ByDorcas Samson Achi
Ambassador Prof George Obiozor, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned the recent Orlu crisis and appreciated the governor of Imo State for the restoration of peace in Orlu zone. This he said during his visit to His Royal Highness Eze (Dr)/Emmanuel Okeke, the traditional ruler of Amaifeke Autonomous Community/Head of Imo State Community Policing.
According to Prof Obiozor, Orlu is traditionally known for being the most peaceful in Imo state, and the South East Zone is relatively the most peaceful zone in Nigeria and he stated that the Igbo nation is not at war with Nigeria and has nothing pending before any institutionalized authority that demands a separate existence for Ndigbo from Nigeria.
He maintained that no matter how bad Nigerian problems may be, only peaceful solution will be best to guarantee Nigerian unity and this can be achieved through a restructured, renegotiated, decentralized or through power devolution. ”Use of force, intimidation or violence will be a national catastrophe which should be avoided. Use of violent method will lead to a synchronized national crisis and ultimate disintegration of Nigeria, this too must be avoided”, he added.
Furthermore, he emphasized that those who preach or prefer military solution to Nigerian problems are today, equally as a threat to Nigerian unity as those enemies they are fighting.
However, Ambassador Obiozor congratulated the South East governors and governments for the Anti-Open Grazing Ban and equally thanked the South East Traditional Leaders for their role in maintaining peace in the zone.
Eze Okeke while responding, thanked Ambassador Obiozor and his encourage for finding time to visit him and expressed concern over the killings and chaos in Orlu, adding that Orlu is a great and peaceful land which has favoured many people, both indigenes and outsiders. Visualizing the memory lane, he said that during Biafran Civil war there was no gun shot in Orlu, the war ended in Orlu when the war came very close to the area.
He thanked God for Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State for using his God given wisdom to control the situation. ”The governor didn’t want a repeat of what happened in Odi, Anambra State, therefore he controlled the Army and Police. The Federal Government came to do their job and was not invited by the governor. We want the peace in Orlu to be sustained because Orlu is supposed to be the treasury of the South East. Orlu is examplary in Igboland and has provided succour to all and sundry. Enemies of Orlu and Imo state are causing problems in Orlu and innocent people have been killed in the process”,he inferred.
