Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has reaffirmed the necessity of Nigeria's restructuring and provided historical examples to back up his claims.
Iwanyanwu stated that the demand for restructuring is not new and shouldn't be mistaken for a call for secession, according to The Sun report. He linked the movement for restructuring to the period prior to independence, when the North chose not to participate in the planned union of the protectorates in the North and the South.
Iwanyanwu stated in the exclusive interview with The Sun that nationalists like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe persuaded the North to support a united Nigeria. He also brought up Adaka Boro, who, as a result of marginalization, called for restructuring and secession in the Niger Delta.
Iwanyanwu drew parallels between these historical occurrences and the current Nigerian agitation led by Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho, and others. Noting that Sunday Igboho, who also advocated for the establishment of the Oduduwa Republic, had been set free, he asked why Nnamdi Kanu's situation should be any different.
He said, "Think of the man Sunday Igboho who declared Oduduwa, is he not walking free now? What was his reasons? He said that Nigeria should either be made to give all Nigerians a sense of belonging or have them leave. So, why is Nnamdi sounding so different and difficult to understand?"
According to him, the need for restructuring stems from the need for justice, equity, and a sense of community. The leader of Ohanaeze expressed hope that Nigerians are starting to understand that restructuring is necessary and that it is feasible under the current government.