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The apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, has directed groups and Nigerians from the South East geo-political zone not to take part in any planned national protest against the ongoing economic hardship in the country.
Some groups have been calling on Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to embark on protests over the current economic hardship in the country.
But the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, asked groups and Nigerians from the South East zone not to partake in any planned protest.
Addressing newsmen in Enugu on Monday, Iwuanyanwu said he had received entreaties requesting him to call Nigerians from the South East zone to join the demonstrations across the country.
“As your leader, I am directing that no Igbo group or community in Nigeria or the diaspora should join any protest against this government.
“I am still studying the situation and I have asked those who made entreaties to me to tell me what their position was before the current administration.
“I have asked what they did when Igbo land was disenfranchised in the past,’’ he said.
Iwuanyawu, who described the current economic crisis in Nigeria as unfortunate, assured that he would convene a meeting of top Igbo economists and experts to strategise on how to overcome the current hardship.
He said the economists and experts would offer advice to President Bola Tinubu on the economy, adding that Igbos would rally around the president to ensure that he completes his tenure.
“Igbos are opposed to military rule and prefer a democratic government where we can express our views.
“Youths all over the world are very restive and sensitive to issues affecting their future. In Nigeria, Igbo youths and youths from other tribes at various times have expressed their dissatisfaction with events in the country.
“It is clear to us that when youths from other tribes of the country are involved, they are reprimanded and forgiven; but when Igbo youths get involved they are arrested, incarcerated and even charged for serious offences.
“For example, the arrest and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu generated a lot of problems for Igbos.
“Many Igbos, including governors, lawmakers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and business leaders pleaded for the release of Mazi Kanu without success,’’ he said.
The Ohanaeze leader also expressed displeasure that many Igbo youths were in correctional centres on flimsy reasons.
“Most of the Igbos are in the South East and the region is sadly marginalised in all ramifications as it is the only geo-political zone that has only five states.
“This situation has cost us billions in financial losses. It has also cost us losses in political appointments and legislative representations.
“In 2005 and 2014, we raised these issues at various political conferences.
“All men of goodwill at the conferences agreed that it was unfair for the South East to have only five states.
“They recommended that an additional state be created in the South East, but up till today, this has not been done,’’ Iwuanyanwu lamented.
He said his statement should serve as a notice that if no step was taken by the Federal Government and the National Assembly to create an additional state in the South East, he would go to court.
There have been protests in some parts of the country over the current economic crisis.
On Monday, some youths in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, took to the streets to protest against the high cost of living in the country. The protesters called on President Bola Tinubu to fix the economic crisis.