We Can’t Pick Up Arms Against Our Brothers From Other Ethnic Nationalities Again — Igbo Youths

The youth wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a social-cultural group in Nigeria, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has blasted corrupt leaders in the country particularly the south-east for allegedly putting the nation where it is today; saying that the Igbo youth will never go to war again against their brothers from other ethnic nationalities again.

Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, the National President of OYC, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Saturday said, gone are the days where the Igbos would be provoked by their corrupt leaders to pick arms against their brothers and sisters from other ethnic nationalities, a statement obtained by ABN TV says.

According to the statement, Comr. Igboayaka spoke after a brief national executive meeting of Indigenous Ethnic Youths Leaders of Nigeria (IEYLN) on Saturday in Abuja. He said the youth should bear in mind that none of the political elders and oppressors has the energy to go to war, but rather they will drum it and push them to it.

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According to him, “The youth must know that the Igbo nation belongs to them, so we must seek their survival by every peaceful means. Any crisis or violent act affects the youth more than the elders, so I want to urge my people no matter the provocation, we can never pick guns or any other weapon and go to war against any ethnic nationalities in Nigeria again.

Presidents of Indigenous Ethnic Leaders of Nigeria in Abuja “We are the real ambassadors and stakeholders of Igbo nation, therefore, war is not a means to peace, but peaceful approach over every demand is a means to avoid war.

“War is an instrument that interrupts the plans of the youths, therefore, we must avoid any violent plan and attack in the quest for self-determination.

“War ruins youth and shatter their dreams. I urged you my brothers and sisters to desist from every act capable to interrupt the dream of Igbo youth because what war can achieve in 50 years, peaceful approach and dialogue can achieve within a short time,” he admonished.

Comr. Igboayaka noted that the only problem they have today is the corrupt leaders who refuse to give peace a chance and are using the youths to achieve their wicket missions.

He added that since the formation of the Indigenous Ethnic Youth Leaders of Nigeria (IEYLN), the problem of the Igbo and Nigeria as a whole is squarely on the corrupt leaders.

“If not for these corrupt leaders who are separating us, how can I ask my people (Igbo ethnic nationality) to carry guns against another ethnic nationality in the same country? The onus is on us the youth of all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to jointly fight these corrupt leaders from all ethnic nationalities so that we can claim our country back,” he said.

However, Comr. Igboayaka insisted the only reason for the call for self-determination is marginalization and injustice, if injustice and marginalization from Fulani dominance against Igbo nation is put to an end, there will be a new Nigeria with a big commercial market like China and United States of America.