'We are sorry, our elders misled us,' Ndi'gbo tells president

While Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was in court, a group of youths on the platform of Ohaneze Ndi’gbo Students Forum took to the street of Abuja to declare their 'unreserved loyalty' to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

The students who trooped into Abuja from the various higher institutions in the country on Monday, March 20, 2017, endorsed the leadership style of President Buhari.

Addressing the rally at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, President of the group, Osisioma Osikenyi Igwe said the Ndi’gbos made grave mistakes in the past, but were not prepared to repeat same.

He said Ndi’gbo students and youths have come to the inevitable conclusion to embrace change collectively.

Igwe urged South easterners, particularly, MASSOB and IPOB who are 'incensed' about a Biafran Republic to 'extinguish' the idea.

His words: "We have chosen to become part of the change agents, by impressing on our people to sight the bright future Nigeria offers every ethnic nationality, most especially Igbo nation under the God-fearing and de-tribalized leader, President Muhammadu Buhari. We must bury our mundane thoughts that have tethered us to retrogressive sentiments for ages.

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"We are strangely happy in the euphoria of being blinded by our foibles. When we contemplate any remedy, it is usually half-baked and poorly articulated, manifest in the frequent retreat into our cocoons, with loud gospels of separatism. These wrong approaches have failed to give us solace, heal our wounds and cement ties with our Nigerian brothers to work for the prosperity of Nigeria.

"In the years past, we have been misled and enslaved by our people, who exploited our innocence and complacency to market several unfounded and unprofitable sentiments, which poisoned our minds towards our beloved country, Nigeria. Sadly, no one can point to a single reward we’ve got from these wild adventures from our years of silence; our months of endurance and decades of antagonism.

"Over time too, we have silently watched elders of our land; our leaders indulge in excesses that have led us to wrong steps and decisions, which have disappointingly and continuously nurtured the passion of hate against us, as a race in Nigeria. It has rather expanded the frontiers of enmity between us and other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. We cannot continue in this manner and we have taken up the challenge to also lead the path for our elders to follow because the future belongs to the youths"

"We want our Southeastern brothers and sisters to understand in unmistaken terms that Nigeria holds a lot of promise for the Igbo nation than the delusion of a non-existent Biafran state. And luckily, the hour this realisation has dawned on us has come at a time Nigeria is blessed with a good leader, President Buhari. His actions and utterances demonstrate a passion of love for every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion or political affiliation.

"Ndi'gbos have no better time to have a resounding deal in Nigeria, outside of the Buhari Presidency," he added.

The students apologised to President Buhari, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and stakeholders of the party for the embarrassment caused them by the threats of MASSOB and IPOB to disrupt the Pro-Buhari rally in Awka.

He said the students are confident that such 'misguided thoughts and utterances' would never be heard from the Southeast anymore.