Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro is the national president of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC.
In this no hold bar interview he calls on Ndigbo to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and also condemned the killing of pro-Biafran activists and Igbo woman in Kano.
QUESTION: Recently, the MASSOB /IPOB members clashed with the Army and security agents at Onitsha with attendant casualties. What is your take on that?
ANSWER: While the OYC does not think the disintegration of Nigeria is the best option now, it at the same time frown at the use of live bullets by the Army against unarmed IPOB/MASSOB members.
It’s against international laws and conventions to kill people just on the basis that they are calling for self-determination.
There is no where it is stated in local or international laws that the penalty for self -determination is death.
The Army is saying they were attacked by the IPOB/MASSOB members but there is no evidence of that.
How can these young men and women attack the Army with bare hands?
We have to respect human life in this country and we are in a democracy and not military rule.
I expect our President to probe that incident especially the reported invasion of a Catholic Church at Nkpor and the teaching hospital at Nnewi.
QUESTION: The federal government is dialoguing with the Niger Delta militants and people are asking why the same federal government has refused to dialogue with the MASSOB/IPOB MEMBERS
What is your take on that?
ANSWER: There must be the same scale or set up rules and yardstick to judge or treat the same people or circumstance else it will be seen as partiality and selective treatment.
I expect the federal government to dialogue with IPOB/MASSOB. The use of force and threats worsens the situation.
Let me tell you some of the protesters believe in one Nigeria more than even those that pay lip service to Nigeria.
It’s just that they want a nation that will treat them like human beings.
QUESTION: Some people complain that the anti-corruption war of Mr President is selective and skewed against the PDP.
ANSWER: I do not think it’s true.
Mr President is in the right course and as far as I am concerned the war is not selective.
APC people are also on trial but you must remember that it’s mainly members of the last PDP regime that were involved in this monumental sleaze since they were in charge then.
We should all applaud Mr President’s courage to deal with this cankerworm once and for all.
Do you imagine the kind of money these looters stole and what it can do to the lives of suffering Nigerians?
I think it’s these looters that are sponsoring people to be saying this. Mr President should not mind them.
The looters are even lucky we are in a democracy. In some climes, they will just be shot.
QUESTION: Ndigbo complain and still complain that President Buhari is marginalising them. Do you agree to that?
ANSWER: Well, Ndigbo deserve more than they presently have.
Having said so, Mr President did well by including the second Niger Bridge and some federal roads in this year budget.
I believe he will do more in the years ahead.
Yes, in politics, areas that give more support to a politician often get some pep in addition but the truth is that Mr President is the President of every Nigerian and zone.
I should expect him to give all sections of the country a sense of belonging. I cannot blame those complaining but we should also realise the fact I just pointed out now.
QUESTION: Do you think Ndigbo need to support President Muhammadu Buhari.
ANSWER: Why not .Yes, they need to support him.
You see Ndigbo even supported President Buhari to win the election because if they had given Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan the kind of support they gave him in 2011 in 2015, President Buhari may not have won him (Jonathan).
So President Buhari should give Ndigbo their due share of appointments and projects.
But Ndigbo should support the President to succeed.
The PDP actually joked with Ndigbo all these years and we must never put our eggs in one basket again.
The PDP is joking with Ndigbo and I hope they should realise that there is an alternative.
An Igbo can be President through the APC or other parties like APGA or even new mega parties.
When the time comes and we have many qualified candidates for that.
QUESTION: Like who and who?
ANSWER: Oh my God. We have many presidential materials in Igbo land. Is Rochas Okorocha not there?
He would have been President in 2007 when he nearly defeated Umaru Yaradua in the PDP presidential primaries.
The man is doing a lot for Ndigbo and Nigeria. He is detribalised and has Rochas foundation schools all over Nigeria.
Do you know he is building a magnificent Secretariat on his own at Enugu for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and he is doing a lot to give Ndigbo leadership?
There are many other Igbo Presidential materials. They are so many and when we reach the bridge, we shall cross it.
An Igbo will definitely succeed President Buhari when the time comes.
QUESTION: When will it be, 2019 or 2023?
ANSWER: When Buhari completes his tenure.
QUESTION: Some people complain that Buhari anti-corruption war is selective and skewed against the PDP .What is your take on that?
ANSWER: I don’t buy that idea.
Mr President is doing the right thing and its corrupt people that are making these wild and spurious accusations.
It’s the PDP that just receded from power and was in charge of our treasury over the years so naturally it’s their chieftains that have been associated with the sleaze in the country more.
QUESTION: What is your message to Ndigbo and Nigerians?
ANSWER: Ndigbo should speak with one voice and support Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership under Chief Gary Igariwey to lead Ndigbo to the mainstream of Nigeria.
Ndigbo should also support President Mohammadu Buhari to succeed.
I call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu to Igbo leaders who will sit down with him and find a solution to what he is calling for.
It needs a political and legal solution.
Nigerians should unite as we have a lot to benefit from our oneness. United we stand and divided we fall.
I also call on the Boko Haram to sheathe their sword and release the Chibok girls.
QUESTION: A newspaper recently quoted you as saying that Governor Rochas Okorocha want to hijack Ohanaeze Ndigbo to further his 2019 agenda. What is your take on that?
ANSWER: That is jungle journalism in action. I never made such statement to anybody. It’s the figment of the writer’s imagination.
As a matter of fact I am preparing to serve a legal notice to the said paper to seek redress.
This is propaganda in its extreme and I will not take it lightly.
QUESTION: In other words you did not make such a statement?
ANSWER: How can I make such a statement when Owelle is doing what no other Igbo Governor in the past and present deemed it fit to do , to give Ndigbo a befitting National Secretariat at Enugu.
Every Igbo man will now walk tall that they will soon have a real place to meet.
Former Governor of Enugu state Okwesilieze Nwodo donated that place but Owelle is now developing it.
Owelle Okorocha as a detribalised Nigerian is also going to be the lead Speaker in the oncoming National town hall meeting of Ethnic Nationality Youth Organisation of Nigeria to chart a course for peace and unity of Nigeria.
This will take place on July, 2nd at Abuja. How can I make the statement that newspaper claimed I made with all these?
QUESTION: Now how do you view the performance of present Igbo Governors?
ANSWER; Well they are trying in their own way. We are assessing them. All of them are trying their best to reposition their states.
But when it comes to entire Igbo position and leadership, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is outstanding.
He is a complete Igbo Icon and Nigerian Patriot. As you can see his goodwill is felt in all parts of Nigeria.
Through the Rochas foundation many Nigerians and Igbos have benefitted a lot.
QUESTION: Recently Rochas marked the forty years of the creation of Imo State with several eminent Nigerians gracing the occassion. What is your comment on that?
ANSWER: Yes, I was there. I saw for myself the miracle happening in Imo state.
I am proud of Rochas Okorocha and what he is doing in Imo state.
Without sounding immodest, I think Owerri is now the best city in Nigeria courtesy of Owelle’s city transformation measures. Every Nigerian now wants to visit Owerri.
QUESTION: But some Imo citizens still grumble.
ANSWER: I think it’s that Owelle displace out of power that are grumbling. In any case you cannot expect everybody to be clapping for you.
QUESTION: So Owelle is not trying to hijack Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
ANSWER: Not at all.
This is a man that has Igbozurume organisation which if he likes, he can position it to compete with Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yet he decided to build a befitting Secretariat for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Owelle’s magnanimity is purely out of his love for his Igbo race.
Enugu state will still produce the next President -General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
QUESTION: What is your comment on the killing of an Igbo woman in Kano?
ANSWER: It is highly condemnable. This fanaticism and extremism must stop.
How can a bunch of religious extremist kill a senior citizen like that in this century?
Thank God Owelle Rochas is leading a high powered Igbo delegation to Kano on the matter.
The federal government must prosecute the culprits.
It’s a dastard act and we warn the fanatics that we can no longer tolerate these barbaric acts.
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