Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo sociocultural organization, has called on President Bola Tinubu to officially put an end to the perceived marginalization of the Igbo people, especially as the 54th anniversary of the Biafra war approaches.
Isiguzoro urged Tinubu to prioritize the reconstruction, reconciliation, and rehabilitation of the Southeast region and to facilitate its economic development.
In a statement he released, Isiguzoro highlighted the historical neglect suffered by the old Eastern region, leading to the persecution and economic hardships faced by the Igbo people.
He emphasized that while other regions have benefited from federal resources, the Southeast has been systematically excluded and denied its fair share.
Isiguzoro pointed out that infrastructures destroyed during the Biafra war have not been adequately reconstructed over the past 54 years by successive governments.
He also criticized the lack of genuine reconciliation efforts from the federal government towards the Igbo people, citing the exclusion of the Southeast from certain privileges and the closure of viable seaports in the region.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftain reminded President Tinubu of the unmet demands for reparation fees by Igbo leaders during the administrations of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He noted that the implementation of the 2014 Constitutional conference and restructuring proposals presented by the APC committee led by former Governor El-Rufai has been disregarded.
Isiguzoro also highlighted the absence of pardons granted to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and other agitators, despite their efforts against past government persecutions.
He stressed the urgent need for increased federal presence and infrastructural development in the Southeast.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo appealed to President Tinubu to use his influence to initiate the end of perceived marginalization against the Igbo people by prioritizing reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation in the Southeast.
They expressed hope that Tinubu, known for his commitment to justice and fairness, would champion the cause for lasting peace, reconciliation, and development in the region.
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