Group under the aegis of Abia Renewed Hope for Tinubu has maintained a firm stance, backing Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo,which is the esteemed Apex Igbo social cultural organization, in calling on the Igbo Nation to shun the intended nation wide protest, scheduled from the Ist to 10th of August, 2024.
The Group in a Press Release jointly signed by the State Coordinator, Lady Queen Linda Ogbuehi, the Secretary, Chetachi Nwoke and other Stakeholders, Hon Dr Uzuegbu Uchechi Paul and Hon Onyeije Onuoha Kalu, said going by historical activities, the Igbo people are always the worst hit in any nation wide protest or demonstrations.
According to them, past events have shown immense losses of the lives and properties of Ndi igbo.
The group reflected on the history of Igbo people in Nigeria, particularly,the aftermath of notable riots and protests, such as the 17th of April, 1978, called ‘Ali Must Go Protest’, the Anti-SAP riots that happened between May and June 1989, against the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, the 1993 June 12 protest, including the 2nd to 14th January 2012 Occupy Nigeria protest movement, against fuel subsidy removal and the 20th of October 2020 End SARS protest, all showed that the Igbo have often been unfairly treated as sacrificial lambs.
Following these Injustices and miscarriages of justice suffered by the igbo community, given the negative effects of the protest in the lives and properties of the igbo man in the past, the Abia State Renewed Hope for Tinubu, however, adopted a firm stance with the decision of the Ohanaeze ndi igbo and the South East Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Executive Governor of Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodinma and other relevant stakeholders, that Ndi Igbo should not be a part of the scheduled nation wide protest, as it’s negative effects are enormous.
They added that the action would create an opportunity for criminal elements and external igbo detractors to exploit the situation and instigate further chaos.
The group further advised that the Igbo community should focus more on activities that could lead to the release of their son, Mazi Nnamdi kalu, who has been incarcerated for several years now, while urging the people to keep praying for the President of the nation, Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so as to continue the good works he is doing in Nigeria, most especially, with the recent Supreme court ruling on the full Autonomy of the Local Government system.
The Abia State Renewed Hope for Tinubu, equally used the opportunity to commend the Supreme court and the president for the landmark judgement,which they said, would help to reposition the Local Government as the third tier of government, hoping that State Governors would respect the ruling.
The Release also called on Ndi igbo both in Nigeria and in diaspora to remain focus and support the administration of President Tinubu for better Nigeria.
