July 14, (THEWILL) — The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has joined its voice to mourn the death of former President and Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, recalling that Igbo people under Buhari’s administration were subjected to victimisation, using state machinery.
Ohanaeze conveyed this through a press statement issued on Monday in Abakaliki, and signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, the Deputy President General and National Spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
According to Ohanaeze, late former President and Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, was a disciplinarian, but the memories of the Southeastern part of the country under his administration from 2015 to 2023 were characterised by sorrow and distress.
While calling on the Southeast to forgive the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, he said the reality remains that the painful episodes of Buhari’s presidency cannot be easily overlooked.
The statement reads: “The Igbo people, during Buhari’s tenure, were subjected to systemic victimisation and vulnerability, often exacerbated by the use of state machinery.
“Although we have chosen to forgive, it is crucial to acknowledge that the troubling silence of the Federal Government regarding the atrocities committed by Fulani herdsmen and militias against the Igbo community remains a haunting memory.
“It is particularly distressing to recall the former President’s provocative statements, including references to ‘a dot in the circle’ and ‘teaching Igbos the language they will understand’, which contributed to feelings of alienation and marginalisation.
Ohanaeze, therefore, called on Nigerian leaders to learn from the missteps of past leaders, considering the fact that political positions are transient.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls upon Nigeria’s leaders at all levels to learn from the missteps of the past, particularly in light of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“His administration’s legacy is largely regarded as subpar among Nigerians, serving as a stark reminder that those who hold positions of authority must recognise the transient nature of power. The legacies they forge will ultimately be assessed by history and by the very people they were meant to serve.
“Let this moment serve to inspire current and future leaders to prioritise the welfare of all citizens, thereby crafting legacies enriched with justice, integrity, and compassion.”
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
