Ohanaeze Ndigbo Archives - Leading Reporters

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged all Igbos, including members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to ensure that they are registered as voters ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The apex group also implored President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil the promise he made in Aba that he would make an Igbo man president in 2023.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo urged the Igbo, including members of IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to participate fully in the voter registration exercise “to increase numeric stamina during the 2023 general elections”.

The group made it bare that it is only a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction that could assuage the grief of the Igbo people, adding that the marginalisation and injustice will end the clamour for secession.

According to a recent statement by the Secretary-General of the group, Okechukwu Isifuzoro, Ndigbo residing in the 36 states of the country must know the importance of the voter registration exercise and sacrifice time to participate in it.

He maintained that Biafra agitators, especially IPOB and MASSOB, must see beyond their noses and mobilise the people for the registration exercise as there might be a future referendum, stressing that it is only those with voter cards that will participate in the future referendum.

He urged the Ndigbo not to be discouraged by the manipulation of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) allotment of least polling units to the South-East but capitalise on the Igbo presence in every 774 local councils for electoral pursuits.

“This is the finest time for the Ndigbo, including the youths that had never taken part in the voting exercise, to register for the first time, especially those that would be 18 years old this year.

“Our target Igbo population is 18-29 years old (those Big Brother Naija zealous youths).

“Diaspora voting privileges must be a focal point of the National Diaspora Commission as it will be a great legacy project that will outlast Buhari’s government,” he said.

The Secretary-General also added that Nigerians abroad have the right to take part in this electoral process, as Foreign Missions and Embassies must serve as centres for online voter enrolment.

“We are not advocating for South-East presidency, what we are advocating for is a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.

“There are Ndigbo in Rivers, Delta and Benue states and so on, but the core zone that demands equity, justice and fairness are South-East, which has not produced a Nigerian president.

“If peradventure the injustice or any attempt to thwart 2023 Igbo presidency succeeds, it will not augur well with the unity of the country. It will strengthen self-determination and the agitation for Biafra. It is only a justified Igbo presidency that will unite Nigeria.” he said.

The Igbo Patriots condemns in its entirety, these mindless killings that has claimed over 25 lives at the last count and with some people still declared missing.

Igbos are known to be an enterprising people who add value to whatever Community or environment in which they are domiciled. It is quite befuddling that the FULANI only leave death and destruction in their trail wherever they live or traverse. This inexplicable inhuman mode of payback to communities that play host to FULANI herders is one that must be stopped forthwith.

We are appalled at the apparent helplessness of the Ebonyi state government in handling this matter with a view to ensuring that it does not reoccur. According to reports, certain incriminating materials were recovered from the phone of one of the attackers, a discovery that has led to the effortless confirmation of the actual identity of the attackers.

We had expected the Ebonyi state government to set up a high powered Commission of Enquiry to look into the matter while collaborating with the Police to unmask the culprits. Leaving the wholesale investigation of the killings in the hands of the Security agencies who have been accused of treating the FULANI herdsmen with kid gloves will not engender confidence in the minds of families of victims who are demanding nothing short of justice.

It is very gratifying to note that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo paid a visit to Ebonyi state over the weekend to commiserate with the government and people of the state over this unfortunate incidence. While The Igbo Patriots express gratitude to the Vice President for his show of compassion with his visit, definitely, a rare attribute of the government he represents, we call on the Vice President to use his good offices to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to justice. This is the irreducible minimum that will assuage the feelings of victims’ families and also ensure that there are no reprisal attacks from the affected communities.

The Igbo Patriots wish to be associated with the call on South East Governors by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to ensure the setting up of an effective regional security outfit, in the mould of Amotekun to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure the security of lives and property in the South East geopolitical zone.

May we also call on the South East Governors to make extra efforts to unmask those responsible for the growing insecurity in the South East states. The Igbo Patriots believe some fifth Columnists are at work to destabilize the South East geopolitical zone. A stitch in time will secure Igbo lives and properties in the zone.

Amb. Jeff Ndubueze

For: The Igbo Patriots

Ohanaeze Ndigbo

2023: Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges on IPOB, others, to register as voters ahead of the general election

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged all Igbos, including members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to ensure that they are registered as voters ahead of the 2023 general elections.

THE RECENT MASSACRE AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY IN EBONYI STATE: A CALL FOR A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

The Igbo Patriots condemns in its entirety, these mindless killings that has claimed over 25 lives at the last count and with some people still declared missing.