Ndigbo Owe Nobody Apology For Seeking Justice, Equity, Uzodimma Insists

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has said that Ndigbo owe nobody apology in their agitation for justice and equity, adding that violence and threats of secession are not the best approach to achieving their desire.

Uzodimma stated this at the opening ceremony of a two-day zonal public hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review in Owerri, yesterday.
His words: “What we seek is justice and equity for our people to thrive. For that, we owe no apology to anybody. But we cannot achieve it through violence or threat of secession. It is through an avenue like this that we put forward our request.”

He explained that the Igbo were seeking a conducive environment to thrive and participate actively in the decision-making process in the country.

According to him, the constitution review is a viable platform for the Igbo to make inputs that will address their yearnings and enable them to occupy their rightful position in the affairs of the nation.

“For sometime now, there have been series of agitations from the various strata of society to review our constitution that we inherited since 1999 from the military government. So, this exercise is yet another opportunity for those of us from Imo and Abia to make input in the amendment of the constitution. It offers another opportunity for us to continue to work out an acceptable constitution that will address the concerns of Nigerians in general and Ndigbo in particular.

“Let me, however, use this auspicious opportunity to tell these alarmists and pretenders, those who pretend to love Ndigbo that they are not more Igbo than I am and do not love Igbos more than I am. The difference is while they want immediate and brutal approach, I, Hope Uzodimma, want an enduring and peaceful approach that can comprehensively address Igbo challenges in a modern Nigeria.”

In the event attended by former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu; Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Theodore Orji, Frank Ibezim among others, the Imo governor reminded his audience that though critics had given several interpretations to the leadership concerning the constitution amendment, he added that the leaders would carry the burden of criticism.