Niger Delta activist, Tony Uranta, has condemned the
ultimatum by Arewa youths that Igbos should vacate the region within three months.
He lamented that lack of arrests one week after the threat was issued had confirmed that some Nigerians were bigger than others.
Uranta said this yesterday during the commemoration of the June 12
election anniversary which was organised by the Oodua Peoples Congress
(OPC) in Lagos.
His words “I was concerned when I heard the threat issued by
northerners against Igbo to leave the North because it shows that it is
the lack of knowledge that makes us do things that would hurt us.
“The fact that the Federal Government is dragging its feet in
arresting those who issued the threat is an indication that some people
are better than others and it does not speak well.”
In his speech, the guest lecturer, Dr. Chiedozie Okoro, warned that
delay in restructuring of Nigeria will have negative effects for the
country.
“For over a decade now, Nigeria has been bestridden by serious
agitations for freedom. MEND, MASSOB, IPOB, OPC, Niger Delta Avengers,
Boko Haram, etc all represent the interest of various ethnic and
religious groups in the country agitating for the freedom of their
people.
“All of these points to one fact, with their protests, the people are
openly saying the unitary system of government is burdensome and
unfavourable and they are bitter about this.
“Restructuring should be vehemently and persistently pursued. It
should not be delayed because ethnic nationality consciousness is rife
and is not about to subside,” he said.
Meanwhile, in reaction to the “Kaduna Declaration”, the Igbo Ekunie
Initiative (IEI), has urged all self-determination groups in the south
to jointly seek a referendum from the United Nations to form Southern Nigeria.
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