From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has appealed to the Federal Government to end what it described as persistent marginalisation and systemic exclusion of Igbo in the Nigerian project.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the apex Igbo socio-cultural body said Ndigbo have remained industrious, resilient, and central to Nigeria’s economy and culture, yet they continue to be treated as outsiders in their own country.
“Sixty-five years after independence, it is obvious that Ndigbo, irrespective of where they live in the country and abroad, remain burdened by systemic exclusion, unaddressed wounds of history, and the shrinking space for political and structural inclusion,” the group declared. The statement by the President General, Senator Azuta Mbata, said the anniversary should not just be about festivities but about truth and justice.
“Nigeria at 65 should not just be a celebration of age, but a sober reflection on the quality of life of its citizens. For Ohanaeze and the Igbo nation at large, we remain deeply committed to the ideals of unity, love, peace, justice, and national development—but not at the cost of our dignity or continued marginalisation.”
Ohanaeze also raised the alarm over the destruction of Igbo-owned businesses in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, describing it as “targeted economic sabotage.”
“This pattern is unacceptable in a country we all call ours. We cannot, on one hand, call for national investment and, on the other, create a hostile and insecure climate for hardworking entrepreneurs who are helping to build the nation from the ground up,” the statement said.
The group renewed its call for the unconditional release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing his continued incarceration as a national disgrace.
“His case is no longer just a legal matter—it is a test of our collective commitment to justice, equity, and national healing,” it noted.
Mbata further emphasised that Nigeria cannot survive if it continues to alienate a major ethnic group.
“No nation can endure indefinitely when a section of its population feels alienated or reduced to second-class citizens.”
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