Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has described the news of UK’s interests of granting visas to persecuted IPOB and MASSOB members as the genuineness of international community to change the ugly narratives of Federal authorities suppressimg the people of South East through marginalisation.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Ohanaeze Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isigwuzoro, The United kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) new guidelines to members of IPOB and MASSOB had contradicted the falsehoods being presented by the authorities to the international community and will help to prevent unnecessary witch-hunting and clampdown on non violent Biafra agitators while the main terrorist groups are pampered by the Federal Authorities.
The statement further said instead of undue criticism of the new visa policy, the Federal Government should end marginalisation against Southeast and other groups who yearn for true federalism.
“We call on all foreign missions in Nigeria to extend such gestures to all freedom fighters and proponents of self determination groups in the country, as it will help to end reckless (state)sponsored violence against agitators, and bring FG to deploy peaceful mechanisms to ensure that the remote causes of Biafra and other agitation are properly addressed,”
The statement also call on the FG to adhere to the principles of Federal character in appointments, promotion of rule of law, equal opportunity and distribution of National wealth to all the zones without nepotistic tendencies coming into play.
In a related development, Ohanaeze also call on President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government to change tactics in dealing with threats of agitators in the country.
It added that Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide is willing to assist Federal Government to bring all Biafra agitators to a roundtable discussion and negotiations, “we hopefully expect them to grab this rare opportunity and talk with them.
“The best approach is to change tactics and strategies in dealing with secessionist threats rather than resorting to ” an eye for an eye”.
“Federal Government should know what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander, it’s not fair to use carrot and stick policy for bandits and Boko harm members in the north and use brutal forces against secessionist groups in the south.
Negotiations remains the best approach in rebuilding trust and confidence amongst secessionist groups,” it said.