The World Igbo Youth Council (WIYC) has scheduled peaceful protests for March 17, 2025, across the South-East, Lagos, and Abuja.
Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that these demonstrations aim to demand an apology from the Federal Government regarding the 1966 coup and the Nigeria-Biafra War.
Former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), recently clarified that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo conspiracy.
The WIYC insists that the government must acknowledge past injustices and pay $10 trillion in reparations to the Igbo people.
Demand for apology and compensation
The President-General of WIYC, Princess Eberechukwu Dickson, called on President Bola Tinubu to issue an unreserved apology.
She emphasized that this demand goes beyond financial restitution to recognizing the suffering endured by Igbos since the Nigeria-Biafra War.
The war, fought between 1966 and 1970, led to the loss of approximately 3.8 million Igbo lives.
“This is about acknowledging the grave injustices faced by the Igbo nation,” the WIYC statement declared on Sunday.
The war officially ended in 1970, but economic oppression and marginalization of the Igbo people continue today.
The Federal Government has a moral obligation to address these historical grievances through concrete actions.
Nationwide protests to demand justice
The WIYC announced plans for peaceful demonstrations in Enugu, Owerri, Aba, Onitsha, Lagos, Abuja, and other key cities.
These protests will involve Igbo youths, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and supporters demanding recognition and reparations.
“The protests will showcase our collective voice and determination,” the WIYC stated in their official declaration.
Through peaceful demonstrations, they aim to pressure the government into acknowledging the necessity of an apology and reparations.
Without these measures, discussions about national unity remain incomplete and insincere, the statement emphasized.
Economic and political marginalization of Igbos
The WIYC highlighted that economic oppression persists through policies restricting trade in the former Eastern Region.
The group cited the permanent closure of the Calabar Seaport, forcing businesses to rely on Lagos ports.
This situation drastically undermines economic growth for the Igbo people and limits their commercial opportunities.
“By restricting access to vital trade routes, the government suppresses economic development in the South-East,” the WIYC asserted.
Political exclusion also remains a major issue affecting the Igbo people within Nigeria’s governance system.
No Igbo person has been allowed to assume the presidency in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The WIYC criticized the inequitable quota system that prioritizes political considerations over competence and merit.
“This system deliberately weakens Igbo influence and suppresses leadership opportunities,” the statement stressed.
The restriction of the South-East to only five states further marginalizes the region politically and economically.
Call for implementation of ECOWAS verdict
The WIYC reminded the government of the 2017 ECOWAS Court ruling on reparations for Biafra War victims.
Despite the ruling, the Federal Government has failed to implement the decision and compensate affected individuals.
“We demand full compliance with the ECOWAS verdict,” the WIYC declared in their statement.
Honoring this decision would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to justice and national reconciliation.
Ignoring the ruling prolongs the suffering of war victims and their descendants.
Commitment to Igbo rights and justice
The WIYC reaffirmed its dedication to securing justice for the Igbo people.
“We will not relent until the government recognizes past injustices,” the group declared.
This movement seeks to ensure that future Igbo generations do not experience the same oppression.
“The path to reconciliation requires honesty, acknowledgment, and justice,” the WIYC insisted.
They demanded that the Federal Government take immediate action to address their concerns.
As the March 17 protests approach, public anticipation continues to grow across the South-East and beyond.
Observers are eager to see how the Federal Government will respond to the WIYC’s demands.