- Condemns Afenifere’s silence
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for a proper dialogue between the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Southeast governors as well as other Igbo stakeholders to seek a better way to save the Igbo traders and their investments from further destruction in Lagos State.
Spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful who was particularly referring to the recent demolition of stalls of Igbo traders in Lagos State in a statement he released to newsmen on Monday expressed more concern on the silence of the leaders of yoruba,Afenifere and even most Igbo stakeholders.
According to him,urgent steps must be taken to avert further damages.
He said “The Igbo politicians, governors, Senators, representatives, Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide leaders, traditional rulers, business men and religious leaders should have meeting to discuss how to secure Igbo business men and investments in Lagos State, Yoruba groups and politicians are together for this against Ndigbo in Lagos State.
“Therefore, our people must take a stand towards this actions against Ndigbo by Yoruba people and their collaborators.
“With the level of criminal silence among Yoruba Governors, AFENIFERE and their politicians show that they are together in this fight against Ndigbo in Lagos. Sadly, Igbo leaders are mute over this insult on Ndigbo.
However, questioning the rational behind the demolition, Powerful said “IPOB asked our people in other regions in Nigeria to return their investments back home, but it does not warrant the illegal and vicious destruction of Ndigbo’s hard earned investments and properties.
“Why will a responsible government allocate land and building permits to citizens to build houses and marketplaces and turn around to demolish the same structures if no ethnic agenda is being pursued.
” Many of Ndigbo have lost the properties they built out of their sweat to the latest economic sabotage agenda from the Lagos State government.
“They should understand that Ndigbo are indestructible. We are children of Elohim. If Ndigbo can rise from the ashes of the colossal damages from the Nigeria genocidal war against them and acquire properties across Nigeria, Ndigbo will rise much higher and never go down in the coming Independent State of Biafra.
“Nigerians envy Ndigbo for their God-given blessings will hasten the coming of Biafra. “Whomever God has blessed, no man can curse.”
“The same way holocaust was meant to destroy the Jews, but became an opportunity for the independent State of Israel, the same way these latest economic sabotage and systematic annihilation of Ndigbo will create a good opportunity for the Independent State of Biafra. Those who want to destroy us today will regret their actions in the near future”. Powerful said.
Meanwhile, the pro – Biafra group has equally enjoined the governors in SouthEast to designate some locations for the development of ultramodern markets.
“They should create a good access road network and other amenities around these locations to encourage our people to return their goods to some of the modern markets in the East.
” We also encourage Ndigbo in diaspora to bring their investments back home to any part of Biafran territory. IPOB reiterates the call on Biafrans to return their investments home, where it will be safe from the Nigeria state sponsored economic sabotage.
“The targeted demolition of properties belonging to Ndigbo and illegal and repeatedly locking down of Igbo markets in Lagos show that Ndigbo are no longer needed in Nigeria.