By Chukwuemeka Chimerue, || The Biafra Times Editor Reporting From Enugu
January 11, 2018
ENUGU— A sudden outburst by some aggrieved women dressed on traditional attire greeted the speech of the President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Chief Nnia Nwodo at the event held today in Enugu, as he mounted the podium to canvas for the restructuring of the Nigerian State.
The event which was tagged, “Handshake Across The Niger: A Celebration Of Igbo/Yoruba Friendship Beyond Brotherhood,” was an alliance of the initiative of an Igbo group, Nzuko Umunna, under the auspicies of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Yoruba's Afenifere group and the Middle-Belt section of the country represented by former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang.
However, what seems as an altercation erupted in the hitherto peaceful environment when some irate women shouted down on the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, who urged Nigerians to embrace restructuring as a means of fostering unity in the country.
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According to Nwodo, “The Igbo/Yoruba alliance which has catalyzed the Southern Leadership Forum and the Middle-Belt Union is a bold statement that unity is possible in Nigeria. We shall soon extend our hands of comradeship to our far Northern brothers.
“Our irrevocable stand that Nigeria must be restructured is non-negotiable. To abandon restructuring is to self-destruct Nigeria. Every credible analysis shows that unless we devolve powers to states and allow them control their natural resources and basic utilities of powers, environment, education and infastructural development, Nigeria will collapse.
“Anyone opposed to restructuring is a proponent of the liquidation of Nigeria. Already the signs are becoming obvious as over 70% of states can hardly meet their recurrent expenditures...”
However, the Igbo women who vehemently rejected this stance, said that rather than demand explanation on the recent heinous killings of innocent lives from the Southeast and Benue State whom they described as Biafrans, the Ohanaeze President went on canvassing for restructuring on top of their graves.
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They further expressed anger over the recent spate of killings of innocent Easterners by Nigerian Armed Forces under the smokescreen of one military operation to another.
Speaking to our Correspondent at the event, the leader of the women stated that, “we are appalled that Nnia Nwodo would choose to dance on top of the graves of those massacred by Fulani herdsmen and Nigerian security agencies.
“We are not part of any call for restructuring of the Nigeria until they come down and listen to the grievances of Eastern youths and genuinely find a last solution to their plights. Also, he failed to mention anything relating to the whereabouts of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who went missing since the invasion of armed military men at his residence”
However, as the uproar soared higher, it took the intervention of some security agencies and Chairman of Capital Oil, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah who appealed to the women to maintain calm, assuring them of a chance to express their views properly.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Southeast and South-West governors, Senators, Former Ministers, and Igbo/Yoruba/Middle-Belt monarchs and other dignitaries graced the event.
The Biafra Times
Publisher: Chijindu Benjamin Ukah
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