The quest for the restoration of the Biafra republic has become almost a singsong for young people of Igbo extraction. Although it has created pains, claimed lives and property, and continues to impact negatively on the economy of the region, its proponents insist on the feasibility of the project.
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu settles down to work, alongside the newly inaugurated and other governors in the South East geo-political zone, all eyes are on them to see how they would join forces to end the restiveness in the region that has ensured that offices, businesses and schools are closed every Monday, amid killings and destructions, to the detriment of residents, writes LAWRENCE NJOKU, Southeast Bureau...
Since the declaration of republic of Biafra by the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu that led to the civil war fought between 1967and 1970, struggle for the restoration of Biafra has continued to feature in various discussions in the Southeast.
The group had stated that the ESN was borne out of the refusal of the governors in the region to create a local security outfit that could check infiltrations, attacks and killings by marauding herdsmen. Leaders of the region, who felt that the order might choke the economy and the wellbeing of the people, had appealed for its review. Indeed, those who issued the directive promptly reviewed it, asking the people to continue with their normal businesses on Mondays but insisted that they must observe a sit-at-home any day Kanu would appear in court as a mark of solidarity.
As it is, there are weeks that schools, markets, banks and offices open for just twice or three times in the zone against what is obtainable in other parts of the country. The way the situation is, it may not be out of place to declare the zone as one with parallel governments and hapless residents appear to have accepted the situation as part of their sacrifice for the restoration of Biafra republic.
So, while businesses and other activities boom on Mondays in other parts of the country, in the Southeast, the day provides a platform for residents to hold meetings, play football and drink away the rest of the day. Modebelu stated that the value of Monday was far higher than any other day of the week in the zone, stressing that the new government should address the anomaly. He also lamented that businesses situated in the region were relocating to neighbouring states like Rivers, Cross River and Delta states due to the restiveness.
“What I think the new government should do is to dialogue with the agitating youths. There is a need to engage them in productive ventures so that they can leave the streets. Alex Otti is a man of the trenches; he can rally round other governors to pull ideas on how to solve the problem. He lives in Aba and should understand the issues better than any other governor in the region. I was at the national conference and there we agreed on several issues that will help the country.
“Biafra is the answer to the numerous subjective slavery Nigeria subjected Ndigbo into, ranging from political, economical, academic, religious, cultural and social slavery. For the National President of the Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders , Goodluck Ibem, people don’t just start agitating, stressing that “something must have touched the pot before it fell from its position.”
“Presently, the President is from the South West and the Vice President is from the North. The next in line to take the position of the Senate President is the South East, which the youths of Southeast have presented Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as their consensus candidate for the position. ” “If a child is treated fairly the same way with her siblings, there will be peace and harmony in the family. The peace of the nation is in the hands of the federal and state governments. Let them do the right things.”
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