By Joel Eze
… Igbos do not cry for food, but for justice, recognition, and a fair distribution of Nigeria’s collective resources.
“Man shall not live by bread alone,” a biblical assertion and a timeless truth that resonates deeply within the heart of the South East of Nigeria. The Igbos, a people of resilience and strength, have long understood that our struggle transcends the mere quest for sustenance. It is not food that drives our cry, but a profound sense of injustice and inequality that has plagued our existence since independence.
The South East, a crucial pillar of Nigeria’s national structure, we have consistently raised our voice against the systemic inequities that marginalize out people. For decades, the Igbos have stood alone in our cry for fairness and equity, our pleas often falling on deaf ears. The harrowing experiences of 1967-1970, marked by bloodshed, starvation, and the brutal realities of man’s inhumanity to man, have been buried under the weight of historical amnesia. The scars of that period remain fresh, yet the cries of the South East have been largely ignored by successive governments.
Today, the Tinubu Government of Renewed Hope has arrived with promises of change, addressing several long-standing grievances. Initiatives like the immediate payment of ex-Biafran soldiers’ pension, the appointment of a Chief of Naval Staff from the region, the establishment of the South East Development Commission, and the hopeful balance in the appointment equation , signal a shift in the narrative.
However, it is crucial to understand that these actions, while significant, do not erase the deep-seated inequalities that have long been a part of the South East’s reality. The Igbos do not cry for food, but for justice, recognition, appointment and a fair distribution of Nigeria’s collective resources. The boycott of the hunger protests that Nigeria is engulfed in now stands as a symbol of our protest not merely about physical hunger but a fierce declaration of our enduring struggle against systemic disenfranchisement.
The South East will continue to stand firm with the positive policies of Mr. President, not driven by the need for food but by an unwavering demand for equity and justice. The Tinubu administration’s efforts are acknowledged, appreciated and celebrated, but the path to true equality requires more than just policy changes; it demands a fundamental shift in the nation’s approach to justice and fairness.
As the South East moves forward, our voice remains a powerful testament to our unyielding spirit. We do not cry for food. We cry for the right to stand equal, to have our cries for justice heard, and to live in a nation where our contributions are recognized and valued.
