The Apex Igbo socio-cultural Organization in the South East, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has released a statement yesterday refusing to participate in the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1st to 10th 2024.
The Factional Secretary-general of the organisation, Okechukwu lsiguzoro, has declared that the people of South-East zone will not join in the proposed nationwide protests over the economic hardship facing Nigerians. He mentioned this in Abakaliki on Tuesday.
He said that the Igbo people will not be used again as they were used in the past, as the people of the south-east became sacrificial lambs in previous riots.
The statement reads, “As Nigerians prepare for nationwide protests against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to express their frustrations over the harsh economic conditions and rising prices of essential commodities and petroleum products, OHANAEZE NDIGBO, the apex igbo socio-cultural organisation, has taken a firm stance on the upcoming protests scheduled from August 1st-10th, 2024.
“Drawing from the painful history of past riots and protests in Nigeria, such as the 17th April 1978 ALI MUST GO Protests, the 24th May 1989 ANTI-SAP RIOTS, the 1993 June 12 protests, the 2nd-14th January 2012 OCCUPY NIGERIA protests, and the 20th October 2020 END SARS protests, which resulted in immense losses of Igbo lives and properties, OHANAEZE NDIGBO highlights the fact that Igbos have often been used as sacrificial lambs in the course of these protests.”
The statements also mentioned the security challenges being faced in the south-east has made the region tender to any form of clash or commotion. However, the incarcerated Nnamdi Kanu should be released to demonstrate good faith to the people of the south east.
“In the interest of protecting the lives and properties of Igbos across the country, OHANAEZE NDIGBO has made the decision to direct Igbos at home and in diaspora to refrain from participating in the Nationwide Protests scheduled for August 1st-10th, 2024, for the following reasons.
“Firstly, the security challenges in the Southeast region make it imprudent to allow any form of protest or riot to occur. Any attempt to enforce protests in the Southeast will only exacerbate the already precarious security situation in the region.
“Extremists and criminals may take advantage of such protests to instigate violence, loot properties, and cause chaos. Therefore, it is not advisable for any protests to take place in the Southeast.
“Secondly, with the fear of Igbos being used as sacrificial lambs in the upcoming protests nationwide, OHANAEZE NDIGBO advises Igbo residents in the 19 Northern States and Southwest to boycott the protests for their own safety and security. Staying away from the protests is crucial to safeguarding their well-being.
“Lastly, OHANAEZE NDIGBO emphasises that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is of utmost importance to the Southeast region. The organisation believes that engaging in protests against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not bring about the desired outcome, but rather, the release of Nnamdi Kanu will demonstrate good faith on the part of the President towards the Igbo people.”
Not surprising that the Igbo faction have declared their abstention in the planned nationwide protest over the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During the past election, the group had complained of being excluded by the government and other ethnic groups. Some netizens had even promised not to participate in any protests and advised other Igbos not to do so, for they would be at the receiving end if the protest gets compromised.
Protests in the past have been marked with vandalism, looting, burning of properties and even loss of lives. While allowing citizens to express their fundamental human rights of freedom of protest and speech, the government needs to address the complaints of the masses.
