Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has urged President Bola Tinubu to officially end the war against Igbos, ahead of the 54th Biafra war anniversary.
Ohanaeze also appealed to Tinubu to implement the reconstruction, reconciliation, and rehabilitation and the opening up of the Eastern corridor for economic development and the liberation of the old Eastern region.
A statement signed on Tuesday by Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro said Ndigbo has endured persecution and economic strangulation due to the historical neglect of the old Eastern region by past federal governments.
He said while other zones have benefitted from the centre, the Southeast has been systematically excluded and deprived of its rightful share.
According to Isiguzoro: “Major infrastructures destroyed during the 3 and 6 months of the Biafra war have not been adequately reconstructed by previous military and civilian governments over the past 54 years.
“Genuine reconciliation from the Federal government towards Ndigbo has been lacking, replaced by the deliberate exclusion of the Southeast from certain privileges and the denial of access to viable seaports in the old Eastern region, such as the permanent closure of the Calabar seaport.”
He also reminded Tinubu that the Federal Government has failed to pay the reparation fees demanded by Igbo leaders during the administrations of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and late Musa Yar’Adua.
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“Additionally, the reparation fees demanded by Igbo leaders during the Obasanjo and Yar’adua regimes have not been paid, and the implementation of the 2014 Constitutional conference and the restructuring proposals put forth by the APC committee led by former Governor El-Rufai have been disregarded,” he said.
Isiguzoro also informed the president that he was yet to grant pardon to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and other agitators.
He added: “Furthermore, the granting of pardons to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra agitators who are genuinely fighting against previous governments’ untold persecution is yet to be realized.
“Another aspect that demands urgent attention is the rehabilitation of the old Eastern region through increased federal presence. The lack of federal infrastructural development in the Southeast is deeply concerning.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo implores President Tinubu to utilize his esteemed office to initiate the end of the war by prioritizing reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation in the Southeast.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains hopeful that President Tinubu, as a leader known for his commitment to justice and fairness, will champion the cause to end the war and bring about lasting peace, reconciliation, and development in the Southeast.”
