By Cajetan Mmuta
The Igbo Apex Socio-Cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide said only an internal autonomy based on a Restructured Nigerian nation where all things work smoothly for the good of all sections of the polity remains the demand of the people of the southeast geopolitical zone of the country.

President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Ambassador George Obiozor stayed this in his welcome address to members of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution held at Owerri the Imo state capital.

He said the nation must focus on what needs to be done correctly in line with the iron law of seriality of which no country including Nigeria can ask for exemption or exceptionalism.

These are possible where the principles of justice,  equity, and fairness become the standards of measure.

Prof. Obiozor pointed out that “Categorically stated, we (Ndigbo) are   of   the   view   that   the   federation   of Nigeria must be a union of equals and the   composite   units   must   have   the ability   to   stand   without   begging   the center for   survival.”

According to him, “Indeed,   what   must   be   done   and   no longer  what   to   do   is   to   recognize   that history   has   an   iron   law   of   seriality   of which no country including Nigeria can ask for exemption or exceptionalism.”

He listed that among the desires of Ndigbo is that of a   federal system of government and with it characteristics of decentralization and devolution of power among the federating units.

The Ohanaeze chieftain maintained “Therefore,   in   the   context   of   the imperatives   and   urgency   of restructuring   Nigeria,   we   should   focus on getting the right things done for the right reasons, and at the right levels of government.”

“Fundamentally what   Ndigbo really wants is some form of internal autonomy based on a restructured Nigeria.

He cautioned that “some countries are born with political tragedies waiting to happen.

And our history shows that Nigeria is one of them”, stressing that  “All signs of national tragedies foretold are present today in full force in   Nigeria. ”

He declared that “it   would require a restructured Nigeria to contain the present   forces  and  tendencies towards   a   synchronized national crisis and   even   a   possibility of national disintegration.”

“Therefore as   National leaders,   we must learn the lessons of history that in societies where truth comes last, tragedy comes first.   And   that   the perennial   problem   or   continuous dilemma in Nigerian politics has always revolved  around the issues   of   justice, equity, and fairness.”

2023: Be courageous and go for the Presidency – Ohanaeze Ndigbo tells Igbo leaders 

Prof. Obiozor said “As I have said several times, throughout history, those denied   Justice have had no interest in peace. We would  expect you  at the end of this exercise, in the interest of the nation,   its   unity, and progress, to conclude with decisions guided by love and not by   hatred; and guided  by our collective hopes and not by our fears.”

He noted that “For many Nigerians and groups, the 1999 constitution   has   left them with feeling like a caged lion over their relative capacities to develop their individual potentials, states, and zones.”

“Therefore   to   many  of   these  citizens across   the country,  states and zones, restructuring   Nigeria will be  equivalent to releasing the lion from the cage and it can defend itself,” he said.