Why agitation for Biafra may not abate, by Ikedife

Coming from an elder statesman, hope for an end to the agitation for Biafra Republic may well remain illusory for a long time to come.

Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, has sensationally revealed why Biafra cannot be wished away.

Ikedife spoke in Nnewi on Friday, arguing that Biafra can never die or be forgotten by people of the South East because it has become their identity.

Ikedife, convener of South East Elders Forum, noted that Biafra is very important to some people from the South East. He said nobody wants to forget their identity.

Noting that no true “Oduduwa or Arewa would accept to forget their identities,” Ikedife said anybody who tells a group of people to forget their identity would be giving a wrong piece of advice “probably based on wrong perception or wrong understanding of what the agitation is all about.”

The former Ohanaeze chieftain also noted that he had always advocated that the issue of actualizing self-determination for the Igbo would be accomplished through dialogue, diplomacy, non-violence, legal means and operating within the law.

He said: “These are people who met in the South Eastern part of West Africa in an area now called Nigeria when the Portuguese explorers of the 15th century came calling during their exploration of West Africa.

“Note that in any situation, anybody sitting comfortably would like the status quo to be maintained. On the other hand, anybody not sitting comfortably would call for adjustment. This is basic.

“They call for restructuring. We have to define what we are restructuring, to what extent will it go. Will it be far enough to remove all these traces of discomfort in the system or will it just be a perfunctory alleviation of the discomfort?

“We must understand that. And until the inequality, marginalization, uneven distribution of patronages, infrastructural development, unemployment, economic empowerment, accommodation or systematic exclusion are addressed, the agitation up and down in this country will certainly not abate.”