From CHARLES ONYEKWERE
World Igbo Youth Council, WIYC, has fixed March 17 for a peaceful protest across major cities in the South-East, Abuja and Lagos, until an apology is rendered to lgbos over the 1966 coup.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) had, during his book launch recently, officially stated that it was not an lgbo coup.
In a statement on Sunday by the President-General, Princess Eberechukwu Dickson, the lgbo group called on President Bola Tinubu to tender an unreserved apology to the lgbo nation and provide reparations totalling $10 trillion.
This demand, the group said, was not merely a matter of financial restitution, but a necessary acknowledgment of the profound suffering endured by Igbo people, exacerbated by the loss of approximately 3.8 million lives during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War (1966-1970).
It noted that these demonstrations would serve as a powerful reminder of our collective voice and our unwavering demand for justice.
The body explained that it would compel the federal government to recognise the urgent need for an apology, which is essential for any genuine spirit of national reconciliation.
According to them, the federal government has an ethical duty to honour the memory of the 3.8 million Igbo lives that were tragically lost during the Nigeria-Biafra conflict.
While imploring President Tinubu to summon his moral authority and officially recognise the ongoing consequences of the Biafra War—a conflict that, despite being declared over in 1970, has morphed into a new, insidious struggle marked by economic disenfranchisement and systemic inequality.
“The ramifications of this renewed conflict are more pernicious than the physical violence and destruction suffered between 1966 and 1970.
“The current iteration of the Biafra struggle is manifesting through the deliberate closure of vital economic corridors in the former Eastern Region.
“Most notably, the permanent closure of Calabar Sea Port has forced reliance on Lagos ports, drastically undermining the economic viability of the Igbo populace.
“Furthermore, the political landscape continues to inhibit Igbo aspirations for leadership, as seen in the ongoing restriction on eligible Igbo candidates aspiring to the presidency, facilitated by an inequitable quota system that subordinates merit and competency to political expediency.
“Moreover, we assert that the military leaders conspiracy to diminish the South East into a mere five states, demonstrates a systematic effort to undermine their socio-political stature.
“This manipulation has propagated a cycle of disenfranchisement that continues to demean our cultural and national identity.
“In the light of these realities, we call on the federal government to fully implement the ECOWAS verdict from 2017, which mandated that reparations be made to the victims of the Nigeria-Biafra War.
“Full compliance with this directive would not only acknowledge the historical injustices faced by the Igbo nation, but would also symbolise a significant step towards healing the nationwide scars of war.”
Stating that World Igbo Youth Council remains steadfast in its unwavering pursuit of justice, recognition and reparations for Igbo people, it said “we will not waver in our resolve; our collective actions will signal to the world that we will not be silenced or ignored as we champion the dignity and rights of the Igbo nation.”
It noted that the path to true reconciliation is paved with honesty, acknowledgment and justice.
