Ndigbo across the world yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the inclusion of the marginalisation of Ndigbo as one of the major issues for discussion in the proposed national conference to avoid its failure.
Vice-Chairman of World Igbo Congress, WIC, Dr. Kenneth Igwe, made
this known in Abakaliki while addressing journalists shortly after in a
workshop that was attended by all Igbo speaking states and Ndigbo in
Diaspora.
He said the time has come for Nigeria to give Ndigbo their rights.
According to him; “If you look at the number of Presidents that had governed Nigeria, you see that Ndigbo is been marginalised. The only time Igbo produced the President was when we had Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, who was not even an executive president.
He became President because at that time we had a parliamentary system of government and he was more or less a titular head, in other word a head that has no power.
“Now, if you look at all the Presidents that had governed Nigeria, they have executive powers. You cannot ascribe one to Ndigbo, which means that with all the contributions the Igbo made to this country were not deemed fit to lead the country.
“When we were given certain appointments, people tend to look at it as a privilege being extended to Ndigbo when we all have equal stakeholders in the country that we called Nigeria. I think these things need to be looked into so that there can be equal opportunity for the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“Why is it that when an Igbo person ascends to a position, that person will be looked upon with a microscope? Yet when people from other parts of the country do certain things it is swept under the carpet.
“These things need to be changed if we say we need a united Nigeria. Not only should we leave it or just say it. But it needs to be reflected in our actions.
Dr. Igwe, however said there should be equal participation of Ndigbo in the proposed national conference; “The position of World Igbo Congress is that we will have equal participation in the national conference,” he said.
He said the time has come for Nigeria to give Ndigbo their rights.
According to him; “If you look at the number of Presidents that had governed Nigeria, you see that Ndigbo is been marginalised. The only time Igbo produced the President was when we had Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, who was not even an executive president.
He became President because at that time we had a parliamentary system of government and he was more or less a titular head, in other word a head that has no power.
“Now, if you look at all the Presidents that had governed Nigeria, they have executive powers. You cannot ascribe one to Ndigbo, which means that with all the contributions the Igbo made to this country were not deemed fit to lead the country.
“When we were given certain appointments, people tend to look at it as a privilege being extended to Ndigbo when we all have equal stakeholders in the country that we called Nigeria. I think these things need to be looked into so that there can be equal opportunity for the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“Why is it that when an Igbo person ascends to a position, that person will be looked upon with a microscope? Yet when people from other parts of the country do certain things it is swept under the carpet.
“These things need to be changed if we say we need a united Nigeria. Not only should we leave it or just say it. But it needs to be reflected in our actions.
Dr. Igwe, however said there should be equal participation of Ndigbo in the proposed national conference; “The position of World Igbo Congress is that we will have equal participation in the national conference,” he said.
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