Ohanaeze Chief Threatens Igbo Will Secede If Marginalised

The Chairman of state Presidents of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, a socio-cultural organization, in seven
Igbo speaking state, Dr. Chris Eluemunoh, on
Tuesday warned against any attempt to “further
marginalise” the Igbo in Nigeria.
Eluemunoh, who spoke with newsmen in Awka,
the Anambra State capital, said such attempt
would be greeted with a strong move for self-
determination by the Igbo.
For him, Ndigbo had such concluded on such
option, waiting for the “opportune time” to use
the joker.
He said already, the United Nations had invited
some Igbo elders, to hear them out about their
demand for a sovereign state for the Igbo in June.
He said former National President of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, would be leading the
Igbo delegation to the United Nations in June.
Eluomunoh, who was speaking against the
backdrop of speculation that the incoming
government of President-elect, Muhammadu
Buhari, might marginalise the Igbo because the
people of the South-East voted against him in the
just concluded general elections.
He said some time last year, the African Union
had also granted an Igbo delegation a similar
audience in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Ohanaeze boss said the best path the Buhari
administration would toe would be to discuss
with Igbo leaders on how to chart a viable course
for the country.
Eluomunoh added, “Buhari must give us one
additional state to put us at par with our other
brothers. He must also implement the report of
the National Conference. If he turns his back to
that report, he is turning his back to the unity of
Nigeria. If he kills the report, he is killing the unity
of Nigeria.”
He admitted that the change that came to the
country after the last general elections was a
welcome development, given the fact that the
Peolpes Democratic Party had stayed on the
stage for a long time.
The Ohanaeze chief opined that there would be
no real change in Nigeria if there “is no structural
change” in the country.
Eluemuno disowned the Chief Ralph Obioha-led
Ohanaeze Caretaker Committee, which visited
Buhari and canvassed for appointments for the
Igbos, dismissing report of any conflict in the
organisation