Posted by By John Ighodaro on
CHIEF Chukwuemeka Odimegu-Ojukwu has said that Biafra was created the moment the Federal Government labelled Igboland as South-East and not when he Ojukwu declared the defunct republic.
PORT HARCOURT - CHIEF Chukwuemeka Odimegu-Ojukwu has said that Biafra was created the moment the Federal Government labelled Igboland as South-East and not when he Ojukwu declared the defunct republic.
The Ikemba Nnewi said this weekend in Port Harcourt at his 72 birthday celebrations, which held at the Rivers State capital. His words: ' the Federal Government had already created Biafra when it named the Igboland the south-east, the problem is rather what the area should be called and the people of the zone appear morecomfortable with the name Biafra"Chief Ojukwu who was hosted by the Federated Igbo Congress the umbrella body of the Igbo's in Rivers State and Bayelsa in Port Harcourt asked the Igbo to roll up their sleeves to take political power in 2007.
He also asked those who have been clamouring for Biafra to go about it non-violently. He urged the Igbo to live in peace with their host communities wherever they may be and advised them and their host communities to pursue peace in the interest of the nation His words: ' Peaceful co-existence does not necessarily mean the absence of crisis but the ability to settle after quarrels."While urging the South-South and the South-East people to embark on sincere dialogue for their survival, he said that he was overwhelmed with joy at the crowd that welcomed him to Port Harcourt adding, 'this is a source of strength for me to continue to preach the gospel of equity, justice and freedom of expression and self determination in the country."
Earlier in his address at the occasion, IFC President, Mr. Cosmas Enweluzo had described Ojukwu as one who knew the problems of the Nigerian nation and was always willing to say it.