I SEE A BIG CLOUD HANGING OVER NIGERIA – ELDER STATESMAN MBAZULIKE AMAECHI (PART NINE)

Based on these, figures, would you say Jonathan’s second term bid is jeopardized in the South east?

No! No! First of all, he has not told us he is contesting. All I am saying is that if the
South east is supporting him let them do, but it has to be on some terms and conditions. There must be something for the general public not individuals’ pockets and for the generality of the South East, Yes!

Let me take you on the quest for reparation by some groups in the South east. You are the chairman of the reparation committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Why did it take this long, after over 40 years to ask for reparation? Won’t it sound shrill in the ears?

There is an Igbo proverb that the time you wake up is your morning. If you wake up at 11:00pm, it is your own morning. Now, first of all the government set up the Oputa Panel to look into this thing and it submitted its report. But the then president Obasanjo did not implement it, because Obasanjo was part of the punishment of Ndigbo. Obasanjo was part of the atrocities against Ndigbo during the Biafra war. So, the Oputa Panel report was killed. The next government was Yar’Adua. But unfortunately Yar’Adua did not last long. So, here is a government headed by somebody who was not part of the persecution and atrocities against Ndigbo. Let us submit it in his own time. It is never late.

How far has your committee gone in the push for the reparation?

Well, we have articulated the case for Ndigbo. We submitted our demand to the government on the 15th of February this year. We made copies for the senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives. We have not had any reactions, positive or negative, particularly from the presidency. We are following it up. If the government does not act, then we know where to go, nationally and internationally. But we demand something must be done.

How much are you asking for?

We are asking from the government, the sum of N400b for every Igbo state, and N400b for Delta state for the benefit of Anioma areas. In the past, some pro-Igbo groups like MASSOB threatened to internationalise the issue.

Do you have a plan B?

We are not like MASSOB. MASSOB is a different group. What they are asking for is also different. Like I told you, we are prepared to present our case nationally and internationally.

Do you have any backing internally or internationally, especially the state governors?

No state governor is backing us. We are just reparation committee of Ohanaeze.

Looking at some of your demands, you did some research before you put these things together. Nigeria is currently facing security challenges. Do you think this is the right time to make these demands?

We did all thes things last year. If Nigeria has other problems let them face them. If the governments in Nigeria had been good, there would not have been all these crises. It is because of the ineptitude in government that created the crises. So if Nigeria created these crises, let them face the crises.. To be continued tomorrow..

Culled from Sunday sun