The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor on Thursday declared that Nigeria is in agony and pains due to current security challenges across the country cautioning the Federal Government against fighting against nationalism.
Addressing newsmen in Enugu on Thursday, Prof Obiozor
Also commended the South East Governors for the formation of Ebubeagu security outfit in the region.
He said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo wish to congratulate the Governors for this milestone and assure them of the support of Ndigbo anywhere and everywhere for their efforts towards the security of Alaigbo”.
He urged the Federal Government to reconsider the use of force in resolving the present national crises adding “again history shows that military and violent means to solve the National question is bound to fail as it leads to further national fractionalization, anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration as in all empires or multinational state or countries.
“It is time the government and people start the healing process, Nigeria is in agony and pains, it is time for national healing.
“We all are aware that we are padding through one of the worse times in virtually all aspects of our national life. General Murtala Ramat Mohammed over 4 decades ago succinctly captured the mood of our nation today in his message to the National Episcopal Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops held at Onitsha on September 9-14 1975. For too long we have paid lip service to the issue of remolding our society far too long.
“We have talked glibly in the past of the birth of a new nation while our nation continued to burn leaving big scars on our image as a people. It is another critical time to rethink, reflect and to act before the prophecy of the late Chinua Achebe’s book “Nigeria there was a country” becomes a self fulfilling prophecy of a national reality and a national tragedy foretold.
“Sub national consciousness or ethnocentric nationalism which is dangerous form of nationalism to national unity and empires has taken over Nigeria, the dream of Nigeria unity is receding and fading fast with violence, crises and conflicts,” he said .
Obiozor who attributed the cause of the violence and crises in Nigeria to ethnic militias, agitation for secession, self determination, insurgency, adding that “these are historical protracted and unwinnable wars by nations and empires and there will be no exception. And among every other issue In contest in Nigeria today, this situation has produced the state of insecurity throughout the country. Today Nigerians have no place to hide and also since there is nothing new in history, history has solution for these national problems”.
He also commended governors of the South East for their emphasis on ban on open grazing across Igbo land saying “Once more, I state that there is no man’s land in Igbo land. Land is a very sensitive issue in Igbo land because land has owners including some Igbo deities. Those encroaching on land in Alaigbo are provoking our people and our Deities,” he warned.
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