Biafra Day: Declare Every May 30 Public Holiday, Ohanaeze Youth Tells South East Governors

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC Worldwide, has urged governors in South East under the aegis of South-East Governors Forum to declare May 30 every year as a public holiday in the region to honour those killed during what it called Nigeria/ Britain genocide against Eastern Nigeria people.

According to OYC, May 30th should not only be seen as a day people of the zone should literarily observe a “sit-at-home order” as propagated by IPOB in honour of Biafran fallen heroes but a day to have creative discussions and lecture sessions to continuously design possible ways for economic development of Igbo land.

In a statement issued by OYC National President, Comrade Igboayaka .O. Igboayaka, and National Secretary-General, Dr. Gift Nwanaga called on Senators, House of Representatives members of Old Eastern extraction as well as the state Houses of Assembly to join in the movement to institutionalize May 30th as a mourning day and a meeting point to discuss how the survival of what it called genocide against Easterners will make a genuine living.

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It read in part, “We, the Ohanaeze Youth Council-Oyc knowing that Ndigbo was the major target of the 1967-70 Nigeria/ Britain led genocide, therefore Ndigbo should be at forefront of 30the May Remembrance of Igbo Fallen Heroes.

“The Council knowing that Ndigbo are the largest African Race with the total population strength of 42.8% of the Nigeria population, therefore, accept and adopt the 30th day of May, as Commemoration Day of Biafran Heroes

“That May 30th day commemoration should create room for a meeting point for all Igbos both home and abroad to discuss fundamental issues for wider economic empowerment of Igbo Youths.

‘The Council is using this opportunity to call on the Igbo technocrats outside Igboland to use May 30th, to locate home and offer their professional services to the socio-political and economic development of Igboland and to identify the bane of Southeast development with a view to ending the plethora of challenges facing our people.

“The Council advice the Pro Biafran groups, Massob, Ipob, Zonist, Biafra National Council, Eastern People Congress, Movement of Biafra In Nigeria, Biafra National League to work with political actors of Igbo extraction, governors, senators, and Others to make 30th May Heroes Day naturally accepted by Eastern people like how the Yoruba’s institutionalized June 12.

“The Council advise governors of Igbo extraction and pro-Biafran groups to shun any threatening comments and action that could lead to tension in the states of Igbo extraction. It’s regrettable on the kind of tension existing in some states, this is as a result of unguided statements of Governors and some pro-Biafra groups.

“To quench this regular tension in Igbo land in every 30th May, the Igbo political leaders, Religious leaders, traditional leaders, and Pro-Biafran leaders must work in signage and ensure that 30th May become a memorable day of ” Intellectual Discussion in honor of Biafran Fallen Heroes and a day of economic cum Socio-political planning for the survival of Ndigbo in this Contraption called Nigeria.”