Why Igbo Cultural, Political Leaders Oppose Biafra, Support Restructuring

A statement from the office of the
President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Friday, John Nwodo told a cross section of Igbo leaders the reason why Igbo cultural and political leaders are opposing
Biafra.

President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo has given reason why the apex Igbo organisation would
rather have Nigeria restructured that support the creation of a Biafra republic for which Igbo youths are agitating.

Nwodo, according to a statement issued by his office on Friday, told a cross section of Ndigbo leaders in Abuja on Thursday that
no ethnic group has more stake in the Nigeria project than the Igbo and as such Igbos cannot see dismemberment of the
country as a viable option.

He pointed out that there is no part of the country where Igbos have not invested their
resources even without a corresponding investment in Igboland by people of other
ethnic stock in Nigeria.

While acknowledging the circumstances that prompted the youth agitations through
MASSOB and IPOB platforms, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural group said it does not believe
that leaving Nigeria is a reasonable option at
this time.

Nwodo said that the various segments of Igbo leadership comprising the Ohanaeze
leadership, governors, National Assembly members, traditional and religious leaders
after deliberating on the state of affairs in the country came to the conclusion that the
restructuring option is the more reasonable way to go.

He held that restructuring the country will bring Nigeria to a level where people of
every tribe, religion or class would have a sense of belonging and on account of that put in their best for the development of the
country.

The statement said the Igbo leader was in Abuja to meet with critical stakeholders in
the Igbo project to have their
understanding and be on the same page with them.

Nwodo also announced that steps are being taken by the Ohaneze leadership to carry youths of the region along and ensure that
Ndigbo have a common and unified position on the way forward for them.

He insisted that equal partnership, equal ownership and a level playground for all is the right way to go to bring the best in
Nigerians and set the country on the path of growth and development.