What the Igbos want

The Igbos are through and through very republican. It is difficult to place a

finger on their current agitation for self determination.

Many Igbos and groups who feel otherwise would have no qualms about opting out of the current agitation. It is not out of place.

One thing is certain. The Igbos are jointly and severally like many other Nigerians very resilient.

They may appear not to be together but like other Nigerians, they want a sense of belonging.

Assure them of this and it will take the wind from the sails of those in the forefront of the current agitation for self determination.

The question then arises as to who is denying the Igbos of this sense of belonging? Truth be told, it is about time, an Igbo becomes President of Nigeria not as a compensation but as of right.

That the Igbos like other ethnic groups who have had the privilege of producing the President can equally do so is not in doubt.

The civil war ended in 1970 more than 50 years ago and yet the Igbos are continually being made to pay the price.

This is so wrong. If the Igbos are not good enough to belong to Nigeria, there are ways to tell them.

While the United Nations talks of a people's right to self determination, the Nigerian State can help the Igbos by calling for a referendum to determine if the Igbos are good enough to remain Nigerians.

While the Igbos may appear now not to be together, as sure as the Sun rises from the East and sets in the West, the Igbos would gladly embrace a vote against their continuing with the Nigerian State and equally welcome a vote to continue.

To quell the agitations, the rest of Nigeria should equally be prepared to accept the result of a referendum to determine whether the Igbos remain or go.

That not all Nigerians will like the result is a given but life sure will continue. 

A shot at a referendum is a sure way ahead.