Minister of Works Dave Umahi has come under fire from a coalition of pan-Igbo self-determination campaigners for his recent assertion that the Biafra struggle is no longer required.
Speaking during a tour of ongoing government projects in the South-East, Umahi stated that President Bola Tinubu’s integration of the region into Nigeria’s mainstream eliminates the need for Biafra movement.
The minister does not have the authority to speak on behalf of Ndigbo, according to a joint statement released on Saturday by the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self-Determination (ASD), and Rising Sun Foundation (RSF).
Ben Nwankwo, for Ambassadors for Self Determination, Maxwell Dede, for the Rising Sun Foundation, and Sylvester Onyia, AVID, signed the statement headlined “David Umahi lacks the powers to speak for Ndigbo.”
The pan-Igbo rights organizations responded to Umahi’s remarks by advising the minister not to grant himself authority that he does not possess.
Senator David Umahi made an unguarded statement that caught our attention: “Ndigbo should forget Biafra agitation because the Federal Government had addressed all the challenges of Ndigbo.” Thus, we would want to remind him that he is not authorized to speak on behalf of Ndigbo. He shouldn’t give himself the authority he lacks. Biafrans do not believe in traitors like him, since he stated that he does not believe in Biafra. He is not being forced to participate in the struggles, but he is unable to stop the movement or speak for the people.
“After being exploited and abandoned by their slave owners, we have witnessed serial betrayers like him who are now living in regret.” Ndi Igbo does not speak via Dave Umahi. He is not an Alaigbo representative. He is not speaking on behalf of Biafraland. He doesn’t even speak for all of Ebonyi State; he simply speaks for himself.
According to the activists, Umahi’s assertion that Ndigbo people are no longer marginalized is an insult to their sensibilities.
What has been done for Alaigbo by the federal government or Tinubu’s administration?
What has Alaigbo benefitted since Tinubu took office as president? Given that the Lagos-Kano and Katsina-Niger Republic lines are operational, why is the Umuahia-Enugu railway still inoperable? Why does one state in the South-West have four ministers, but the South-East still only has five, including two junior ministers?
“Is Umahi unaware that the South-East lacks a harbor, despite our people being the nation’s top importers? Does Igbo Land have a cargo airport that is operational? Do we have any significant federal projects involving the maritime industry? These objects are found in other areas. Alaigbo doesn’t,” the statement said.
The pan-Igbo activists further denounced the minister’s remarks, saying: “So when someone like Umahi claims to speak for Ndigbo, we must ask: what exactly is he defending? Why is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu incarcerated for life when actual terrorists and mass mothers are allowed to walk freely and are dealt with contempt?
Kanu was imprisoned, according to the campaigners, with the help of the British government and “a few Nigerian politicians like Umahi,” who prioritized their own comfort over justice.
People’s anger stems from this. That’s why many feel deceived. Anyone who contributes to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration is working against the Igbo people. Saboteurs will always be on the wrong side of history, and Umahi needs to understand this.
According to the statement, some Jews in Europe hid being Jewish in order to protect themselves amid persecution, but this did not alleviate the suffering, “and it did not stop the creation of Israel in 1948.”
Thus, Umahi’s denial of Biafra today is nothing new. There has already been betrayal by locals. History has never ceased as a result. Biafra is larger than Umahi.
Umahi has nothing to do with the Biafra conflict. Appointments have nothing to do with it. Abuja’s approval is not the goal. Justice, respect for oneself, and dignity are at issue. It might be attempted to be sabotaged. They’re going to fail,” the activists emphasized.
In a similar spirit, the Rising Sun Foundation, American Veterans of Igbo Descent, and Ambassadors for Self-Determination reiterated their call for Nnamdi Kanu’s prompt release.
Additionally, they insisted that Umahi be held responsible for the violence in the South-East.
“Umahi should not lead us to believe that he is among those who are impeding the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He was one among the persons that made Ebube Agu, which caused chaos for our people. The statement went on, “Those responsible for the atrocities in Igbo land that are frequently mistakenly attributed to IPOB and ESN should be held accountable.”
