The Pan Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that most of the economic inequality that caused the Nigerian Civil war in 1967 were yet to be addressed.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in a keynote address at the 90th birthday of Chief Mbazulike Amechi, one of the icons of pre and post-independence Nigerian leadership.

“The circumstances that led to the Nigerian civil war are once more being allowed to fester.

“Restructuring remained the only peaceful and reasonable way to go, he said.

He however appealed to the Nigerian government to convoke a national Conference to determine Nigeria’s existence and its future.

Nwodo, blamed the Nigerian military for imposing a unitary Constitution on the nation that should operate a federal structure.

He said the nation is tottering on the brink, with the refusal of successive governments to restructure the Country.

According to him, the contemporary Nigeria was no longer the same country Chief Amechi and his colleagues bequeathed when they left governance 53 years ago.

“I have argued elsewhere that our present constitution is an imposition by a group of military officers without any democratic credentials or mandate. It was not subjected to a plebiscite or referendum.

“Nigeria’s legal basis is untenable. If we continue like this, this nation is tottering on the brink. We need a national conference. We cannot exist  by force.

“We cannot continue to belong to a country whose constitution is imposed on us without any move to allow freedom of discussion, agreement or disagreement.

“Every Nigerian patriot must speak up and help to seek a peaceful solution.  So long as foreigners are daily entering our country to swell the numbers of a particular ethnic group.

“So long as the leaderships of the vital armed services are in the exclusive control of one section of the country, so long will a threat be posed to the peace of our Country,” he said.

The Igbo leader, lamented the marginalisation of the Igbo  in infrastructural development, administrative units and budgetary allocations by the Federal Government.

“We no longer feel Nigerian. So soon after the Nigerian civil war? This is sad. We are continuously reminded that there was a victor and a vanquished. By implication, we are reminded of Biafra. 

“So long as Nigeria marginalises the Igbo, so long will Biafra remain in the consciousness of Ndigbo.

“BIAFRA is an unforgettable experience. Biafra is a virtual state easily recalled when Nigeria visits us with the pangs of hatred, despise and marginalisation.”

“No Federal Republic in the world runs a unitary government.  Ours cannot be an exception. The only way we can let our past leaders rest peacefully is by returning to the agreements they entered into in Lancaster House and all other constitutional conferences they held. It worked well for the First Republic.  There is no reason why it cannot work now.

If each region takes care of its own area, controlling their God-given resources and donating agreed powers and obligations to a loose federal government that runs external relations, defense, Customs and other common functions, Nigeria will be more peaceful and prosperous. This will be a sure way to ensure  the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain,” Nwodo said.

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka also warned that any attempt to shut-out the South East in the 2023 political calculation would be ill-conceived.

Chidoka said Nigeria cannot make  progress with its current composition.

Chidoka while reviewing the book, “A Political History of Modern Nigeria: Words and Thoughts of Mbazulike Amechi,” said alienating the South East from the 2023 presidential contest will “open old wounds.”

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