The Ohanaeze Youth Council has demanded an immediate apology from Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, over his reference to “Igbo minorities” and “Igbo majorities” in his Independence Day speech.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural youth organisation said the governor’s remarks were divisive and capable of undermining Igbo unity and collective identity.
The OYC National President, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, made the demand while reacting to Uzodimma’s speech in a statement issued to journalists on Monday.
Uzodimma had, during his Independence Day address on October 1, questioned why what he described as “Igbo minorities” were being represented as the majority in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The governor argued that some individuals from the Igbo population were being presented as representatives of the wider Igbo population in the Federal Government.
But Igboayaka rejected the description, insisting that there was no distinction between “Igbo minorities” and “Igbo majorities”.
“There are no Igbo minorities or Igbo majorities existing in any part of the world. The Igbo race is one. There is no lesser, greater or superior Igbo anywhere,” he said.
He urged the governor to desist from what he described as the use of ethnic sentiments to advance personal political interests.
Igboayaka said political differences should not be allowed to undermine the collective interests and unity of the Igbo people.
He challenged Uzodimma to focus on projects capable of transforming the South-East rather than making what he described as divisive remarks.
The OYC president specifically urged the governor to pursue the dredging and development of Ose-Akwa in Ihiala and Ose-Motto in Ugota, which he described as natural deep-sea locations with access to the Atlantic Ocean.
He also asked Uzodimma to emulate Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, whom he said had attracted the proposed Gateway Deep Sea Port project in Ogun Waterside.
Igboayaka said the project, reportedly valued at $7bn and involving DP World, demonstrated how political leaders could focus on economic development and infrastructure.
He further demanded that Uzodimma withdraw and correct his reference to “Igbo minorities” and “Igbo majority” within 48 hours.
The youth leader warned that failure to do so would attract what he described as the “wrath” of traditional institutions and Almighty God.
He argued that geographical location did not determine the status or identity of an Igbo person.
“An Igbo indigenous person in Benue, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River is not a minority or lesser Igbo to an Igbo indigenous person in Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia or Enugu,” Igboayaka said.
He maintained that no Igbo person was superior or inferior to another based on the state or community where the person lived.
Igboayaka also accused some Igbo politicians of making divisive statements in pursuit of personal political interests, saying such actions could weaken the collective voice of Ndigbo.
He called for greater emphasis on unity, economic development and projects that would improve the lives of people across the South-East and Igbo-speaking communities.