East Chicago, Indiana – November 24, 2015 – Igbo League, Inc., a US based human rights and advocacy group in a statement issued today described the current demonstrations, especially in the Southeast geopolitical zone, as an indictment of the entire political leadership in the zone. According to Dr. Kanayo K. Odeluga, Executive Director, Igbo League, “the governors in the zone to a large extent have failed to use allocated resources to improve the welfare of their residents through job creation, upgrading infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities. Elected representatives at both State and federal levels have also failed in their responsibility to effectively advocate for the welfare and give voice to the needs of their constituents.”
This failure of governance and effective representation has led to the absence of well-paying public sector jobs and decay of basic infrastructures such as roads, bridges, electricity and telecom services in the zone. The collapse of the zone’s once vibrant economy has led to a mass migration of residents out of the zone in search of opportunities in other parts of the country where they have not always been welcomed, and have in some instances encountered discrimination, abuse, threat of bodily harm and even death.
It is in this context therefore, that we see these demonstrations as a cry for help. It is apparent that the Nigerian security apparatus, by their recent public statements, appear to have completely missed the point.
We hope that this serves a wakeup call for the political leadership to take their duty and responsibility to the people seriously.
Contact: Kanayo K. Odeluga MD.MPH
Executive Director,
Igbo League, Inc.
www.igboleague.org