More Igbo leaders and concerned organisations in the Southeast on Saturday reacted to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor’s declaration that ‘Ndigbo would not support Nigeria’s break-up.’ While some dismissed Ohanaeze’s stance, others explained the kind of united Nigeria Ndigbo desire. Former civilian governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, says the statement credited to Obiozor, that the group does not support the breakup of Nigeria, is in order.

In a telephone interview with The Nation, Ezeife said Obiozor may have spoken the mind of a majority of mature, older and educated people.

“We understand what is happening; the people pressing for Biafra, if you conduct a referendum among the people, more than 80 percent will support Biafra. I don’t and many older ones also don’t. Many intelligent ones do not. We believe that if Nigeria is restricted, there will be no need for a break up. Instead of breaking into small countries, our people like large space. We appreciate God’s design for Nigeria which is to become an unmatchable country. God doesn’t make a mistake. We believe in one Nigeria.”

But the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has dismissed the statement credited to Obiozor, stating that the leader of the apex Igbo group lacks the authority to speak for the region. The leader of MASSOB, Uche Madu, in a telephone chat with our correspondent said Ndigbo do not know who Obiozor is. “The process that brought him in as the President General was not recognised by Ndigbo. So, he doesn’t have the locus standi to speak for Ndigbo. He can only speak for his group of politicians who want to use Ohanaeze to bargain for their political interests. Ndigbo should not listen to him. Nigeria will soon break up. There is nothing that will stop Nigeria from breaking up. There is no way Nigeria can be sustained by the way Buhari is conducting the affairs of Nigeria,” he said.

He further said: “We are not against anybody. Yorubas are clamouring for Oduduwa Republic; Biafrans are clamouring, Middle Belt people are clamouring, even the Hausas that the Fulanis are using are also clamouring for their independence from the Fulani hostage.

Also in a brief telephone chat with The Nation yesterday, Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, the founder of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), said, “The younger generation of Ndigbo, who constitute over 70 percent of the Igbo population, are completely sick and tired of unitary Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution enclosed them, imprisoned them and castrated them. They will never accept unitary Nigeria that is encapsulated in the 1999 Constitution.”