The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard the minority of Igbos crying foul over appointments.
Ohanaeze asserted that an overwhelming 99 per cent of the Igbo population fully supports the Southeast Charter of Demands and demands immediate attention from President Tinubu.
The Southeast Charter of Demands, which Ohanaeze Ndigbo has championed since June 2023, encompasses crucial issues that requires urgent resolution for the betterment of the Igbo people.
In a statement he signed, factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, called on Tinubu to heed the voice of the overwhelming majority of Igbos and immediately address the Southeast Charter of Demands.
Isiguzoro said failure to do so will only deepen the discontent and exacerbate the grievances of the Igbo population.
He listed the demands to include:
“Creation of Aba State:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has long advocated for the creation of an additional state in the Southeast. The choice of Aba State has been carefully considered and is supported by the majority of the Igbo population.
Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo insists on President Tinubu’s intervention for the prompt release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, before December. This act of clemency is essential to restore peace and harmony in the volatile Southeast, allowing our people to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays without fear.
Massive Developmental Projects:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands the implementation of transformative projects, such as the construction of a Deep Sea Port in Azumiri Blue River in Ukwa East LGA, Abia State, and the establishment of standard gauge railway lines connecting strategic locations within the Southeast. These initiatives will foster economic growth and alleviate the hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
Reconstruction of Federal Roads with Cement Technology:
The dilapidated state of federal roads in the Southeast is an urgent concern. Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls for the reconstruction of these roads using modern cement technology, ensuring durability and improved connectivity for our people.
Inclusion of Anambra, Enugu, Kogi States in Oil Derivation Allocations:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasizes the immediate inclusion of Anambra, Enugu, and Kogi states, recognized by the Buhari administration as oil-producing states from the Old Anambra River basin, to benefit from the 13% oil derivation monthly allocations. This inclusion is a matter of justice and fair distribution of resources.
President Tinubu must recognize that the individuals advocating for more appointments in the Federal Executive Council are employing an old elitist strategy to defraud the Igbo people, which has been ongoing since 1999. Ohanaeze Ndigbo vehemently opposes this exploitative approach and stands against those who seek to undermine the interests of the Igbo nation.