Ohanaeze Youths Wing on Saturday expressed solidarity with Ijaw youths in the on-going activities to commemorate the 50th memorial of late Ijaw icon Jasper Boro and called for restructuring the federation.

Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa Coordinator of Ohanaeze Youths Wing in South-South, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the group had enjoyed a harmonious relationship with Ijaw people in Niger Delta.

He said that Ohanaeze youths were participating in the week-long activities including processions, public lectures exhibitions lined up for the 50th anniversary of Boro’s demise.

He noted that the youths were desirous of building bridges of peace and friendship across various regions of the country and hoped to actualise a restructured federation before the 2019 general elections.

The youth leader who is a member of the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Youths Wing said that its parent body Ohanaeze Ndigbo believed in restructuring and had scheduled a rally to mobilise support for it.

He said that the restructuring rally scheduled for May 21, 2018, at Awka in Anambra was to sensitise Ndigbo on the merits of restructuring and to reposition Igbos in a restructured Nigerian Federation.

On the threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to disrupt the restructuring rally, Arthur-Ugwa said that the national leadership of Ohanaeze Youths Wing had urged IPOB to embrace dialogue and consultation.

“Ohanaeze Youths under the leadership Arthur Obiora had stepped in to fill the vacuum created by the lack of leadership at the youths wing of Ohanaeze and he is poised to work for unity and progress of Igbo youths.

“And today following the successful inauguration of the executive we now have a direction. We have asked IPOB to join us to work towards getting to champion the cause of Ndigbo within Nigeria.

“We believe that the aspirations of the Igbos can be realised through peaceful and lawful means and we have confidence in the Chief Nnia Nwodo led Ohanaeze Ndigbo to achieve the goals of our people,” Arthur-Ugwa said.

Update news