The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, on Thursday said the Igbo did not need Biafra.

The cleric told journalists in Enugu that what the Igbo needed was massive infrastructural development in the South-East, and to be treated with “justice, fairness and equity” by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

According to him, the pro-Biafra agitation is not necessarily a call for secession, but rather, a protest against marginalisation and neglect by governments at the federal and state levels, as well as the excesses of public office-holders.

Describing the pro-Biafra agitation as “misguided”, Chukwuma said the Igbo truly believed in ‘one-Nigeria’ and do not wish to see the country divided.

He said, “The People of the South-East have invested so much in Nigeria to want to pull out now. The Igbo nation is not ready for any secession now because most of us have invested so much in Nigeria as a whole and we cannot abandon our investments.

“We in the South-East don’t want any war. We are not pushing for secession, we are not asking for sovereignty at all. I am not in support of the agitation for Biafra – the pro-Biafra agitation is misguided.”

The bishop explained that the youth who took to the streets to call for the actualisation of Biafra were frustrated by bad leadership and its consequences, including poverty, unemployment, lack of critical infrastructure, among others.

He said, “Those who were marching for Biafra are mostly youths who have been frustrated, so many of them have been used and dumped by politicians. They are misdirected youths who felt that was the only way to express their frustrations.

“They were not given proper representation by those they elected – constituency offices are non-existent. The agitation for Biafra is just a camouflage, it is a protest against bad leadership.”

Chukwuma urged the Federal Government not to see the agitation as a form of rebellion on the part of the Igbo.

“The Federal Government should not see the agitation as a rebellion – we (Ndigbo) are for one Nigeria.

We are committed to the unity of an undivided Nigeria, but all we ask for is equity and justice. Equity, fairness and justice should prevail,” he said.

“Inasmuch as they are saying that we did not vote for him (Buhari), that is a sentimental thing but we have embraced him now. The President should try as much as possible to understand that Igbos support his administration. We support his anti-corruption campaign.The Federal Government should try not to be vindictive.”

http://www.punchng.com/24351-2/

Personal opinion or prophesy?

shameseun:
Personal opinion or prophesy?

I say misguided personal opinion.

Chukwumah is right and wrong the same time.

Igbos don't need secession at the interim, but they do need it ultimately.

What they need now is an " in house clean up" to rid themselves and their land of political jobbers who at the moment hold sway there.

Once they do this, they wouldn't need to scream for secession from Nigeria, they will get the autonomy and self determination they desire.

Yes, IPOB is misguided and have misplaced priority, their anger should first be beamed at the Igbo political jobbers who had sold out the region for crumbs, and there after towards the Nigerian state, going after the Nigerian state without first taking care of their home front is akin to puting the cart before the horse.

What more can I say

Bishop Chukwuma has nailed it on the fucking head

There are two versions of truth out there

This is why I say the arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu is short sighted

what FG need is engagement with the South East

Devolution/True Fedralism and Referendum is the way to defeat Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB. Guns and bullets will not achieve much!!!

nonsense....let a poor man say d same

This man must be a Yoruba person according to IPod followers

People like Bishop Chukwuma should stop claiming to know what an over 40 million strong Igbo nation wants or don't want. If you want to know what Igbos want, call for referendum

They will decide that on their own.
nobody will decide for them

Politicalapathy:
They will decide that on their own.
nobody will decide for them

sori bro, it does not work like that. Nobody will grant you such powers to decide for yourself especially when it comes to money and power. What they might end up doing is to present you with options that no matter what you choose, you are still playing into their hands.