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By Chinedu Adonu
ENUGU-A civil war veteran who fought on the side of Biafra and now an alternative medicine practitioner, Prof. Okoro Akpa, has called on Igbo political office holders and leaders of thought to provide needed leadership on the way forward for Ndigbo in the face of the militarization of Igbo land by the federal government.
Prof Okoro who made this known in a press statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in reaction to the military operation in the South East codenamed Operational Python Dance urged Ndigbo to reflect on the cause of the Nigerian civil war and to act wisely this time around.
“It is now very important that Igbo leaders, the traditional leaders at all levels in all communities in Igboland, the Governors, the Senators, the members of the House of Representatives, in fact, all political offices holders from Federal Government, State Government, the leaders of all communities to now come out boldly and decide cautiously on the way forward.”
“However, bravo to the south-east governors’ forum that has banned activities of IPOB but that is not enough. I will, therefore, advice that IPOB leader and his members to tarry a little while to avoid causing war where innocent and armless easterners will start losing their lives for no just cause,” he said.
He reminded those who are still bent on continuing with the struggle for Biafra of the horrors of war, advising them to exercise restraint and tow the part of peace.
“I want us to reflect on the ravages caused by the Nigerian-Biafran war when millions of Biafrans was killed. Let us reflect on the cause of the war and how the war ended.”
“Let us reflect that at a certain stage during the war, Ojukwu left us for Ivory Coast and those of us in the battle field didn’t know why and we were full of expectations and when he came back, the music changed.”
“He never talked of Biafra again. I wish to recollect that I was personally invited to attend a political rally organized by APGA at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu. In that rally, Dim Emeka Ojukwu was campaigning to be elected as the president of Nigeria.”
He further advised that Igbo elites should “simply pressurize the Federal Government towards restructuring whereby the Southeast will always have adequate democracy dividends like other states.”
“Let’s discuss this, for me; I am not agitating for Biafra. I am pursuing Ojukwu’s agenda for an Igbo man; in fact, a veteran to become the president of Nigeria. That’s my submission.”
“This is because the Igbos are more Nigerian than any other group in this country. By their nature, they are in every corner of this country. Wherever they go, they sojourn and develop the place”, he concluded.