Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The younger brother of the late Biafran Supreme Leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dr Lotanna Ojukwu, has said that most of the Igbo people do not want an independent Biafra contrary to perceptions in some quarters.
Lotanna who stated this while featuring on Arise Television programme, the Morning Show, on Friday, said that what mattered to most Igbo was to be treated fairly and equitably like other ethnic nationalities in a united Nigeria so they could carry on with their enterprises without molestations or discrimination.
He argued that Ndigbo are rather interested in a united Nigeria, hence their presence in virtually every community in the country, but regretted that their peaceful disposition is always reciprocated with hostility.
“Most Igbos do not believe in Biafra: What they want is an equal playing field in Nigeria,” he declared.
Continuing he said: “The Igbo man does not feel he gets satisfied and gets his fair share in Nigeria. So, they see Nigeria as not being good for the Igbo man.
“If we like to stay alone so much, why would so many Igbo be in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and all over the country plying their trade? We like to travel and be free to engage in our businesses all over Africa.”
He said Biafra Republic declared by his elder brother was accidental. According to him, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, had no other choice than to declare the Republic of Biafra in 1966, when the leaders, and the entire people of the South-East prevailed on him to do so after over 86,000 Easterners were killed in the pogrom that took place in the North.
He said Biafra was as a result of the Nigerian state trying to push Igbos out of Nigeria. Although Igbos still feel marginalised, but the war has ended.
On the festering insecurity in the South-East, Ojukwu’s younger brother said it is shameful to see people even going to schools to flog and threaten pupils and teachers.
“What is happening in the South-East now in terms of security is shameful to every Igbo man,” he said.
He, however, blamed the situation on the continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, against court orders. He said releasing Nnamdi Kanu is a low hanging fruit to for President Tinubu to solve the problem.
He posited that those behind Kanu’s continued incarceration should be held responsible for the growing tension and disturbances in the South-East.
He, however, noted that if South-East Governors were genuinely committed to securing Kanu’s release, the Federal Government would have since freed him.
“If the South-East Governors are sincere in wanting to lead the efforts to release Kanu, they are enough to be able to achieve the results that we need.
“The most important fact is that the courts have said Kanu should be released,” he said, wondering why the Igbo elite are not following up on that.
Ojukwu said he never expected former President Muhammadu Buhari to comply with the court judgments ordering Kanu’s unconditional release, but expressed optimism that should the South-East Governors engage the incumbent President Amed Bola Tinubu, the IPOB Leader would be freed.
“We know Buhari did not have much favour towards Igbo: he called us dot in a hole. I really never believed Buhari was going to release Kanu.
“But Tinubu is a difference person: he does not carry the same baggage as Buhari appears to carry regarding the Igbo people.
“And I would like to see the Igbo and the Youruba have a better understanding and love for each other’s ethic group. And this singular act will go a very long way for the Igbo to appreciate that Tinubu is somebody they can trust to look at their sentiment of marginalisation in a different light to the last administration.”
Asked others things he would want the Tinubu Presidency do for the Igbo nation, the younger Ojukwu said he would want Tinubu to give the South-East additional state to bring the zone at par with other geopolitical zones.
Ikengaonline recalls that during the 2014 confab organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan, it was a consensus of the delegates that a parity state be created for the South-East which has only five states while others have six and North West seven.
“I will go back as far as state creation. The number of states that have been created. I don’t think that the Igbo have the number of states that their population demands.
“When I say state creation, every thing in Nigeria particularly the legislature, revenue, and so many other things are based on the number of states you have.
“So it’s a great inequity for them to feel shortchanged in the number of states or governments that they have speaking on their behalf. That also goes hand in hand with the number of local governments, and administrative units as a whole. These are the main issues.”
Ojukwu further expressed worry over the ethnic profiling and unprovoked attacks against Igbo in Lagos and other parts of the country during the 2023 general election.
He urged President Tinubu to take action against the masterminds of those barbaric attacks, and to re-assure Ndigbo of their safety in Nigeria.
“During the elections, we saw people threatening how they would take over Igbo property. I would like to see the Government of President Tinubu to come out and say that certain acts by Oluomo, and certain pronouncements by the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly are unpatriotic – that they go against the laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
“Even if they are members of his party, but having for now been sworn in as the President of Nigeria, he must say no to any act that is illegal.”
Ojukwu who expressed his willingness to be part of any discussions towards releasing Kanu, also urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo to intensify efforts towards it so that peace and security could be restored to the South-East.
