Following the National Assembly’s
shooting down of devolution of powers to states, nine groups in the
South East yesterday declared their resolve to no longer participate in
‘Nigerian events’.
The groups, led by the Eastern
Consultative Assembly (ECA), rose from an emergency meeting in Enugu
saying there would be no election in the region if the country was not
restructured.
In their communiqué signed by Dr Alfred
Udokwu for South East Elders Union; Rev. Fr. John Odey, Eastern
Consultative Assembly; Bishop Mike Ibenene, South East Christian
Network; Chief Maria Okwor, Igbo Women Assembly; Chief Chris Obikwelu,
Igbo Traders Association; Mazi Chimezie Ubani, Igbo Students Union;
Comrade Akpan Effiong, South East/South South Youth Assembly; Elder
Richard Okonkwo, Ofuobi Cultural Association and Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko,
Igbo Youth Movement, the groups accused those opposed to restructuring
as “enemies of the people.”
The communiqué reads in part: “Due to the
desperate attempts by enemies of equity and justice to sustain by all
means this evil unitary structure that has visited untold hardship,
misery and disequilibrium on our land, we are now left with no other
choice than to embark on civil disobedience and passive resistance,
accordingly, our people will no longer participate in their unitary
Nigeria events henceforth.
“Having consulted widely among our
people, in order to build lasting and binding consensus, before taking
final decision, since the spirited but shocking attempts of those
fiercely opposed to returning Nigeria back to regional arrangement
through a peaceful restructuring process, to insult the entire country
by embarking on childish distraction of quit notices and divide and rule
tactics, and unhelpful constitutional amendments, all geared towards
sustaining the current unitary structure imposed on Nigeria on May 26,
1967, it has become necessary to make public our findings and decision.
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