Their countenance was business-like, an indication of the critical nature of what they had converged for.
Indeed, an issue has to be of utmost significance to attract such eminent Nigerians of Igbo origin.
Consider these names: Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President; Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd); Mr. Peter Obi; Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN; Prof A.B.C Nwosu; Chief Joe Irukwu, SAN;Senator Hope Uzodinma; Senator Sonni Ogbuju; Sen Ben Obi; Prof George Obiozor; Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey and Elder Uma Eleazu.
Others are Prof Osita Ogbu, Chief Guy Ikokwu, Chief C. C Ifeanyi, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Chief Charles Odunukwe, Eze C. I. Ilomuanya, Eze Gibson Nwosu, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluije, Chief E. A Ukpabi, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Chief C. C Ifeanyi, Chief Christopher Eze, Chief Charles Odunukwe and leaders of various market associations in Lagos, among others.
From Abuja, Enugu, Owerri, Umuahia, Awka, Abakiliki and other parts of the country, they met in Lagos to deliberate on issues affecting the South-East in the light of the ongoing street protests by youths in the geo-political zone.
The gathering was at the instance of Ekweremadu under the auspices of Concerned Igbo Elders, Traditional Rulers and Stakeholders.
Instructively, the convergence was the first of its kind since the commencement of the reverberating protests by youths demanding for the sovereign state of Biafra.
The forum was particularly distinguished by the fact that it was a melting point for every class of the Igbo race, as evidenced by the presence of serving and past government officials, traditional rulers, the clergy, academicians and traders, among others.
At the event, chaired by Ukiwe, speakers mirrored the protests within the context of the place of the Igbo in the present dispensation and submitted that the underlying issues are beyond the assumed reasons for the unrest.
Blending the realities on ground with historical instances, they were unanimous in the argument that the South-East has been deliberately relegated out of relevance in the country’s political configuration.
This situation, to them, contravenes all known principles and norms of federalism which the country practices.
With certitude, the speakers dismissed the widely held assumptions that the protests were provoked by the collapsed and inadequate infrastructure in the region.
Psychological and physical pains
The outrage, they said, is nothing but the outward expression of the psychological and physical pain arising from the current exclusion of the South-East from the governance of Nigeria.
From the uniformity of the contributions to the interaction, Ndigbo feel alienated by the distribution of political offices in a manner widely seen as unequal.
Of note, in their reckoning, are key ministerial, security and statutory positions, among others.
The communique, further elucidates the posture of Ndigbo.
It reads: “This meeting was convened at the instance of the Deputy Senate President, Sen Ike Ekweremadu. The meeting was of the view that Ndigbo are dissatisfied with their current position in Nigeria. The meeting noted that Nigeria is a negotiated Federation of three regions in 1960. And our forefathers played a major role in bringing it to be.
“In the First Republic, all constituent regions had their separate constitutions and had a say in the exercise of central power in Nigeria. Ditto in the Second Republic with federating units. In the Third Republic, even when the Alliance for Democracy (AD) dominated in the South-West, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP made deliberate efforts to bring in AD. That was statesmanship. That was nation building.
Nation builders
“It is not in doubt that Ndigbo are nation builders, found all over Nigeria, earning their living and helping to develop the communities in which they are domiciled. Ndigbo do not have an empire mentality and do not wish to dominate any other and would not want to be dominated either.
“Ndigbo would never accept to be second class citizens in a country in which their forefathers laboured along with others to bring into being and to develop. Ndigbo would never be tired of and protesting against injustice and inequity in Nigeria. For as Elie Diesel said ‘’There may be a time when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest against injustice.’’
Street protests by the youths
“Ndigbo have reviewed the ongoing street and public protests by the youths calling for Biafra and are of the considered opinion that these are outward expressions of the psychological and physical pain arising from the current exclusion of the South East geo-political zone from the governance of the country and this should be addressed and redressed.
“Consequently, Ndigbo strongly recommend that dialogue be embraced in order to remedy the situation. All public protests should be stopped. And more importantly the public protests should not be exported. Ndigbo are deeply saddened by the loss of lives arising from the protest. Enough Igbo blood have been spilled in Nigeria.
Immediate dialogue
“To facilitate the immediate initiation of dialogue to remedy the current intolerable Igbo situation in Nigeria, we reiterate the advise given to the Federal Government by Ohaneze Ndigbo to treat the continued detention of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu as a political matter rather than criminal issue. We understand that the courts ordered his release. We urge the Federal Government to abide by the rule of law.
“Ndigbo participated actively with other Nigerians at the 2014 National Conference. We see the report of that conference as a veritable document to anchor the proposed dialogue towards the restoration of Nigeria to true federalism which our founding fathers negotiated prior to independence in 1960.
“Ndigbo stand firmly on the implementation of the key recommendations of that conference. The meeting stands for, believes in and supports the unity of Nigeria founded on justice and equity.’’
However, moved by the impressive turnout and the ability to have a common voice on the development, Nwabueze called for the sustenance of such oneness on issues pertaining to the zone.
“The success of this gathering should not end here. We need to sustain it. First thing is to formalize this initiative. We must also have a group to talk with our governors not only on the Biafran issue, but others.’’
-Vanguard
