Ohanaeze Scribe Gives Condition For Constitution Review
FROM LAWRENCE NJOKU (ENUGU)
THE Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has restated its position on the review of the nation's constitution, saying such could only be accepted if it will address what it described as the imbalance in the creation of states and adjustment in the boundaries which has ceded some Igbo areas to other sections of the country.

Secretary General of the organisation, Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd), said in Enugu yesterday that until the imbalances are addressed, agitations from the various zones will not abate. He expressed regret that the issue had always been glossed over by previous administrations.

Achuzia faulted the impression in certain quarters that the agitation for Biafra is being orchestrated by core Igbo states, insisting that such cause is being championed by those who benefited from the old system that gave rise to the creation of states across the country.

He said it was unfair that only eastern zone has been existing with an unequal number of states when compared with others, alleging that it is part of efforts to continue the marginalization of the zone.

He said some areas belonging to Ndigbo during the state creation " both in the South and North were cut off and ceded to other states in the country."

He added: " We want them brought back within the mainstream of Igboland so as to enable us have our territory back as it used to be. In the South, the same thing happened to the effect that most of the landmass in Owerri now belong to another state as minority in those states. That is the case in parts of Benue and others."

Achuzia took a swipe at those who see Biafra as an Igbo cause, explaining that " the Biafra cause is not an Igbo cause, it is a regional affair comprising five ethnic groups made of Efik, Ibibo, Ijaw, Ogoni and Ibo. These five ethnic groups combined during the search for the name of the region, when they wanted Enyimba State, but the others disagreed because it is an Ibo name. It took several names before we finally decided to use the Biafra. Therefore, Biafra doesn't belong to the Ibo, it is only the mischief makers that tie it to the Ibos."

On the issues of presidency, the Ohanaeze scribe, boss said: " We have no authority to change the situation but come next four years, we will still take our stand because we believe that since the war ended in 1970, the rest of Nigeria has no right to tell us that we have no right to lead this nation the way the West has done and the North has consistently done."

he's talk is fine but why don't we claim cameroun too. Everywher in Nigeria belongs to Nigerians. What we should be fighting for is human rights that is been denied to many by those traditional rulers. Na thunder go fire all of them.