Ohaneze urges Tinubu to restructure Nigeria

The apex igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has reiterated its support for restructuring of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu.

The Secretary-General of the group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, made this known through in a statement signed and issued to newsmen on Thursday.

Ohanaeze also distanced itself from the calls for the restoration of biafra.

The organisation which attributed the recent surge in biafra sentiment among the igbo community to proliferation of ethnic, tribal and religious divisions by the past federal government, berated
former President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to effectively address the atrocities committed by violent fulani herdsmen in southern Nigeria.

The statement reads in part: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo holds former President Buhari responsible for amplifying Nnamdi Kanu’s influence. Had Buhari effectively addressed the atrocities committed by violent fulani herdsmen in the south, Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu would not have been propelled to champion the cause of vulnerable southern farmers. Ohanaeze Ndigbo attributes Buhari to the actions of Nnamdi Kanu,”It stated.

They lauded the efforts of some leaders of the igbo ethnic-nationality to secure the IPOB leader’s freedom, Ohanaeze announced plan for a peace meeting involving key stakeholders such as Oba of Lagos, Niger Delta activist, Asari Dokubo, and Sultan of Sokoto, aims at advocating for forgiveness and cooperation towards securing Kanu’s release.

“Additionally, it pledges to ensure Kanu refrain from broadcasting divisive content against Nigeria’s unity and instead clamors for a restructured Nigeria, following his willingness to engage in negotiations with the federal government”.

Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has cautioned against the manipulation of its leadership positions by individuals seeking to extend their tenure through blackmail tactics and falsely brandish its elected representatives as biafra agitators to obstruct the constitutional rights of Rivers State.

According to the organisation, “no member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is affiliated with separatist groups” and emphasizes a continuous call for Biafra agitators to renounce violence and pursue non-violent avenues for self-determination, allowing security agencies to address criminal elements exploiting the Biafra cause.