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New Page 6
2007: Group leader makes case
for Igbo presidency
KASIE OKONKWO
PRESIDENT of
Congress for Igbo Agenda, Rev. Innocent Chukwudi Peace, has said that the only
way to assure the Igbo that they are part of Nigeria is by allowing them occupy
the presidency in 2007.
He stated this in Lagos while addressing
Press conference on the state of the nation at Anambra State Liaison office,
Victoria Island, Tuesday evening.
Rev. Peace said the position of the
congress on the issue of Igbo presidency which he said is not negotiable", is
based on "justice, equity and fair play".
Igbo, he said, have shown through their
action or inaction that they are tired of playing second fiddle and not ready to
accept the status quo.
He described the recent sit-at-home order
by the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) as a success, a lack
of interest in the ongoing privatisation programme and a demonstration of Igbo’s
lack of interest and faith in the government of the day.
"MASSOB’s sit-at home order" for one thing
shows that Ndigbo, the sleeping giant, is waking up. And we are advising
those who cannot see or read the handwriting on the wall to start doing so. "
For it is a clear case of saying "you can fool some people sometime but you
can’t fool all the people all the time.
"It shows that their divide and rule
tactics is no longer working, it shows that Ndigbo can come together and
speak with one voice and the Igbo in Nigeria are ready to say no to
marginalisation, oppression, intimidation and suppression. In all of these,
Ndigbo are rejecting the toga of second class citizenship and inferiority
complex", he stated.
On those who refer to the MASSOB order as
treason, he said it was the height of insensitivity to call a "peaceful and
quiet protest of over 40 million people who have been stripped over the years of
their pride and dignity through consistent destabilizing government policies,
injustices and total neglect, a treason".
Rev. Peace called on government to
urgently address all the injustices as they affect Ndigbo and other
ethnic nationalities in Nigeria by convoking a Sovereign National Conference (SNC)
before the country becomes a theatre of war.
Speaking on the ritual murder of Cosmas
Iwuji at Oregun, Lagos recently, the congress commended the efforts of the state
government so far in arresting some suspects.
He called on the government to ensure that
those involved in the dastardly act are made to face the full weight of the law
to discourage others from such "heinous, evil and outdated practices such as
witnessed in Oregun."
On the Labour Bill, the Congress while
commending Senator Uche Chukwumerije for apposing the controversial amendment,
condemned its passage saying it smacks of dictatorship.
The congress announced its seminar which
has "Ndigbo in Nigeria the next level", as its theme slated for October
16, at Old Senate Building Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos.
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