We the concerned Igbo citizens from all the States of the Federation where Igbo-speaking Nigerians reside, have very carefully studied the present state of affairs in our Country and wish to state unreservedly our observations on the goings-on in our country and state categorically where we stand in the present impasse.
We have watched our nation, with great regret, drift from peace and plenty to crises and want over the past years. The history of the downward slide is a separate matter which will be addressed on other occassion. Here we have state principally that today in Nigeria:
(a) Majority of Nigerians are starving;
(b) Our children in schools (Nursery to university) no longer school due to instability in the nation.
(c) Movement of people has almost come to a halt as there is complete paralysis of our transport system due to lack of fuel which has affected air, land and sea transportation nationwide.
(d) Our economy has come to a halt and our oil production slowed down. Banks are closed, production in our factories and industries grounded, many information media houses shut down.
(e) There is breakdown of law and order as armed robbers have taken over our roads, industrial unrest being the order of the day, sabotage of our vital sectors of production being on the increase. The list of measures of this bad state of affairs is endless. We cannot, like the proverbial ostrich, bury our heads in the sand and pretend to be out of danger.
Indeed, we shall be saying the obvious by stating in the language of Chinua Achebe "THINGS HAVE FALLEN APART AND THE CENTRE CAN NO LONGER HOLD".
The Government on its part has put in place the Constitutional Conference as a measure to arrest this drift. According to them, this Conference is assembled to entrhrone lasting democracy. However, this fact that the action of the Government is to restore confidence, stability and order has been challenged by various groups and people within and outside Nigeria. The contending forces cannot be wished away and the numerous problems of this country over the years cannot be swept under the carpet.
We as a people and a group in Nigeria have showed .... patience so far and the remedies being applied by Government to arrest the strife, especially the much publicised Constitutional Conference which appears to be the trump card of government in solving our problems. We have very honestly come to the following conclusions:
1. That the Constitutional Conference cannot provide a solution to the present problems of Nigeria because it lacks the necessary concensus of all parts of the country.2. That the decree establishing it has by the composition of membership and methodology of arriving at a decision compromised democracy and fair-play. For example, the provision that one third of all members sitting with the Chairman and/or Deputy Chairman will form a quorum in a full house with 96 government nominated members is suspect of government tampering with the will of the people.... a quorum will be be formed by one-third, which is 122. With this figure, 96 will always have their way. Although Goverment has given assurance that it will not interfere with the decision, such assurance are suspect because:
(a) the assurances are contrary to the decree regarding the the fact that the PRC has the final word;
(b) the Constitutional Conference would have wound up in October 1994 before the decision of the PRC in January 1995.
(c) The government has absolute monopoly of all security and coercive forces with which it could use to enforce its decision.3. Following the utterances of some governemnt delegates and functionaries, it is suspected that the Constitution has already been prepared. The Conference therefore is a farce and a forum to assemble some reperesentatives so to give a cloak of a document of the people.
4. The entire seven states of the former Eastern Nigeria is not represented in an 11-member PRC Council. There is therefore no one to present, canvass or defend the interests of the Easterners in the Council. Consequently, a constitution with provision that do not protect the interest of the Easterners stands the chance of being forced on us in the name of stability, unity and peace.
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, the Igbo stand remains the position articulated by the Ohaneze on behalf of all Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria, that is a zone structure within a Federation of States where there is a devolution of powers to the zones, assuring room for a zonal army, security forces, judiciary and civil service. The State cannot be abolished on any account and the Presidency will be rotational zonally. It is our conviction that if the center shed its powers in these areas of continuous conflict, Nigeria may have peace and lasting democracy.
If however, we discern that these fundamemntal objectives are unlikely to be realized, we should have no option than to reconsider the wisdom of the continued participation of our delegates at the Conference.
ANY THING SHORT OF THIS WILL NOT ASSUAGE THE IGBOS.
Furthermeore, we will like to draw the attention of the public to the cry for war from certain quarters. This reckless statement coming from a government-nominated candidate in the Conference cannot be ignored. We the Igbos do not want war. But if one is foisted on us, we shall be ready, willing and able to defend ourselves. We shall from now on not tolerate any act of intimidation or threat from anyone or group.
We have laboured so hard to build up this country, and our effort can be seen throughout the length and breadth of this country. Our blood has been shed on every part of this country. In return, we have got very little. WE HAVE PAID OUR DUES TO NIGERIA and enough is enough.
This country belongs to all of us and we shall join hands to salvage it together.
THE IGBOS HAVE NOW SPOKEN.Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This press release was issued on the 21st day of August 1994 at Enugu. Among those present were the following:
Chief C.C. Onoh (former Gov., Old Anamabra), Chief J.N. Nwodoh (former Fed. Min.), Dr. Chudi Nwike (former Dep. Gov. Anambra State), Chief Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN), Chief Guy Ikoku, Chief Enechi Onyia, Chief M.C. Okoye, Dr. Eddy Onuoha, Mr. F.M. Ogbuagu, Dr. M.E. Obasi, Hon. J.C. Ojukwu, Dr. O. Udeh, Chief Victor Nwankwo, Hon. Nwuruku, Chief Ifeanyi Okonkwo, Mr. A.I. Nwankwo, Rtd. Justice D. Atingo, Mr. R. Eke, Chief C. Onwuzo, Hon. N._____, Dr. C. Aroh, Mr. C.I. Okonkwo, Mr. O. Aja Nwachukwu, Hon. J. Nnambo, Mr. F.J. Nwosu, Mr. A.L. Okafor, Dr. P.U. Agbalaka, Mr. G. Okechukwu, Dr. Louis Mbanefo, Hon. Ude Mbanugo, Mr. E. Amobi, Mr. R.O. Ume-Ezulu, Mr. S. Eze, Mr. F.O. Ogenechi, Mr. F. Azubogu, Mr. C. Adiele
Signed by:
Chief C.C. Onoh, Chief J.N. Nwodo, Dr. Chudi Nwike, Hon. F.M. Ogbuagu.
Culled from: VANGUARD TUESDAY AUGUST 30, 1994