Ohaneze Ndigbo Asks South East to Avoid Planned Economic Hardship Nationwide Protests

Ndigbo Apex Socio-Cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has cautioned people in the South East Region against participating in the planned protests against economic hardships, slated for august 1 to 10.

The organization warns that enforcing the protests in the South East Region would worsen the security situation in the region.

Its secretary general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro in a statement said Ndigbo were often worse off whenever they participated in organized nationwide action.

It cited the 1978 Alli-Must-Go students protests, 1989 anti-sap riots; 1993 June 12 election crisis, the 2012 occupy Nigeria protests and the Endsars protests.

According to the organization, Ndigbo became the sacrificial lamb in such major national protests in the country.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo provided multiple reasons for their advisory against participation including security challenges in the Southeast region making safe protest conduct impossible, among others.

The statement said, First and foremost, 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 Igbos will not partake.

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Enforcing such protests risks exacerbating the existing security dilemmas in the Southeast, creating opportunities for criminal elements and external Igbo detractors to exploit the situation and instigate further chaos.

Thus, it is in the best interest of all concerned parties to refrain from organizing any protests within the region.

Secondly, the fear of Igbos once again being perceived as sacrificial lambs in the forthcoming nationwide protests is a legitimate concern.

In this regard, OHANAEZE NDIGBO calls upon Igbo residents in the 19 northern states and Southwest regions to boycott the looming protests for their safety and security.

The statement further urged Igbo residents in northern states and the Southwest to boycott the protests for their safety.

Demonstrating restraint and prudence by avoiding involvement in the protests is imperative to safeguard their well-being during this period, Isiguzoro emphasized.

Furthermore, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stressed that the primary focus for the Southeast region should be the release of Nnamdi Kanu, rather than engaging in nationwide protests.