Igbo leaders in Goodluck's administration identified as being behind the Biafra protests

PAN-Igbo cultural group The Igbo Conscience has fingered ministers in former president Goodluck Jonathan's administration as the brains behind the ongoing agitation for the secessionist republic of Biafra.

 

Over recent weeks, separatists calling for the recreation of the defunct Biafran republic have been organising demonstrations up and down the country, campaigning for secession. Their protests began with the arrest of Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu who was apprehended by security agents following his arrival from the UK.

 

Although numerous Igbo organisations and Igbos have disassociated themselves from the protests, the demonstrations have attracted large numbers of disaffected youths across southeast Nigeria. Yesterday, The Igbo Conscience, said that the momentum and frequency of the protests increased right after Dr Jonathan was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the last election.

 

Monday Ubani, The Igbo Conscience leader, said several Igbo politicians were given juicy appointments during the administration of Dr Jonathan, yet failed to improve the standard of living of their people. He added that it is these failed politicians who are now mobilising opposition to the Buhari administration.

 

Mr Ubani said: “As recently as six months ago, the Igbo occupied and boasted of occupying prime positions in the country during the six years of President Jonathan’s rule. Why is it that immediately after the defeat of the past regime in March, the cries of Igbo marginalisation rose to high heavens with slanderous allegations against the president-elect?

 

“What were the merits the Ndigbo derived from this much-vaunted strategic placing in critical positions for six years? Should the Igbo be crying of marginalisation just a few months after sitting on the upper echelons of the country’s political and economic spheres if these political beneficiaries benefitted the Ndigbo with their positions?"

 

He added that the late leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra, Odumegwu Ojukwu, never identified with the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, because of a difference in philosophy. According to Mr Ubani, Nnamdi Kanu, the Radio Biafra director was a phony individual, fighting a selfish cause.

 

“Should roads and other facilities in the southeast be as dilapidated as they are today if we benefitted from these former office holders, some of whom are sponsoring the present agitations?” Mr Ubani added.