An Elder Statesman and Chieftain of the PDP, Chief Mike Ahamba SAN has reaffirmed his identity as a Nigerian and expressed skepticism about the feasibility of secession for the South East. He emphasized his belief that secession would not bring about peace in the Southeast and stated his opposition to such a scenario occurring within his lifetime.
He advocated for a focus on equitable distribution of resources and opportunities among states, rather than resorting to divisive measures such as secession. Furthermore, he rejected the idea of secession as a solution to the challenges faced by the Igbo community in Nigeria, emphasizing the historical achievements of past leaders like Okpara in developing the Eastern region under the Nigerian state. He highlighted Okpara's successful stewardship of the region's economy, which led to international recognition and prosperity through industries like palm oil production should be brought back to the system.
He said in an interview with The Sun, ''I'm a Nigerian till tomorrow, I don't believe that there will be peace in the South East if it secedes and I don't want it in my lifetime. That is the truth of my position, not because I don't like some independence, but all I like is give every state the opportunity to be as big as they produce.
You don't rob Peter to pay Paul and expect peace. Anybody talking about Secession should count me out. It is not the solution to the Igbo problem in this country. In this country, Okpara ruled the Eastern region for five years and made it to be the fastest-growing economy in the South of the Sahara, internationally recognized with palm oil. Malaysia came here and collected palm oil seedlings, the economy of Malaysia is based on palm oil, where is our own?''