By Adeniyi Thomas
Igbo Mandate Congress has condemned the hate speeches against other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria which characterized the face of Radio Biafra.
In an Emergency meeting in Enugu to evaluate the implication of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) successful protest march in Onitsha, Asaba, Owerri and Yenegoa on Friday, the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, Rev Obinna Akukwe, described the hate speeches as contrary to the spirit of Biafra.
According to Rev Akukwe “abusing the Hausa, the Fulani, and the Yoruba in the course of pursuing Biafra is anti-Christian,Christianity cannot support the dissemination of hate messages against fellow living beings created by God,and Igbos are predominantly Christians, rather anybody or group that wants Biafra should pursue it within the ambits of reasonable processes and international conventions.”
Rev Akukwe described the protesters as people who had been deceived into solely blaming the Nigerian project for the insensitivity of South East Leaders.
Clarifying further, he said that “since 1999, Igbos have occupied positions of Senate Presidency, Deputy Senate Presidency, Party Chairmanship, Secretary to the Government of Nigeria, and yet the al important Enugu-Onitsha Highway, Enugu-Nsukka Highway from Opi to 9th Mile and Enugu-Port-Harcourt Highway from the Okigwe end are the worst roads in Nigeria due to their selfish representations at the center.
“These political bandits failed to ensure that these roads were repaired from the Obasanjo era through to the Jonathan administration, preferring to pursue contracts and appointments. We should blame our corrupt Igb0 leadership first for our woes and make them to account for years of selfish superintendent over our destinies before blaming outside accomplices.”
He called upon the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanui and all arrested protesters and prepare them for proper reorientation and reintegration.
The Abia State Coordinator of IIgbo Mandate Congress and founding Secretary General of Ohanaeze Youths Council , Comrade Chuks Ibegbu in his submissions said that “we must be careful with these protests in order not to be used by selfish elements because there is not much difference between these agitations and the money making sentiments used by MASSOB leader Uwazurike over the years. Our people must be careful not to be dragged into another conflict driven by self interests.
“Security agencies should release the misguided elements that joined the protests due to bandwagon effects.”
Igbo Mandate Congress directed its directors and coordinators to embark on publicity enlightenment within their states, zones and councils using determined channels to ensure that hate speeches that alienates the Igbo from their neighbors is discouraged.
Leaders and members of Igbo Mandate Congress who monitored the protests in various centers, noted that the protests drew many sympathizers who though did not participate in the rallies, expressed optimism over a successful for Biafran dream.
The group received reports that failed corrupt politicians in Igboland were sponsoring the crisis to avoid their acts of economic enslavement of the South East from being exposed.
The group also noted that lots of people who joined the protests were not acting because they hated Nigeria and urgently wanted Biafra, rather because the harsh economic realities of the present day nation occasioned by years of corrupt leaderships have left them with no alternatives.
The group resolved to put up pressures to ensure the release and reorientation of the misguided protesters.
