Ndigbo Must Continue To Be Known For Peace – Igboekulie

Igbo sociopolitical organisation, Igboekulie has come out to say that it is not happy with the present state of insecurity across the Igbo-speaking areas of Nigeria.

The group recently revealed this via a statement signed by its President and Secretary-General, Prince Ben Onuora, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the way the South-East is steadily sliding into anarchy is appalling because the events of the past few months do not correctly depict who Igbos are.

He added that Ndigbo is known for peace, hard work, healthy competition, irrepressible can-do spirit, love for education, and things must remain that way.

His words, “Ndigbo, lest we forget, are known for peace, hard work, healthy competition, irrepressible can-do spirit, love for education, collective decision taking by umunna, famed apprenticeship scheme, onye aghala nwanne ya, biri ka mbiri, aku ruo ulo, etc.”

“Regrettably, it seems these time-tested virtues are gradually being jettisoning, going by current unpleasant developments. In replacement, we are now experiencing arson, kidnapping, invasion by murderous herdsmen, online abuses, corruption, poor political, traditional and spiritual leadership, gruesome extra judicial killings by and of security personnel and now, unknown gunmen.”

“We must admit we brought many of them unto ourselves. The result is that Igboland is today very unsafe for human as well as material preservation and therefore, an unlikely destination for investment- foreign or local. As at last year, the South-East, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, attracted the least foreign direct investment of all the six zones in Nigeria in 2020! Unemployment is highest in our land, especially in Imo State. With the current violence, what is already bad, can only get worse.”

“Let us not allow ourselves and our land to be destroyed.”

“It has taken us fifty one years to rise from the ashes of the civil war. We should not, wittingly or unwittingly, embark on that journey again.”

“Meanwhile, at our various spheres of influence, let us, as leaders, appeal to our aggrieved youths to immediately ignore attempts to provoke them into an avoidable war.”

“We at Igboekulie are willing and ready to provide support for any initiative that will bring peace and progress to Igboland. This task is urgent and crucial.”