Elder statesman, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, has described as enablers of double standards and injustice, those rejoicing over the supposed recent arrest and incarceration of leader of Biafran Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE), Simon Ekpa, in Finland.
He expressed dismay one year after what he described as the narrow-minded regime of Muhammadu Buhari ended, the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu is still playing games with the state of insecurity in South East.
He said the insecurity in the region is fuelled by a combination of factors.
While noting that outright criminality from all sides, and official neglect aided by lack of seriousness are at the root of the hopelessness and despair in Igbo land, Obidigbo lamented that the Federal Government ignored the most potent cause of social unrest in the region to chase shadows.
He decried the celebration of reported ‘neutralisation’ of several youths, both civilians and security officers across the land, the supposed leaders of the nation’s collective tomorrow, saying that such announcements give the impression of great achievement, rather than remorse for the destruction of our youths.
In a statement made available to media on Tuesday, the elder statesman said that “the fact remains that our youths are neutralised in various parts of the country irrespective of their ethnic nationality or religious persuasion.
“Why is it that 54 years after the end of the civil war, the Federal Government still behaves as if injustice and unfair treatment is the best way to remind Igbo that they lost the war, despite the proclamation of no victor no vanguished?
“The echoes of Biafra from young people, most of whom were not even born during the war, is their own way of challenging the unfair deal against the Igbo.
“Nigeria says it is practicing democracy but flagrantly undermines the rule of law, which is the bedrock of genuine democracy just so that Igbo should not be allowed to exercise freedom of choice or enjoy fundamental rights.
“At every point in Nigeria’s march to the future, decisions are taken in such a way to suggest that strenuous efforts are being made to shroud the truth through official secrecy built around the marginalization of the Igbo. And, truth be told, the 2023 general elections showed truly that Igbo are real targets of bigotry and internal xenophobia.
“Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped by agents of government. Kidnapping is a crime and no responsible government should be seen to be committing crime against her own citizens, especially where there are legal means of bringing offenders to book. Many Igbo believe that Biafra is spiritual.
“Therefore, if one leader goes down, there is the possibility that many others would still spring up.”
Obidigbo noted that just within minutes after it became imperative that Ekpa would be out of circulation, Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, a woman, mounted the saddle, stressing that “this is a pointer to the failure of Igbo political leadership, which like their counterparts from other ethnicities are very selfish and far removed from the people.”
Lamenting the double standard being applied to what concerns the Igbo, Obidigbo declared: “It could be argued that this leadership failure explains the fact that several persons from other ethnic groups have joined in advocating for the separation of Nigeria, since the Amalgamation instrument expired in 2014, without any reasonable attempt to review it holistically by all ethnic nationalities.
“But, the painful part is that even those other people that addressed the press to announce their desire for secession are walking the streets freely with nobody interrogating or threatening them with arrest. So, why is Kanu’s case different, if not because he is Igbo of Southeast.”
Insecurity in South-East: Celebrating Ekpa’s arrest diversionary – Obidigbo
