Pro-Biafra agitation: Ndigbo are better off in Nigeria – Peter Obi; Asks Buhari govt to urgently address grievances of agitators

Former Governor of Anambra State, Sir Peter Obi has posited that it is better for Ndigbo to remain in Nigeria than have a separate state of Biafra, stressing, however, that the grievances of the pro-Biafra agitators is ‘valid and must be urgently addressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.’

Sir Obi, who was reacting to the upsurge in pro-Biafra agitations in the recent past, especially in cities of the South East and South South zones, attributed the escalation of the crisis to the fact there is a disconnect between the Igbo elite and grassroots.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, Sunday, Obiwho is also a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange commission (SEC), said that the agitators’ demands are basic and real and must be attended to by government, lamenting, however, that the Igbo elite who would have better articulated these grievances and dialogued with the authorities had become so far removed from the people that they have no other way of communicating their demands than through protests.

He said that he had started reaching out to some of the leaders of the agitation, stressing that the pro-Biafra movement has gained considerable following across the world and must be handled carefully by the government in power so that it does not get out of hand.

He called for support for the governments of the South East zone states, especially from business people and corporate bodies, particularly in the areas of siting of employment generating projects in the zone and in education, which area he has made his priority concern out of government.

He revealed that he still mobilizes funds from friends and associates to donate to secondary schools in the remotest parts of different states in the zone for projects in the schools. According to him, he visits at least one secondary school every month where he donates about N1million to each of the schools, most of which are dilapidated or lack qualified teachers, libraries, laboratories or such other essentials.

He admitted that governments alone could not handle the challenges facing the education sector, especially in the South East zone, hence he called for the active involvement of individuals and corporate bodies in the efforts to boost education.

On how states and the Federal Government could come out of the current economic crisis, Obi said that prudent management of available resources was the key, cautioning against the temptation to take too much loans.

According to him, once governments concentrate only on essentials, cutting down drastically on the cost of governance, the savings that they would make could go a long way in funding some projects, pointing out that that was how he was able to run Anambra State for eight years successfully without borrowing and at the end of his tenure, left behind substantial cash and other tangible investments for his successor.

He called for support for his successor, Governor Willie Obiano, pointing out that people often make the mistake of comparing his style of governance with that of his successor, stressing that no two individuals could operate exactly the same way.

He commended Gov. Obiano’s recent donation of security vehicles and equipment to the Police in the state, saying that such a gesture was in the best interest of the people of the state as it would enhance security of lives and property, calling on those that would use the vehicles and gadgets to use them well.