Igbo living in other parts of Nigeria have been urged to shun the planned nationwide protest against hardship from August.
A statement by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro said the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, has cautioned against the protests due to historical antecedents where Igbo people have suffered unduly in the aftermath of major protests and riots where their lives and properties are destroyed across Nigeria.
“The fear of Igbo once again being perceived as sacrificial lambs in the forthcoming nationwide protests is a legitimate concern.
“In this regard, Ohaneze Ndigbo calls upon Igbo residents in the 19 northern states and southwestern regions to boycott the looming protests for their safety and security,” the statement said.
Isiguzoro stated that in several past events, including the 1978 “Ali Must Go” protests, the 1989 anti-SAP riots, the 1993 June 12 protests, the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests, and the 2020 EndSARS protests, Igbo reportedly faced significant losses of lives and property.
The statement added that “the prevailing security challenges in the Southeast region pose insurmountable obstacles to the safe conduct of protests and riots.
“In recognition of this reality, any nationwide protest scheduled within the Southeast is hereby revoked, with a clear directive that the Igbo will not partake.”
Isiguzoro noted that such protests would worsen the existing security dilemmas in the Southeast, thereby creating opportunities for criminals and external Igbo detractors to exploit the situation and instigate further chaos.
Meanwhile, the Federal government has urged the promoters of the proposed nationwide protests to pursue dialogue instead of resorting to disorder.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, said the government will continue to engage with stakeholders on the country’s economic, social, and political challenges.
“The channels of communication with the government and its various arms remain open for dialogue.
“The government will continue to respect citizens’ rights to protest and associate freely in line with democratic principles,” Onilu said.
NOA is intensifying efforts in civil intelligence gathering and sensitizing community leaders, parents, and youths across the 774 local governments on the need for vigilance and collective preventive actions.
The Director-General stated that the agency’s nationwide structure had successfully identified the sponsors of the proposed protest and likely flashpoints, stressing that the government will take measures to forestall any violent occurrences in the identified locations.
The NOA Boss stated that the intentions of those behind the planned protest were not about governance or the state of the economy but a trick to destabilize the country, cause mayhem, and carry out arson, killings, and maiming of innocent citizens for narrow political reasons.
He added that another objective of the protest is to project a picture of an unstable country to the international community and seek patronage from the bigger sponsors of the planned protest as well as to intimidate the government.
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