Southeast Group has tasked Ndigbo to support the Tinubu Government.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that a non-political and non-governmental group, the Southeast Development Peace Initiative (SDPI), has urged Ndigbo to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The group said this is better than embarking on a nationwide protest.
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SDPI said the call became necessary due to the prevailing socio-economic situation in the country and the attempts by those it called outsiders and other interests trying to incite the Igbo to join the protests over the worsening living condition in the land.
The group’s President, Vitus Okechi, explained why Ndigbo should support the Tinubu administration.
“The Igbo have suffered worse hunger, deprivations, and neglect since the end of the civil war in 1970.
“It is disheartening that the same people who folded their arms when the Igbo suffered such untold marginalisation are the ones attempting to persuade our people to join the protests against the current Federal Government.
“What have these people done to ease the pains suffered by our people since the war? What have they done to bring the Southeast at par with other regions in the number of component states? What have they done to address the dilapidated federal roads and other infrastructure in Igbo land? Does it matter to them that the five states in the Southeast account for only 95 local government areas whereas other regions have no less than 100 local government areas each?” he said.
Okechi, a former commissioner and outgoing local government chairman in Enugu State, admitted that the situation is dire in Nigeria.
But he said the Tinubu administration needs the support of all Nigerians to get the country out of the hard times, which did not start with the current government.
“Let’s be frank, times are hard now. But the best way to get out of the situation is to support the Tinubu administration in its drive to make things better in the long run. The government has rolled out some measures aimed at alleviating the suffering of Nigerians. The South East Development Peace Initiative calls on our people to back the government’s efforts to ameliorate the pains of today.
“As for Ndigbo, I appeal to them to be wary of those encouraging us to protest over what our people have suffered for many decades. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has also spoken and advised our youths not to put their lives at risk by joining such protests. We have, as a regionup, suffered a lot in the hands of successive governments.
“Like I said earlier, our people are wiser now. We want to take our destiny in our own hands. When our people were murdered in different parts of the country in the past, we bore our losses alone. When we faced marginalisation, as we still do, what did those people calling us out do to help the Southeast region? What have they done in the case of Nnamdi Kanu who has been in the custody of the government for years?
“It is in the interest of Ndigbo to support the government of President Tinubu because it has shown that we have a stake in it. The appointment of an Igbo man, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla as the Chief of Naval Staff and the appointments of other Igbo sons and daughters into strategic positions are pointers that this government has plans for Ndigbo.
“Following from this, our group, the South-East Development Peace Initiative (SDPI) supports President Bola Tinubu’s government and implores Ndigbo to back the administration’s renewed hope initiatives for the wellbeing of the entire country.”
