The press conference held on 18th April,2021 by Concern Citizen Of Igbo Race at Pool Side of the Imo Concord Hotel Owerri.
EMERGENCE:
There are frightful dangers ahead visible to only those who care beyond their selfish interest. The ship of Igbo Race is fast approaching a huge rock of non-existence in the state hood of Nigerian waters and unless you (Igbo people) quickly rise up to the occasion and courageously steer the ship away from its present course, it shall hit the rocks but may the good Lord of Ndi- Igbo forbid it in Jesus unchallengeable names, amen.
Subsequently, we all know that evil & all forms of societal norms and injustices triumph greatly in a society where good people keep quiet and do nothing!
Therefore, it is based on the above stated facts that a group of concerned Igbos felt that if nothing positive is done and quickly to re-address the ugly trend, a lot of Igbo children will be preparing for moral, economic, political & social doom in the nearest future if it’s not already the case.
To this effect, we believe that the reason Ndi-Igbo have no serious and direct federal influence nor any federal agencies in the region is owning to the fact that we as a people have not really formed a CORDINATED & WELL FOCUS ORIENTED CLAIMS TO ANY DEMAND OR CAUSE AS IT SHALL BENEFIT THE GENERALITY OF OUR DEAR PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY.
COCIR therefore unequivocally decried that despite numerous socio, cultural & political groups that exists amongst the Igbos and the intimating vast population of the Igbo race regrettably; all these have not directly or indirectly benefitted the utmost interest of the entire people of the region.
It’s worth to note that all these have at best contributed to the current woos, insults, injustices being melted to our entire region and people to say the least.
THE WAFORWARD
In order to address some of these prevailing ugly and disturbing happenings in our dear society, we the members of Concerned Citizens Of Igbo Race COCIR as an interest and a mediation group rise in unison to state unequivocally with the following resolutions as reached thus:
1. To work as a watch group over Igbo affairs and people in order to identify, expose and deter all the forms of agent of destabilization amongst Igbos and her allied struggles.
2. To hence forth work to encourage & build on the things that will unite us as a people for mutual benefits in spite of our individual differences.
3. As members of the large Igbo community with the interest of the Igbos at heart, we have just concluded a consolidated opinion pulls amongst Igbos within and outside the country on the perception index regarding the elected leaders of the region especially the Governors’ of the zone, hence we here by appeal to the five Governors of the zone to work hard hence forth to change the negative perception the people of the region have towards them.
Our dear Governors, you must do well to win back the confidence of the people that you are not there to serve the interest of your Northern masters as alleged but for the good interest of the locals through people oriented policies and services.
4. We call on the South East political leaders to shun & jettison all forms of anti, people & selfish tendencies to stand and pursue agenda targeted towards the common good of the entire people & region especially in regards to security of lives & property.
5. The time for the Igbos to speak with one voice regardless of party affiliations and personal interest has come for the common good of the region hence COCIR will not close her eyes to any person or groups defaulting in this note hence forth.
6. COCIR applauds and commend the South East Governors and Ohaneze Leadership on the initiation of a regional security code named Ebube Agu. We appeal for synergy on their part with Eastern Security Network ESN operatives to ensure harmonious operations and effective policing of the zone to ensure no intruder groups gains access to attack any section of the region.
7. COCIR as a mediation group here by appeal for the harmonization and reintegration of ideas amongst the South East Governors, Ohaneze leadership, MASSAB, IPOB groups etc. We reasoned that for the region to truly prospers, there must be unity & peace hence we appeal to the leaders of the region to initiate a reconciliatory stance with IPOB leadership in a bid to iron out any grey areas of distrust for an all inclusive proper dialogue with the Buhari led federal government for we know that all what the region want is justice, fairness, equity not war and its likes.
8. COCIR here by commend the IPOB leadership for her peaceful & non violent principles despite all provocations hence we appeal to them to maintain non violent disposition and do well to tailor down on her operational code in regards to using offensive & harsh words to our national & regional leaders for two wrongs they say cannot make a right.
9. COCIR rise to condemn in totality the treachery and shenanigans decisions and moves by PDP national leadership to deny South East of 2023 presidential ticket slot by jettisoning the age long zoning arrangement now it is the time of the region. Hence, we here by warn them to maintain status quo by doing the right thing or be massively rejected by the people of the region henceforth. For what is good to the goose should also be good to the gender.
10. In the pursuit of equity, fairness and justice we the concerned Citizens of Igbo Race (COCIR) advise the All Progressive Congress (A.P.C) Party Leadership Not to follow the wrong precedents set by the Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P) in technically denying the South East Zone of her party Presidential Ticket by ensuring that justice is served to the region by zoning their president ticket to the south East towards a new and united prosperous Nigeria.
These facts were made and adopted for potential follow up this day Sunday 18th April, 2021 at Imo Concord Hotels Owerri.
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF IGBO RACE (COCIR).
VISION: RESTORING THE UNITY & DIGNITY OF THE IGBOS.
MISSION: PROMOTING THE SPIRIT OF ONENESS AMONG THE IGBOS WORLD OVER.
Signed
Rev. Comr. Emmanuel I. Omeokwe
President
Prince Joseph Nwosu-Okorle Director of Media
Rev. Dr. Basil Ogbonna
Imo State Coordinator