Prof. George Obiozor (President, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo)
Apex Socio-Cultural Igbo body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has advised the Federal Government against the use of extreme Force to subdue national questions by Nigerians, stating that it could lead to possible disintegration of the country.
The President General of the Apex Igbo body, Prof. George Obiozor, in his statement at a press conference in Enugu, few days ago, he said that the rise in ethnocentric nationalism has caused the dream of National unity to gradually diminish in the country. He said Nigerians were going past through “worst times in almost all aspects of National life” referring the rise in ethnic militias, commotion for secession, self-determination, insurgency, banditry as having to generate the state of being subject to danger throughout the country. “The Federal Government must from this history learn a lesson by not fighting a lost battle against Nationalism, but consider looking for peaceful ways that are the only solution that guarantees National unity and peaceful co-existence.
I would encourage the Federal Government to try and reconsider the forceful ways that has been adopted in resolving the present National crises. And again, going through the history it has been shown that military and forceful means to solve the National question is very likely and certain to fail as it could lead to further National fractionalization, eventual or inevitable fragmentation.” Obiozor also said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo was completely in support of the Ebubeagu security outfit that was constituted by South East governors to prevent security threats in the zone. He, in addition assured that there would be no violent conflict between members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) circulated by Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Ebubeagu as long as they are aimed at working for the protection of the Igbos.
