Ohanaeze accuses Igbo youth of avoiding ethnic chauvinism
The Supreme Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has urged young people in the South East to shun ethnic trends intended to undermine the rights of Nigerians to market their manifestos and candidates.
Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze's National Publicity Secretary, said so in a statement made available to reporters on Friday.
The message reads in full: "Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Ambassador, Professor George Obiozor, urges young people in South East Nigeria to shun ethnic chauvinism ahead of the 2023 general election. Ohanaeze's warning is in reaction to a statement released by Igbo youths under the auspices of the Coalition of South East Young Leaders (COSEYL).The group, quoted by the Guardian Newspaper of August 10, 2022, cautions groups and individuals promoting Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu's presidential ambition to stay away from the area."
" The group called it "unfortunate the way some people in Igbo land would allow themselves to be used to further the ambition of a man who is outdated in all its ramifications in the scheme of things to vote in as Nigerian President in 2023" Ohanaeze Ndigbo recognizes the inalienable rights of individuals and groups to express their views on national issues, but advises that these rights should not infringe on the rights of other Nigerian citizens.
It is specified that each of the presidential candidates has every right to campaign and solicit votes in all regions of the country. In other words, given that presidential candidates from the South East or of Igbo extraction enjoy unlimited access and mass following in other geopolitical areas of the country, it is a self-immolation. political and indeed very thoughtless for COSEYL to embark on a misstep that may diminish the Igbo patina for interethnic conviviality.
"It is further emphasized that the COSEYL statement is at odds with the Igbo character of liberality, hospitality, frontier spirit and accommodation of diverse interests. The Southern Constituency -East has enough political awareness or enlightenment to assess presidential candidates as they travel to the Southeast to market their manifestos and solicit votes.
As we celebrate International Youth Day with the theme of generational solidarity; it is necessary that as leaders of tomorrow, instead of an archaic and relentless adherence to prosaic ethnic indulgences, it is far better to develop inter-ethnic solidarity with an all-encompassing national ideology in which the productive energies of young people of diverse parts of the country will merge. This is ideal.
"For further clarification, it is a subversion of the democratic process and indeed a potent source of national crises for candidates to perceive threats or hostility from groups within the country. "While we share the passion and grievances of the Igbo youth, maturity is still 'necessary in our political activism to avoid ultra-ethnic chauvinism.'
READ ALSO IN NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
The Supreme Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has urged young people in the South East to shun ethnic trends intended to undermine the rights of Nigerians to market their manifestos and candidates.
Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze's National Publicity Secretary, said so in a statement made available to reporters on Friday.
The message reads in full: "Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, led by Ambassador, Professor George Obiozor, urges young people in South East Nigeria to shun ethnic chauvinism ahead of the 2023 general election. Ohanaeze's warning is in reaction to a statement released by Igbo youths under the auspices of the Coalition of South East Young Leaders (COSEYL).The group, quoted by the Guardian Newspaper of August 10, 2022, cautions groups and individuals promoting Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu's presidential ambition to stay away from the area."
" The group called it "unfortunate the way some people in Igbo land would allow themselves to be used to further the ambition of a man who is outdated in all its ramifications in the scheme of things to vote in as Nigerian President in 2023" Ohanaeze Ndigbo recognizes the inalienable rights of individuals and groups to express their views on national issues, but advises that these rights should not infringe on the rights of other Nigerian citizens.
It is specified that each of the presidential candidates has every right to campaign and solicit votes in all regions of the country. In other words, given that presidential candidates from the South East or of Igbo extraction enjoy unlimited access and mass following in other geopolitical areas of the country, it is a self-immolation. political and indeed very thoughtless for COSEYL to embark on a misstep that may diminish the Igbo patina for interethnic conviviality.
"It is further emphasized that the COSEYL statement is at odds with the Igbo character of liberality, hospitality, frontier spirit and accommodation of diverse interests. The Southern Constituency -East has enough political awareness or enlightenment to assess presidential candidates as they travel to the Southeast to market their manifestos and solicit votes.
As we celebrate International Youth Day with the theme of generational solidarity; it is necessary that as leaders of tomorrow, instead of an archaic and relentless adherence to prosaic ethnic indulgences, it is far better to develop inter-ethnic solidarity with an all-encompassing national ideology in which the productive energies of young people of diverse parts of the country will merge. This is ideal.
"For further clarification, it is a subversion of the democratic process and indeed a potent source of national crises for candidates to perceive threats or hostility from groups within the country. "While we share the passion and grievances of the Igbo youth, maturity is still 'necessary in our political activism to avoid ultra-ethnic chauvinism.'
READ ALSO IN NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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