A former Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, has said while secession agitation championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra was justified, the method adopted was condemnable.
He however, attributed the agitation for the actualization of Biafran republic to the unfair treatment of Igbo people in the country.
He called for next presidency to be zoned to South-east region.
Nebo, who spoke at the inauguration of new executive members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Council in Enugu, on Saturday, also accused South-east governors of betraying Igbo interest, saying they might not allow emergence of Igbo President because some of them were positioning to be vice-presidential candidates.
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The former Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said: “The Peoples Democratic Party is still struggling on the zoning of presidency, but with many of our governors in the South-East, who are here to serve themselves and not the people, and they are looking for the positions of vice presidential candidate, the PDP may actually end up zoning to the North so that one of them will become a vice-presidential candidate.
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“In other words, they are ready to sell our nation, the Igbo nation for their personal aggrandisement and that is unfortunate.
“One thing about all these is the issue of justice, equity and fair play. Getting to power is of the desire of every political party, either by hook or by crook. I think the issue is social justice at this time and that is how to get the party to bring about the future of this country, Nigeria, not about the transient nature of power today.”
He further said: “The clamour for the state of Biafra was born out of the massive ill-treatment of Ndigbo, disenfranchisement of Ndigbo, the unspeakable treatment of Ndigbo that have driven many of our young people to despair and despondency. That is why IPOB was born.
“Unfortunately their methods are horrible, not defensible, unacceptable and they are not passing on whatever it is they want to pass in the right way. So, when you talk to a typical young person in Igboland, they feel like there is no hope for them in the entity called Nigeria and that is why some of them are so determined to the point of giving their lives to have independence and to become free from this shackle that Nigeria has placed on Ndigbo.
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“I have always believed in one strong, virile country called Nigeria. Together we are stronger, we are better, we are more massive and we can turn the lots of the country around and in so doing, turn the cause of the black man around. The dismemberment of Nigeria is not in the best interest of the black race. In order to prevent that dismemberment, Ndigbo must be given a pride of place again in this country. And that pride of place must come from an Igbo man mounting the saddle of presidency in Nigeria. I think this is very important because if it does not happen, more and more people will become restive and it is becoming obvious.
“For instance, right now, one of the most neglected geopolitical zones in this country is the South-East. If you think in terms of infrastructural development, it is like the Federal Government sometimes forgets that there is a place called the southeastern part of Nigeria with regard to the distribution of amenities and infrastructure.”
