The counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has berated the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, for telling Igbos to sit at home and boycott the hunger protest to avoid being slaughtered.
Ejiofor insisted that Kalu’s comment was uncalled for and demonstrated that Ndigbo had become an “endangered species, even under their political leaders.”
He stated this in a statement issued to journalists on Friday, adding that the notion that Ndigbo would be slaughtered for exercising their constitutional right to protest is an unfortunate reality.
The statement read in part, “I find this statement from a prominent Igbo political figure deeply concerning, as it essentially sought to encourage Igbo to waive their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
If Benjamin Kalu had advised Igbo to refrain from participating in the #EndBadGovernanceProtest for any reason other than the fear of being slaughtered, I would not have criticised him as harshly, nor would many others who think critically.
“For those of us who analyse such statements, the implications of this reckless remark highlight the precarious status of Igbos in Nigeria, now seemingly acknowledged and cowardly reinforced by their political leaders – individuals who should be vigorously combating the longstanding injustices faced by their people.
“Historically, Igbo people across Nigeria have been victims of violence during times of crisis or protest, often at the hands of fellow citizens and even Nigerian security forces meant to protect them.”
Ejiofor added that the Deputy Speaker, who hailed from Abia State, should have firsthand knowledge of the hundreds of innocent people who were abducted during military operations in the state and are still being abducted.
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