests against President Tinubu’s administration, despite the economic hardships experienced by the citizenry.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, expressed appreciation for the calmness exhibited by the South-Easterners, who have long endured governmental neglect since the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Isiguzoro urged Tinubu to prioritize the implementation of the 2014 conference recommendations as a means to address the prevailing challenges facing the country.
In a statement released to South-East PUNCH in Owerri on Tuesday, Ohanaeze stated, “Amidst the nationwide uproar and agitation triggered by soaring living costs, economic distress, and famine, a remarkable tranquility emanates from the South-East and South-South regions of old Eastern Nigeria. The conspicuous calmness amid the widespread anger and unrest in the North and South-West has left many, including the Presidency and the North, astonished.”
As a prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization and advocate for the Igbo people, Ohanaeze commended the citizens of the old Eastern region for their exceptional wisdom and prudence in refraining from leading protests against President Tinubu and the Federal Government during this period of economic hardship.
The statement further highlighted the various instances of perceived injustices faced by the South-East, including marginalization, destruction of Igbo properties in Lagos without federal intervention, burning of Igbo markets in the South-West, minimal federal appointments, and the unjust incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu in contrast to the treatment of other figures.
While protests have surged in various parts of the country, the absence of casualties or protester fatalities resulting from security intervention stands in stark contrast to the tragic incidents in the past, such as lives lost during protests against Kanu’s detainment and the Obigbo (Oyibo) massacre in Rivers State.
Ohanaeze expressed admiration for the unwavering bravery and resilience of the South-East populace in weathering the storm. The organization stands in solidarity with the suffering Igbos and Nigerians, urging the Federal Government to revamp Tinubu’s economic team with competent individuals to salvage the crumbling economy before it collapses completely.
It is worth recalling that in recent times, Nigerian youths and women in Niger State and other states took to the streets to protest against the escalating cost of living in the country. The economic situation has become increasingly unbearable following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Tinubu upon assuming office on May 29, 2023.