Vincent Ujumadu
30 December 2008
Lagos — AWKA-LEADER of the Igbo National Council and secretary of Anambra State branch of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Meshack Umeike has said in Awka that no amount of amendment of the 1999 constitution would make it workable and acceptable to the people because the constitution was faulty from the foundation level.
Speaking in an interview in Awka, Umeike suggested the institution of a conference of the various ethnic nationalities in the country who would fashion out an ideal constitution for the country as had been previously canvassed.
"Any attempt to frog-leap from a constitution forced down on our throats through the barrel of the gun by the military, to an amended constitution brokered by the people assembled in Abuja by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rigging machinery and their cohorts that have the same identity, would not work."
According to him, the nation has the chance of a life time to address the issues which the various ethnic nationalities have been complaining about in the Nigeria project, adding that no amount of maneuvering would solve the problem.
Citing the case of Igbos as an example, Umeike alleged that the eight years of the last administration pursued a consistent policy of annihiliation against the ethnic group, adding that the former president elevated racial and ethnic hatred against Ndigbo in an obvious attempt to continue the unfinished business many thought was settled in 1970.
He also accused the regime of deliberately reducing Igbos to a minority ethnic group which has drastically affected them in such areas as revenue allocation, political representation and employment opportunities.
He however fingered some Igbos who found themselves in positions of authority as being part of the problem, arguing that the first thing the people should do is to identify their true leaders and hold them responsible if there were anomalies since most of the people occupying various positions have shown through their actions that they were not sent by the people.
He said that if the Igbos exposed to leadership in the country had done their bits, the lot of the average Igbo person would have improved, pointing out that it is not yet late.
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