April 28, (THEWILL) – The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has a piece of advice for the federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, that is, to make maximum use of the hand of peace extended by the Nonviolent pro-Biafra agitators.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo conveyed this admonition through a press statement it issued and signed in Abakaliki on Monday, by the duo of Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, Deputy President General and National Spokesman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
According to Ohanaeze, the acceptance, after twelve years of relentless diplomatic pressure from the international community and numerous United Nations-affiliated peace groups, the Nonviolent Pro-Biafra agitators had bowed to pressure.
It described the move as nothing short of miraculous—a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s historical timeline.
The body explained further that the dialogue had the potential to usher in monumental changes, including the release of all prisoners of conscience, notably Nnamdi Kanu, the reopening of the Eastern Economic Corridor, and an unequivocal end to violence disguised as agitation.
The statement reads in part: “This forthcoming dialogue is anticipated to mirror the earlier discussions held at Aburi, Ghana, now reborn as the ‘Abuja Accord’. This initiative aims explicitly to address and resolve the long-standing grievances that have birthed the Biafra agitation since the cessation of hostilities in the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.
“The Nonviolent Pro-Biafra Agitators have extended an olive branch to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, inviting the Federal Government to engage in a constructive dialogue over the nagging Igbo Question.
“This dialogue seeks to confront the unresolved issues stemming from the unimplemented policies of reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation envisioned by General Yakubu Gowon following the war.
“Additionally, it targets the entrenched anti-Igbo policies, including the discriminatory quota system and the closure of economic corridors in the Eastern region since 1970, which have exacerbated the marginalisation and underdevelopment of the Igbo people.
“Ohanaeze acknowledges that President Tinubu has shown initial commitment to rejuvenate the Southeast’s road infrastructure, devastated during the Biafran conflict. The proposed Abuja dialogue represents an opportunity for the President to gain firsthand insights into the genuine concerns that motivate the Biafra agitation.
“Should he seize this rare opportunity, he would achieve a historic victory before the second anniversary of his administration on May 29, 2025—an accomplishment that has eluded past military rulers and civilian presidents alike for over five decades.
“The Federal Government is urged to grasp this moment with determination, particularly in light of the recent exoneration of the Igbo from the narrative surrounding the 1966 coup by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. There is a pressing need to weigh the merits of initiating peaceful dialogue against the backdrop of imprudent budgetary expenditures that, thus far, have failed to address the security crises plaguing the Southeast”, it stated.
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