By Aiyeku Timothy
The new President-General of the Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, George Obiozor has stated that the region has no reason to demand their separate existence from Nigeria.
He made this claim on Wednesday in Enugu while calling the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to order on his separatist agenda.
Obiozor, who is a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, stressed that there was no reason for the Igbo to demand separation from Nigeria as he warned Kanu to be mindful of his “actions and utterances” in order not to put the country in danger.
He said: “The Igbo nation is not at war with the rest of the country and there is nothing that demands our separate existence from Nigeria.
“We have mutual responsibility in this matter and it is sacred in our hearts. All actions or utterances that put us in imminent or present danger must be avoided.
“Kanu should act and play his part well. There lies his honour.”
Obiozor, who was elected the president-general of the Ohanaeze earlier this month, vowed that his leadership would ensure a better representation for the Igbo in Nigeria.
“How we are perceived as a people is borne out of our feeling of insecurity in the country. Our leadership will find out how to reduce this vulnerability of our people.
“I am ready to provide leadership and we shall not disappoint.
“We must invent a well-defined common course for our people. We must unite our people. We need a leadership that will be progressive.
“I, therefore, call on our people to join hands with us to bring accelerated development to our place,” the new Ohanaeze president-general added.
He succeeded Chief John Nwodo as helmsman of the apex Igbo organization.
Nnamdi Kanu is known for his call for the Biafra Republic over the years. He has also established his own security outfit, known as Eastern Security Network, (ESN).
