Members of the Imo State Union in
the United Kingdom have expressed grave concerns over the current state of
affairs in Nigeria, particularly as it affects the South Eastern zone.
The Union is also worried about what it
described as “the escalating ethnic conflicts” in the country and that it has
noted with dismay “the massacre of innocent and hapless Nimbo natives in Enugu
state and the wanton destruction of their properties by the so-called Fulani
herdsmen.” Making their feelings known through a press release at the end of
its June general assembly, the Union noted that: “apart from the Nimbo
killings, there have also been reports of several attacks attributed to the
Fulani herdsmen in different parts of Igboland.
” The organisation then said: “we
therefore demand that the Federal Government of Nigeria, live up to its basic
and fundamental responsibility of securing without prejudice to any particular
group, the lives and properties of the citizens and stop the marauding herdsmen
now.
” The statement, which was signed by the Union’s principal officers,
including its President Chuks Ogbonna and Secretary General Chief Frank Abanihi
continued, “it is an undeniable fact that the Igbo people have a chequered
history of insecurity in Nigeria,” noting that “the recent beheading of an
innocent Igbo woman of Imo origin in Kano is a good example and brings back the
very sore and fragile memories of previous planned massacres of the Igbos in
Nigeria.
” The association therefore said
that: “it is very disheartening that since the past and current killings, no
tangible or visible attempt has been made to bring the culprits to book.”
This, according to them, “is a matter of
concern to us again, that these recent incidents will as usual be swept under
the carpet, thereby encouraging the perpetrators of these dastardly acts to
engage in further violence against the Igbo people.” Nigeria, the Union noted,
“Is presently at a cross-road and there is
urgent need for our political leaders to be firm and cautious,” as “there is
hardly any part of the country without an ongoing violent conflict occasioned
by senseless bloodshed.
” The Union continued, saying that
it is against this backdrop that “we object in strongest possible terms, the
proposed National Grazing Bill, which no doubt will exacerbate violence and the
loss of lives in the country.
” They described the Bill “as
inimical to Igbo socio-economic interests and against any rational modern
economic practice.” Besides, “it also contains seeds of disharmony and conflict
in a country like Nigeria,” reason being that “cattle farming is a private
enterprise all over the world, just as any other form of farming.
” They are therefore of the view
that “the Federal Government should channel her energies and resources on
issues that unite and not divide the nation.” The Union also said that “we are
mindful of the growing agitation for the independent state of Biafra in the
former Eastern region,” and that “the agitation is not simply a naive, flimsy
youthful exuberance and cannot -therefore – be termed the action of
miscreants.” They described it as “an indication of underlying, but dangerously
built-up anger in the region, as a result of years of marginalisation.” Now,
they added, “is the time to listen and positively remedy the situation.”
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