Referendum is not a bad idea, but it’s not a tea party either - Ohanaeze warns Nnamdi Kanu
- The group said the elders would only join Biafra agitation if restructuring fails or what happened in 1966 occurred again
- They insisted that a restructured Nigeria is better than secession for the Ndigbo
Pro-Igbo group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has cautioned Nnamdi Kanu and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to tread carefully in their agitation for secession.
The group said Igbo elders believed that a restructured Nigeria will serve the Igbos better than a new country of their own.
Philipconcept Blog's learnt that Ohanaeze, however said that the pro-Igbo organisation will consider joining the agitation for Biafra, only if restructuring fails or the south-east region experienced what happened in 1966 again.
Recall that Nigeria experienced it's first military coup in 1966, birthing a chain of events which eventually led to the first civil war.
- They insisted that a restructured Nigeria is better than secession for the Ndigbo
Pro-Igbo group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has cautioned Nnamdi Kanu and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to tread carefully in their agitation for secession.
The group said Igbo elders believed that a restructured Nigeria will serve the Igbos better than a new country of their own.
Philipconcept Blog's learnt that Ohanaeze, however said that the pro-Igbo organisation will consider joining the agitation for Biafra, only if restructuring fails or the south-east region experienced what happened in 1966 again.
Recall that Nigeria experienced it's first military coup in 1966, birthing a chain of events which eventually led to the first civil war.
In a statement released by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the group said: “There is a raging debate on whether Igbo want Biafra, restructuring or referendum. Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s position has been constant and clear. It advocates that a restructured Nigeria with justice and equity will serve Ndigbo more than secession.
"It took into consideration the past, present and future before arriving at this crucial decision. Good enough, key voices in Nigeria are keying in to this mood"
“Referendum is not a bad idea, but it’s not a tea party either. It is an option that will be more potent, if restructuring clamour fails.
“Our children in IPOB and MASSOB, though with genuine grievances, need to be on the same page with Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Our son, Nnamdi Kanu, has done well in heightening the mood of Ndigbo in Nigeria, but there must be some caution and restraint on the strategy and methodology.
“Biafra of the mind is not a bad idea, but a physical Biafra at this point in time need a very deep retrospection, introspection and analytical brainstorming which is not decided in the market. It is only more plausible if the event of 1966 repeats itself in Nigeria.
“Chief Nnia Nwodo and the new Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership is poised to aggregate the diverse views and opinions of Ndigbo and synthesise an option that will ultimately give Ndigbo their desired leverage in Nigeria.
"While diplomatic tact and pressure is not out of place in this, superior arguments that will not jeopardize the position and future of Ndigbo will be more attractive.”
Meanwhile, the Ralph Uwazuruike led faction of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) to the agitations across the nation.
Philipconcept Blog's gathered that Sunny Okereafor, the pro-Biafra national director of Information, said the only solution to the current agitation is for the federal government to convene a sovereign national conference where the various ethnic nationalities are allowed to determine their future.