Foremost constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben
Nwabueze, yesterday met with the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo and the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at his country home in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government
Area, Anambra State.
Nwabueze, who consolidated on the previous peace
meeting between Ohaneze and IPOB held in Enugu, said there was need to
consolidate on the existing peace between both groups as a way of forging a
common front among Igbos.
The meeting, which was held behind closed door, had
President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Nnia Nwodo; Emeritus Dean Church of
Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev Dr.
Maxwell Anikwenwa, and Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to
IPOB who represented the organisation.
Nwabueze briefed journalists after the meeting,
saying: "Leaders can only succeed if the followers are with them. We will
not be united if followers are disenchanted with the leadership.
"There is trouble in Nigeria, we do not know
what will happen in future, but we can predict and we know there is problem.
"We love Nigeria but the leaders of the country
are not doing the right thing. We are not in control of anything in Nigeria, it
is for this reason that we need to come together and be united.
"We have no control of anything in Nigeria and
if we lose control of ourselves, we are finished, and we will not let it happen
while we are alive."
He said there was so much disunity in Nigeria presently,
and the essence of the gathering was to make everyone understand the need for
peace to reign.
He told journalists that the meeting was a fruitful
one, and that IPOB was asking for the federal government to rescind its
decision to proscribe it, and that Ohaneze Ndigbo and other leaders of the zone
have resolved to hold another meeting with South-east governors to put pressure
on the federal government to de-proscribe it.
"Their (IPOB) major worry was to get the
federal government to lift its proscription order on them. We have promised to
liaise with the state governors to do so in a later meeting that will hold on
August 8," he added.
Speaking on the quest for Igbo presidency, Nwabueze
said people of the region were not
interested in the presidency of the country, rather its quest was to have
Nigeria restructured.
"The primary need of Ndigbo now is
restructuring not Igbo presidency. We want a restructured Nigeria, that is the
only way we get what we want, and every zone would be satisfied. If Nigeria is
restructured, that will go a long way to satisfy our demands.
"We don't want Igbo presidency. As the country
is today, we cannot get anything until Nigeria is restructured. We can begin to
talk about Igbo presidency only when Nigeria is restructured," Nwabueze
said.
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