Former Head of
State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), has admitted that the Igbo nation had been
marginalised in Nigeria’s polity.
The ex-Head of State
spoke at a public event organised by Igbo Leadership Development Foundation on
Thursday.
Gowon said that
appropriate measures must be put in place to ameliorate the pains of the Igbo.
Gowon was
represented by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr.
Obadiah Mailafia.
Gowon said Nigeria
had what it takes to cater adequately for its citizens irrespective of tribe or
creed.
He said, “I believe
that a lot of injustice has been done to the Igbos and a constitutional debate
on restructuring must address all imbalances and restore hope and confidence.
“Nigeria is big
enough for all of us and I believe that the Igbo, Middle Belt and the Yoruba
are the true Nigerians because if you look round our borders, people came from
abroad and are still coming but Ndigbo have always been there, Middle Belt
people have always been there, even Yoruba have always been there.
“People who came in
yesterday who have a duty of respect are now the ones talking. Going forward,
we must create a federal democracy that will respond positively to all the
aspirations of our people not about East-West but all about working together in
equality, bringing in the youths and the women to build a new Nigeria.”
Gowon noted that
Nigeria cannot be complete without Ndigbo, adding that the nation needs to
properly harness the intelligence, creativity and hard work of Ndigbo for
national growth.
He said there should
be justice, equity and fair play in the country.
”I am not a friend
of hate speech and bitterness but a friend of patriotism because Nigeria is
dear to my heart and I believe in bright future of Nigeria and Ndigbo and that
together, we can make our country great,” he said.
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