Ohanaeze Backs Declaration Of Biafra Day As Public Holiday

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Friday, declared its support for the declaration of May 30th as a public holiday in remembrance of the Biafra Day.

This is in support of the Southeast Governors’ Forum that earlier made mention of the day as public holiday to commemorate fallen heroes of Biafra and victims of the 1966 genocide.

The president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb George Obiozor, stated this during a press briefing in Enugu.

He also warned Igbo youths against using violence in pursuit of the equity and justice for the Southeast. He said such would not yield any positive results as dialogue remained the best options in solving problems.

He described Nigerian unity as sacrosanct, although maintained that ‘Ndigbo will not be victims of Nigerian unity’.

Quoting him, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo wants to make it categorically clear that Ndigbo will not support break-up of Nigeria but Ndigbo will not be victims of Nigerian unity.

“In this context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide considers as unfortunate the implications of the president’s [tweet] statement.

“I also want to appeal to all Igbo youths involved in violence and strongly advice them that there is nothing to celebrate in violence.

“We cannot change our lots and situations by steering and provoking hatred amongst ourselves, raining insults and abuses on ourselves and declaring war against those who disagree with your own ideas and approach to resolving our common problems.

“What good does it do to us in the destruction of government institutions and facilities, most of which were built by our own people and donated to the government for our own benefit and the general good of the Society.

“I appeal to Igbo youths to kindly avoid violence in spite of all provocations. We know how aggrieved we all are, but peace options are the best.

“Ohanaeze once more urges the federal government to reconsider the use of
force in resolving the present national crises.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide considers it imperative on the part of the Federal
Government to conduct urgent indepth investigations on the destruction of lives and property in the Southeast.

“May I repeat that history shows that military and violent means to solve the national problem leads to national fractionalization, anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration.”