As the South-East marks 58 years since the declaration of the defunct Republic of Biafra, prominent Igbo leader and former President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, has decried what he calls the “despicable” marginalisation of Ndigbo in Nigeria’s political and governance structure under President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Uwazurike said that despite the years gone by, the lessons of May 30 — the day Biafra was declared in 1967 — remain etched in the DNA of every Igbo person and cannot be ignored or erased.
“May 30 is in Igbo blood. It’s a day that must always be remembered, no matter how quietly. It can’t be swept aside,” he stated.
Uwazurike accused the current administration of continuing a long trend of political exclusion of the Southeast, saying the region has been relegated to the background in federal appointments.
“Today, the Southeast has only one major minister — Dave Umahi — and three assistant ministers. Compare that to a single state like Ogun, which has four full ministers,” he lamented.
He further argued that during the administrations of Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Jonathan, there was a conscious effort to ensure inclusiveness in federal appointments. But under successive governments, especially during Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure and now Tinubu’s, the Igbo have been reduced to mere spectators.
“With people like Buhari, the war never ended. The Igbo were not conquered and can never be suppressed. Today we’re still asking for the same level playing field that led to the events of May 30, 1967,” he said.
Uwazurike pointed out that the Southeast currently holds no top-ranking political or judicial positions in the nation’s leadership hierarchy — from the presidency down to the National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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“No Igbo person is the president, vice, Senate President, Speaker, or Chief Justice. Even in party leadership, we are totally absent,” he said.
Touching on youth agitation in the region, Uwazurike described it as a natural response to long-standing discrimination and systemic injustice. He attributed the growing Biafra sentiment among younger Igbo generations to daily experiences of exclusion — from educational cut-off disparities to civil service stagnation and military sidelining.
“When a young Igbo scores 280 in JAMB and is denied admission, while someone with 150 gets in, how do you explain that? The child grows up angry, and when he asks questions, he’s told about Biafra,” he explained.
On the proliferation of pro-Biafran groups, Uwazurike insisted that while the cause is legitimate and embedded in the Igbo psyche, true agitations must be peaceful and devoid of violence.
“Genuine Biafran agitations are not violent. Those who use violence to harass people every Monday are criminals, not freedom fighters. The army should stop looking away,” he warned.
Calling for structural justice and true federalism, he said Nigeria must begin to operate based on merit and fairness to all, regardless of tribe or religion.
“Whether Biafra succeeds or not, Nigeria must be for everybody. We must practice what’s on our coat of arms — justice and equity,” he concluded.