Baltimore, Maryland – Diaspora Igbo in the US support for Nigeria National Conference and wishes the Goodluck administration to not spare the truth that will set Nigeria finally free. At a meeting of USA-Igbo held under the auspices of Aka Ikenga at USA, Igbo in diaspora commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his wisdom and courage in supporting a national conference, because there is need to resolve “issues that stoke tension and bring about tension” in Nigeria. “We therefore, commend him for refusing to act like an ostrich by burying the problems of Nigeria underneath the murky sand of denial, deceit and propaganda.” USA-Igbo resolved therefore to: Support genuine efforts by all parties for a negotiated outcome of the National Conference for Nigeria as a nation. There should be nothing like a “no-go” area for the National Conference.
Nigeria’s has been unable to prosecute perpetrators of ethnic and religious violence, compensate or assuage displaced and aggrieved persons who are victims of such wanton acts. According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee “All peoples have the rights of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”. USA-Igbo support and expect: That the right of self-determination, which is guaranteed by International Human Right Conventions, of which Nigeria is a signatory, be part of the discussions at the National Conference, especially since Nigeria has not given adequate protection to victims of ethnic and religious massacres. This will guarantee to all the ethnic nationalities, in “geographical” Nigeria, what Nigeria has woefully failed to give them: Security of life, property, and peace. Moreover, as Abraham Lincoln said, “no man is good enough to govern another without that person’s consent”. Most importantly, since President Jonathan, himself, stated that Nigeria does not “belong to any politician or group of politicians”, it will be instructive then to let the representatives from the six geopolitical zones, at the minimum, select their representatives to the conference or discussions for a new Nigeria Constitution, instead of having the President, State Governors, Ex-presidents you name it, making these selections. Igbo-USA support an emergent New Constitution for Nigeria from the National Conference that would “express the re-negotiated terms and conditions on which the diverse ethnic groups that comprise Nigeria can live together in peace, progress, security, prosperity, general well-being and unity as one country, under an attenuated common central government”. AKA IKENGA at USAIf you like an interview on this you may reach the following- Chief Laur Nnamdi Onyekwere, P.D chiefonyekwere@gmail.com Father Aham Nnorom, PhD, 804 822-7484 This is being circulated through other media.
