Only justice, equity will stem Biafran agitation – Igbo group

A pro-Igbo group, Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) at the weekend advised the Federal Government to dialogue with the various pro-Biafra agitators instead of resorting to the use of force.
In a communiqué released at the end of its fouth meeting in Enugu, signed by its leader, Chief Mrs Maria Okwor, and Secretary, Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, the group called for the restructuring of the country to enthrone true federalism, equity and justice among the component ethnic groups that make up the country.
ECA specifically warned that the use of military force would be counter-productive noting that ideas and beliefs are not killed by brute force.
“The current government strategy of ‘we have enough ammunition to deal with you people’ exemplified by military operations named after all kinds of reptiles, is clearly not working. Identifying and addressing the issues that has led millions of young people to lose faith in Nigeria remains the only solution to resolving these agitations – military solution only increases it.
“The damage, the application of brute force has done to the psyche of the people is only winning the agitators more converts and more supporters daily,” the communiqué reads.
ECA called on the Federal Government to ensure killers of Mrs Agbahime in Kano and another Igbo man, Uzoma, in Ido, Abuja last week were brought to book and a commission of enquiry into the massacre of youth agitators in Aba and Onitsha in February this year instituted to serve justice.
The group insisted that the agitations for cessation by separatist groups such as Movement for Actualization of Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and Biafran Independent Movement (BIM) among others, are a direct consequence of the frustrations that emanated from the mistreatment of the East in the last five decades, unjust lopsided design of Nigeria against the East in the number of states and local governments, deliberate policies of denials, oppression and isolation of the East by successive administrations both military and civilian.
Aside town union executives and clergymen, also present at the meeting were relatives of Ndubisi Uzoma, who was allegedly beheaded by herdsmen last week in Abuja, and Pastor Mike Agbahime, who wept uncontrollably at the release of Dauda and others who allegedly murdered his 74-yearold wife, Bridget, in Kano in June this year.
While urging Ndigbo to vote only political aspirants that believe in restructuring of the country in 2019 general elections, the group noted: “Every adult in Nigeria, knows Nigeria’s survival is hinged only on a sincere restructuring of the polity along the lines of regional autonomy, anchored on true fiscal federalism according to the 1963 constitution. Continuous delay in restructuring Nigeria only deepens, the acrimony, distrusts and fears presently ruling the land.”