30 May 2021. Daily Post, Nigeria: An Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has advised governors of Igbo extraction and pro-Biafran groups to shun threatening comments and action that could lead to tension in southeastern states.
This is even as Ohanaeze youths demanded that the Igbo governors of the old eastern region should declare 30th May of every year as a public holiday to commemorate fallen Biafra soldiers during the 1967-1970 civil war.
The Igboayaka O Igboayaka-led OYC, in a release made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, tasked senators, House of Representatives members of old eastern extraction as well as the State Houses of Assembly to join in the movement to institutionalize May 30th as a mourning day and a meeting point to discuss how the survival of the genocide against easterners will make a genuine living.
It stated, “May 30th should not only be seen as a day we should literarily observe the “sit-at-home order”, rather in honour of Biafran fallen heroes who died during the Nigeria/ Britain genocide against Eastern Nigeria people, it should also be a day set aside to have creative discussions and lecture sessions to continuously design possible ways for economic development of Igbo land and political survival of Igbo sons and daughters”.
Shedding more light, OYC said the event would create room for a meeting point for all Igbos both home and abroad to discuss fundamental issues for a wider economic empowerment of Igbo youths.
The socio-cultural body called on the Igbo technocrats outside the land to use May 30th to locate home and offer their professional services to the socio-political and economic development of Igboland and to identify the bane of Southeast development with a view to ending the plethora of challenges facing the region.
The release partly stated, “we, the Ohanaeze Youth Counci knowing that Ndigbo was the major target of the 1967-1970 Nigeria/ Biafra led genocide, therefore, Ndigbo should be at forefront of 30th May Remembrance of Igbo fallen heroes.
“The council knowing that Ndigbo are the largest African Race with the total population strength of 42.8% of the Nigeria population therefore, accept and adopt the 30th day of May, as Commemoration Day of Biafran Heroes.
“OYC advice the Pro Biafran groups, MASSOB, IPOB, Zonist, Biafra National Council, Eastern People Congress, Movement of Biafra In Nigeria, Biafra National League to work with political actors of Igbo extraction, governors, senators and others to make 30th May Heroes Day naturally accepted by eastern people like how the Yoruba’s institutionalized June 12.
“To quench this regular tension in Igbo land in every 30th May, the Igbo political leaders, Religion leaders, traditional leaders and Pro-Biafran leaders must work in signage and ensure that 30th May become a memorable day of ” Intellectual discussion in honor of Biafran fallen heroes and a day of economic cum socio-political planning for the survival of Ndigbo in this contraption called Nigeria”.
