THE Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, has allayed the fears of possible crises in Igbo land following the agitation for the realization of the Biafran Republic, saying that there was no disagreement between the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and MASSOB on one hand and the rest of the Igbo on the other.

The ECA said that reports of impending crises over the issue in the press were being sponsored by northerners who believe that they were born to rule Nigeria and lord it over the people forever.

This was contained in a statement entitled, “SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE,” and signed by the Secretary of ECA, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko in Enugu Saturday, evening.

Ugochukwu-Uko, who is also the Deputy Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT stated, “Sponsored writers who have been paid to scream that crisis looms in Igbo land, and born to rule oppressors who call on Igbo leaders to rein in the agitators are all clearly swimming against the tide.

“The paid writers are hired to instill fear into the hearts of the general public about how the oppressor will crush the eastern region militarily, while the oppressors are hoping they will succeed to deceive and distract the public from the real issue which is their stiff opposition to saving Nigeria through peaceful restructuring of the polity.

“Both are living in the past, wasting their time and clearly swimming against the tide. They pitifully, do not know that the masses have long gotten past the stage where intimidation can alter the reality on ground.

“What Northern elders actually mean when they charge Igbo leaders to call the agitators for secession to order actually is; TELL YOUR BOYS, WE THE NORTHERNERS ARE THE OWNERS OF THE UNIVERSE, WE WILL NEVER AGREE TO RESTRUCTURE NIGERIA, OUR MILITARY WING WHO CREATED THE CONTENTIOUS STRUCTURE TOOK POWER THROUGH COUP DE TAT, WE WILL RETAIN THE ADVANTAGES THE STATUS QUO BESTOWED ON OUR REGION. TELL YOUR BOYS TO ACCEPT THAT OR WE WILL GO TO WAR.

“This is the actual message from ACF, though veiled in diplomatic niceties.

The message is not lost on anybody. The polity is over heated by those who fiercely oppose restructuring not those agitators for a better deal.

“The source of the power base of the oppressor, why he arrogantly opposes restructuring, is the fact that he believes that Eastern political leaders and elite are weak, fearful and only two willing to assist him continue the subjugation of the people.

“Because the oppressor believes that Southern leaders could be easily intimidated and brow beaten to fall in line with the wishes of the born- to- rule slave master, the oppressor stubbornly refuses to face reality that the status quo structure of Nigeria can no longer sustain the edifice.

“The fact that the southern leaders always willingly make themselves “girlfriends and house maids” of the oppressor in the hope of being rewarded with one consideration or the other, the stalemate hangs on.

“The considerations which includes, vice presidency slot, accommodation in government, empowerment of many kinds etc. is the singular reason, southern leaders turn themselves into prostitutes, willingly mortgaging the future of their unborn children, for a pot of porridge.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED

“But times have changed. The game masters are in for a shocker.

The people have resolved that Nigeria must restructure or Nigeria will die.

Hiring paid writers or talking down on fellow Nigerians will not change the reality. The people are tired of Nigeria as presently constituted.

“Delay in restructuring Nigeria is at the root of all the agitation in the land. Stubbornly hoping that repairing some roads in the oppressed region, granting more appointments to ever-hungry politicians from the oppressed region and amending the military constitution can restore peace is idiotic and further proof that the oppressor is both deaf and blind to the reality on ground.

“Those who foolishly believe that there is an alternative to restructuring Nigeria are clearly swimming against the tide. Their stubborn disposition can only lead to bloodshed and disintegration now, nothing else. They should kindly face reality.

“Would also like to use this opportunity to state clearly that any agenda that does not include an early restructuring of the polity will only amount to postponing the evil day, only a return to the 1963 constitution can save Nigeria, nothing else.

“Hiring paid writers to shout of looming crisis in Igbo land will not change the truth. The plot and conspiracy or attempting to use such propaganda to strike fear into the hearts of citizens in order to cow them to accept the unworkable status quo, is both childish and laughable.

“There is no crisis looming anywhere in Igbo land, rather crisis looms all over Nigeria and West Africa, if restructuring Nigeria is further delayed, mayhem reigns in the North East, crisis already rages in Niger Delta where five Villages have been burnt down in Bayelsa State. Crisis rages in the economy where millions of Nigeria go to bed hungry.

“These crises have been raging for two years now. The truth is clear for all to see, Nigeria must restructure or Nigeria will perish.” – Vanguard

– Sept 3, 2017 @ 9: 50 GMT |