In the current political structure of nigeria, Turning Point Nigeria-USA has appealed to Ohaneze leadership on the survival Of Ndigbo In the political structures and socioe-conomic crisis facing the country should not affect the unity of the Igbo as a whole.
While speaking with the press in the Commonwealth State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, USA on Sunday 25th February, 2024, the president of Turning Point Nigeria-USA, Sir Oswald Okebata said that Ndigbo have identity and a value system that must be protected and not be forgotten and compromised with, by those who restively delight in using saboteurs in our midst to divide us for their own selfish political interests.
How can Ohaneze metamorphose into a respectable socio-political, umbrella organization of the Igbos, is for the current leadership to ponder about and aspire harder to achieve in order to win the hearts of Igbo people worldwide.
From the contemporary hopeless economic climate in the country, there’s no way Ohaneze can persuade or dissuade Ndigbo from showing their grouse, anger, frustration, disappointment, displeasure and disdain over the woeful performance of the Tinubu’s Government, in addressing the lot of Nigerians, he said.
According to sir Okebata, how can Such a political ploy of writing to Ndigbo against showing their distrust and loss of confidence in the present government under Tinubu, is misleading, notably , morally wrong.
Other ethnic organizations from the North and West, did not attempt to stop their people from protesting and reacting to their painful ordeals under Tinubu .
The earlier Ohaneze shuns pettiness, eye-service, pretenses, that would never change the xenophobic tendencies of Northern and Western politicians in government against Ndigbo, the better for its structural integrity and relevance, making sense to Ndigbo, he maintained.
How often has Ohaneze held Town hall meetings in consultation of Ndigbo on their collective interests and proper place in Nigeria, knowing that any power sharing arrangement or formula in Nigeria without Ndigbo, is bound to generate friction, disunity, ethnic tensions and conflict in Nigeria, otherwise a better political alternative, resolution of the Federal Question through acceptable Restructuring, becomes the inevitable alternative. Turning Point Nigeria-USA president, he queried.
Ohaneze should not behave in a way that relegates the Igbos to the background and a receiving end as second class citizens, expected to play a second fiddle in Nigeria’s present and the future, in the light of political leadership rotation among all the major ethnic groups and geopolitical zones in the country.
Ohaneze should not be seen to be existing for itself without showing appropriate leadership in promoting the common course of Ndigbo and providing the rallying point, ground and voice of the Igbo nation.
The leadership should not be a sell out as had been the case in the past since its inception, and should strive to achieve respect and support from Ndigbo, when it’s seen standing up, condemning and daring the government , when it’s absolutely necessary, especially when it performs poorly in the delivery of the dividends of democracy, as seen under the current circumstances, rather than eulogizing a government that has done nothing positive for the wellbeing of the people.
The task before the present Ohaneze leadership, in rewriting the history of Igbo hatred in Nigeria and giving our people the sense of belonging and a bargaining voice in Nigeria, is onerous and challenging.
The young generation of the Igbos , want immediate change of attitude to the plight of Ndigbo in the leadership of Nigeria .
The people are not ready to condone the electoral injustices and abuses inflicted on Ndigbo during the 2023 Elections and would not like those political atrocities repeat themselves by our ethnic partners in the union .
It’s a grave insult to our people, for any opposing politician in Northern Nigeria or elsewhere to say that his region will go to war, if a Nigeria’s Presidency of Igbo extraction emerges in Nigeria.
Such provocative comments could lead to war , cause or infuriate the Igbos to the brink of another ethnic conflict, which’s not impossible. Only injustices lead to avoidable war consequences.
These are part of the challenges facing Ohaneze today, to break the jinx inhibiting Igbo integration into the political mainstream of Nigeria, or Nigeria ceases to be one country, when the Igbos resume their political agitation for Biafra Freedom as an alternative to the political stonewalling of Northern-Western Political Alliance against Ndigbo.
The task of organizing Ndigbo into a formidable Sociopolitical Organization , with stronger bargaining power in Nigeria, stands as a herculean task and goal for the Ohaneze Leadership , before Ndigbo would take Ohaneze serious.
Mindful of Ohaneze’s limitations and weaknesses, the leadership, should endeavor to be the first to defend Ndigbo, who’re made sacrificial lambs in Lagos , Northern and Western Nigeria , Rivers and other places in the country, where their commercial interests and businesses had been denied or destroyed for no justification.
It should be seen to be more transparent in all dealings with the Federal Authorities without playing unprofitable games .
The Igbo Question should be discussed , debated and resolved.
Under the political and economic conditions in Nigeria, Ohaneze cannot afford to disappoint Ndigbo in any power sharing formula with other ethnic groups and strive to protect Igbo interests in the scheme of things. against other ethnic opposition from our ethnic counterparts, he said
