By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Two prominent pro-South Eastern groups, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), have cautioned Igbo youths against engaging in any proposed protests against the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
This follows the series of nationwide protests against hardship allegedly stoked by the economic policies of the government of the day, by the youths, and others.
Yesterday, apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, warned youths in the South-East zone from further participating in the protests.
The organisation’s president-general, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said the warning had become imperative because he had received requests urging him to mobilise Nigerians in the region to participate in a nationwide protest.
Speaking in Enugu, Iwuanyanwu described the current economic situation in Nigeria as regrettable and underscored his intention to convene a gathering of prominent Igbo economists and experts to devise solutions to the prevailing challenges.
He said: “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 prior to the current administration. I have asked what they did when Igboland was disenfranchised in the past.’’
Iwuanyanwu added, “The Igbo 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 the Igbo.
“Many Igbo, including governors, lawmakers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and business leaders, pleaded for the release of Mazi Kanu, without success.”
In the same vein, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) yesterday warned against any protest in the South-East over the current spate of hunger and economic hardship ravaging Nigeria. IPoB warned that anyone who organises protests across the South-East will regret such an action.
Spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the current economic hardship and hunger was part of the reason the group has been agitating for the actualisation of Biafra.
A statement by Powerful reads: “Following the unprecedented hardship in Nigeria, we the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), ably led by the great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, hereby caution the people of Biafra not to join any Nigerian to protest against hunger in Nigeria in any Biafran territory.
‘’Any Nigerian agent who dares to organise any protest in Biafraland will regret it.
“The current hardship in Nigeria should be the concern of Nigerians, not Biafrans. Biafrans are no longer interested in the affairs of Nigeria. Biafrans were abused, intimidated, beaten, killed and denied voting rights during the election of this present government.
“Ndigbo were told to wait until it was their turn to rule, not the turn of Ndigbo. The aftermath of the fraudulent elections was the demolition of Ndigbo’s properties and investments in the West and Northern parts of the zoo called Nigeria.
‘’Has anyone or groups organised a protest against the demolition of Ndigbo’s properties in the West and North? Anyone who organised any protest against economic hardship in Biafraland will put Biafrans in danger.
