How Igbo can get out of marginalisation
Adey Oyenuga
How Igbo can get out of marginalisation, by PDP chieftain
By Chibueze Okereke (Lagos) and Gordi Udeajah (Umuahia)
IGBO leaders have been advised to stop blaming the Federal
Government for allegedly marginalising the south east.
Chief Willy Ukadike Ikolodo, a chieftain of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, told the leaders that the
Federal Government was the wrong target. Rather, he said, they
should look inward for reasons why the east is marginalised in
the scheme of things.
According to him, "as an Igbo man, I know the Federal
Government is not responsible for the marginalisation of the east.
Where a people do not come together to articulate
their position cohesively, nobody will take them seriously."
He however, advised that "if Igbo people could emulate the
style of the Yorubas and Northerners who have cohesive
political leadership as represented by Afenifere and Arewa, they
would make themselves more relevant."
Speaking on the call for national conference, the chieftain
appealed to the Federal Government to hasten such a forum as
the outcome would greatly assist the constitution review process.
"With every facet of the society complaining about marginalisation,
we need to sit down and discuss issues that will keep us together"
he said.
He however, said to those who might oppose to the title-National
Conference, the forum could be described as "Meeting of Leaders
of Thought" as it would "provide opportunity for discussing issues
such as resource control being agitated for by the south-south and
also restore confidence in the citizenry.
Meanwhile, council chairmen in the Abia State have advised
President Obasanjo to set up a committee to verify the level of
the alleged marginalisation of the south east in the scheme of
things.
Mr. Obinna Okwuaka raised the matter in Umuahia in a chat
with The Guardian, saying that such a step will also establish
whether the claims of marginalisation are false or not.
Okwuaka stated that Igbos no longer want to be ruled by
promises but wanted to see tangible dividend of democracy.
The Guardian Online - http://ngrguardiannews.com