The Igbo World Assembly (IWA), an Igbo Diaspora organization has criticized the South East Governors for blaming the sit-at-home being ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on the Igbo Diaspora.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Saturday by Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, the organization’s Chairman.
The statement read thus:
“This Communique is a response to the recent Igbo Governors and Leaders meeting in Enugu to deliberate on the situation in the Southeast zone. Ordinarily, we do not issue any rejoinder after such meetings because we believe that when our elected leaders and stakeholders at home meet, they deliberate on the interest of Ndiigbo worldwide.
We were shocked and dismayed by the communique issued after this latest meeting with special focus on the #2 which stated as follows: “The meeting condemned the sit-at-home orders, which are mostly issued by our people in diaspora who do not feel the pains, the meeting resolved that Governors and all people of the South East do everything within the law to ensure that there is no further sit-at-home in the South East and that people are allowed to freely move about in the Zone.” This statement by the Igbo Governors and Leaders is false, inaccurate and instigates violence against Igbos in Diaspora.
Igbo World Assembly (IWA) the largest Diaspora Igbo organization while aware and understand the rationale for sit-at-home and have never called for one because we clearly understand the consequences to our people and the region in general.
IWA is dismayed that the SE Governors did not discuss the root cause of seat at home to address the issue.
That the people they claim to govern obey orders from an organization begs the question of how in control the SE Governors are in their respective States!
IWA has always called for Akulueuno to help our youths and develop Igbo land. What has the SE Governors done to resolve the various issues in the Southeast, for example, the anti-open grazing law?
Blaming Igbo Diasporas is not only disingenuous but capable of creating unnecessary friction that Ndiigbo could hardly afford at this time. It is difficult to understand the reason for this callous statement, but our Governors and stakeholders should understand that this issue is capable of destroying the fragile economy of the Southeast. As the global economy reels from the impact of COVID-19 and the decline of oil revenue and its domino effect, many countries are increasingly turning to their Diasporas remittance to help to cushion the negative effect. Many countries have developed or are developing strategies to tap into the Diaspora remittance. For many countries, this has been their main support. The Igbo Diasporas are in fact the pride of Ndiigbo, breaking barriers and setting new records in their different countries of residence, thereby paving the way for a greater Igbo Nation.
Of the official $25 billion Diaspora inflow into Nigeria last year, Ndiigbo account for at least 65%. This is the mainstay of Igbo economy in the face of the Federal Government neglect of the region.
Ndiigbo are beginning to have some level of synergy between our people at home and those abroad on how to develop Alaigbo. The Akulueuno mantra is beginning to sink in and that is why the blaming of Diasporas for the shortcomings of the Governors may have a serious negative effect if not nipped at the bud. Ndiigbo cannot be talking about Alaigbo Stabilization Fund, SENEC, and other similar organizations and at the same time alienating the Diasporas.
The statement from the Governors and Stakeholders at home is capable of putting the lives of Diasporas who frequent home in jeopardy. Diasporas are still shocked and surprised at the unfounded and unguarded statement and may meet to deliberate on the way forward. Meanwhile, we hope that the Governors and Igbo Stakeholders will refrain from making statements capable of destabilizing Alaigbo. One thing that is guaranteed to weaken our resolve as Ndiigbo, is to continue to in-fight and backstab ourselves. A house divided cannot stand.
IWA is the Umbrella Organization that represents the Apex National Igbo Organizations worldwide and is the mouthpiece on Ndiigbo affairs and speaks the will of Ndiigbo in the Diaspora.
IWA communicates in solidarity with Ndiigbo in the Diaspora from USA, UK, France, Spain, Finland, Netherland, Ireland, India, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon, Senegal, Dubai, Pakistan, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Japan, China, Turkey, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, and Canada
