ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described Sunday’s attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, during which about six of his aides and police escort were killed, as “very disturbing”.
National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonna, said that killing was alien to Igbo culture in the past.
He wondered if those behind the ongoing senseless killings in the South-East are truly Igbo, and described the dastardly act as unacceptable and called for action.
His said: “This is very disturbing. I feel so sad about it. In Igbo land in the past, killing was an abominable act, a taboo and something that was not contemplated.
“Anybody that killed would be ostracized. Killing is objectionable, repulsive which a normal person doesn’t even want to contemplate.
“But most, unfortunately, the development in South-East now is worrisome. I sometimes wonder if those behind these heinous crimes are really Igbo.
”We have our values, our virtues, norms and culture that are being extolled and which people tend to emulate. But I don’t understand what is happening now with our core Igbo values.
”I’m disturbed. What are we supposed to hand over to the next generation as Igbo values and norms? How are we even sure it will not degenerate and become worse?
The Ohanaeze chieftain also expressed disgust over the Killing of a Community leader at Agukwunri on Sunday.
He blamed the rising insecurity in the country on bad governance and leadership failure, saying it can only end with the enthronement of good governance.
”I also feel sad that an Onowu, a highly revered personality from Agukwunri who came to purchase something at Orieukwu market was shot dead. This sends a wrong signal.”
”No matter the military presence the only thing that can solve the problem in Nigeria is to bring good governance. And the only way to bring good governance is through a credible election. By the time we have a credible election, and good people coming to preside over the affairs of the country, the economy will be stimulated.
”So, what is happening in the country now is the effect of bad governance, bad leadership, unemployment, induced poverty, greed and primitive accumulation of wealth by the leaders.
”So, the only way to solve it is when we change the leadership through the democratic revolution, then these things will begin to fizzle out.”
He said that the protracted strike action by university-based unions could also be fueling the insecurity in the country as some students might be recruited into crime.
”Don’t be surprised that some of those behind the killings may be students who have been out of school for over six months of the strike.”
He further blamed the insecurity in South-East on marginalisation and near political exclusion of the zone by the Government at the centre.
“The other dimension that trends to create problem in the South East is the issue of alienation of the Igbo people from the centre of power. The deliberate alienation of Igbo is frustrating and at the extreme of such frustration, some may be tempted to take up arms.
” At a certain level of extreme provocation and marginalisation, the people express frustration through taking up arms. So, the best way to ensure there is good governance.”