Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of Anambra State, and a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper, stresses the need for the North to win the confidence of Ndigbo to move Nigeria forward.
He adds the need for the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference in the interest of a peaceful Nigeria.
Excerpts:
What do you make of the lingering distrust between the Igbos and northerners due to the civil war. How do the Igbos win back the confidence of northerners?
It ought to be the other way round, whereby northerners ought to strive to win back our confidence. Remember, after the pandemonium in the North, we decided to build the world of our own (Biafra), eventually, when they realised the consequences of it, they came fighting again, and we half willingly came back to Nigeria. We adopted Nigeria as a country, started building everywhere again. Abuja was not there before the civil war. In terms of structures built, money invested, and labour, who owns it? Igbos are God’s gift to Nigeria, and until Nigeria realises it, they will keep wasting time and lagging behind in a developed global world. The Igbos had been carrying brief cases for the northerners since inception.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was among the compatriots who fought for the independence of Nigeria, In order to maintain one Nigeria, he gave up being head of the government for the peace of the country.
Since then, Igbos had never had any elected executive power in Nigeria.
I believe in one Nigeria and the core Hausa, Fulani Muslims should also believe in one Nigeria, because they are the reason for the amalgamation. The colonial administration needed the resources of the South, to cover the deficit of the North. The Americans and Britons appear to be supporting Buhari. What I noticed is that these people want us to break up. It is not because they hate us, but they are afraid and cannot resist Islamisation. An Islamic Nigeria with this magnitude will have a staggering effect on the world.
Therefore they chose to split us for a better Nigeria. Imagine what would have happened if Jonathan was declared the winner of the election. Even the celebration of Buhari’s victory led to some deaths. So God knows everything. We don’t feel left alone, we believe God is on our side. Some people are saying we have properties worth trillions of dollars everywhere, from where that came, more can still come because it is ingrained in the psychic of an Igbo man which is God’s gift and some people are envious of it.
He should implement the resolution of the 2014 National Conference. It is beyond one person or tribe ruling for four or eight years, what we need is permanence of one Nigeria.
The report of the CONFAB guarantees the permanence of Nigeria. If Gen.Buhari can achieve that, it will be for the good of all Nigerians, tongue and tribe notwithstanding.
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