LAGOS AUGUST 1ST (NEWSRANGERS)-Igbo resident in Lagos under the aegis of Coalition of Igbo Political And Social – Cultural Groups, Lagos State said they are distancing themselves from the proposed hunger protest that is taking off across the country between August 1st and 10th of 2024. The group equally called on Igbos indengene in the state not to take part in the exercise.
The Group in a statement signed by its Coordinator, High Chief Anselm Njoku, Ndigbo Ikeja and BOT Chairman, Council Of Ndieze, Lagos state, Anatuanatu, . Eze Dr. Uche Dimgba, Eze and Chairman, Council of Ndieze, Lagos state, Eze Chris Offia among others after arising from a press conference held at the Airport Hotel,Ikeja,Lagos yesterday noted that the National protest at this time when the federal government is trying to revamp the economy is going to be counterproductive.
“Therefore we are distancing ourselves and the entire Ndigbo in Lagos ,from the planned protest by some unscrupulous faceless elements, who are partly using Igbo nomenclatures to fan the embers of unsound agitation,” the group stated.
The Group noted that the current economic situation bedeviling the country is not caused by the present government led by President Shiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather, it is a culmilative effect and result of past bad governance which logically and sensibly cannot be attributed to the present President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration which is barely one year in the saddle.
It advised Nigerians to develop the culture of dialogue with government and deploy constructive criticism without recourse to unnecessary provocative protest and violence .
“It is in this regard that we enjoin all Igbos of all extractions,stakeholders ,residents, traders and captains of industries, not to join in the protest.
“Lagos state is a Yoruba land and Ndigbo who are resident here have contributed immensely to its development, so, cannot be used, coerced in whatever forms, to destroy assets.
“We are not destruction prone and cannot be part of those seeking to destroy what we partly and jointly built . Ndigbo are not wired for destruction but develops wherever we are residing.
“Let it be known that from all intelligence gatherings, the faceless Organizers of this planned protest are not known to us, not Igbos and are merely hiding under Ndigbo name,dropping Igbo names to create confusion and gather credibility .
“We are therefore also using this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving The South East Development Commission and for deeming it right and due to appoint an Igbo illustrious Son as the Chief of Naval Staff and therefore allowing Igbo ethnic group a say in the National security structure. We will greatly appreciate it if the President will make the Commission rewarding and beneficial to Ndigbo in general, touching the lives of People in that zone.
“In line with the robust relationship between Our President and the South – East People, we appeal to the President ,as a gentleman Democrat ,to expedite action on the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, through a political process rather than Judiciary means, just as many prominent Ndigbo leaders had recently appealed and advocated.
“It will interest our media friends here to know that this coalition is made up of sixteen large groups, such as The Council of Ndieze in Lagos state, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, South – East Forum , Lagos,Igbo Mandate,Seven Igbo Town Unions, Igbo Speaking Community, Igbo Vision APC Lagos, Igbo Market Men and Women Associations and Leaders, who are in collaboration with Ndigbo In APC (authentic),” the statement read.
FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
Press Briefing dated July 30th, 2024, Held At The Airport Hotel,Ikeja,Lagos ,By the “Coalition of Igbo Political And Social – Cultural Groups, Lagos State “, On the Proposed Agitation/ Protest In Nigeria
Welcome Gentlemen of the Press to this emergency Press briefing.
After an empirical analysis and over view of the current economic situation in Nigeria, we as a body, agree that it is not in dispute that there is hardship in the country.
However, current economic down turn is not limited to Nigeria alone,as other developed and developing Nations are going through almost same situation.
It is therefore imperative and important to note that the current economic situation bedeviling our country is not caused by the present government led by President Shiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu .
Rather, it is a culmilative effect and result of past bad governance, which logically and sensibly cannot be attributed to the present President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration, which is barely one year in the saddle.
In view of the above said, we are saying that National protest at this time when the federal government is trying to revamp the economy is going to be counter productive, hence ill advised.
Therefore we are distancing ourselves and the entire Ndigbo in Lagos ,from the planned protest by some unscrupulous faceless elements, who are partly using Igbo nomenclatures to fan the embers of unsound agitation.
Nigerians should develop the culture of dialogue with government and deploy constructive criticism without recourse to unnecessary provocative protest and violence .
It is in this regard that we enjoin all Igbos of all extractions,stakeholders ,residents, traders and captains of industries, not to join in the protest.
Lagos state is a Yoruba land and Ndigbo who are resident here have contributed immensely to its development, so, cannot be used, coerced in whatever forms, to destroy assets.
We are not destruction prone and cannot be part of those seeking to destroy what we partly and jointly built . Ndigbo are not wired for destruction but develops wherever we are residing.
Let it be known that from all intelligence gatherings, the faceless Organizers of this planned protest are not known to us, not Igbos and are merely hiding under Ndigbo name,dropping Igbo names to create confusion and gather credibility .
We are therefore also using this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving The South East Development Commission and for deeming it right and due to appoint an Igbo illustrious Son as the Chief of Naval Staff and therefore allowing Igbo ethnic group a say in the National security structure. We will greatly appreciate it if the President will make the Commission rewarding and beneficial to Ndigbo in general, touching the lives of People in that zone.
In line with the robust relationship between Our President and the South – East People, we appeal to the President ,as a gentleman Democrat ,to expedite action on the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, through a political process rather than Judiciary means, just as many prominent Ndigbo leaders had recently appealed and advocated.
It will interest our media friends here to know that this coalition is made up of sixteen large groups, such as The Council of Ndieze in Lagos state, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos, South – East Forum , Lagos,Igbo Mandate,Seven Igbo Town Unions, Igbo Speaking Community, Igbo Vision APC Lagos, Igbo Market Men and Women Associations and Leaders, who are in collaboration with Ndigbo In APC (authentic) .
Signed: High Chief Anselm Njoku, Anatuanatu Coordinator.
Eze Dr. Uche Dimgba, Eze Ndigbo Ikeja and BOT Chairman, Council Of Ndieze, Lagos state.
Eze Chris Offia, Chairman, Council of Ndieze, Lagos state.
Chief Chris Ekeocha, Chairman, Presidents of Seven Igbo Town Unions In Lagos State.
Hon. Nelly Okafor, President Market Women
Chief Sunday Eze, President – General, Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos state.
Chief Sunday Ossia, President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos state
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