Deportation does not reflect one Nigeria - Groups

Leaders of various organizations and professionals of Igbo extraction in Malaysia and its environs has condemned the deportation of 72 indigenes of Anambra State by the Lagos State government, saying that the action was unconstitutional and that it does not reflect the spirit of one Nigeria.

According to the communique issued at the end of their meeting, the action by the Lagos state government was said to be totally unacceptable to them and that any of such similar treatment of Ndigbo anywhere in Nigeria will not be accepted.

The Convener of the meeting, Comrade Biafra Onyebuchi Diboh who is also President of Ofuobi Nwanneamaka International, in the statement said the deportation within the same nation was unnecessary, inhuman and retrogressive for Nigeria.

Accordingly, the group has also called for an indept inquiry into the matter, noting that it should not be swept under the carpet like other human rights violation that has occurred in the country.

Also, the group affirmed that the forced relocation of the Igbos was in contradiction of the Section 14 (4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which explicitly proclaims: 'The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.

The Pioneer President of Imo Welfare Union in Malaysia, Comrade Collins Baba Awuzie on his own said : 'There is no valid explanation by the Lagos Government to justify the indiscriminate arrests of Ndigbo, dumping them in detention without trial and subsequently deporting them to the South-East in the middle of the night.'

While in the opinion of Patrick Okechukwu, General Secretary of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Malaysian Chapter (NIDO-MY), representative of Abia State Welfare Association in Malaysia said: 'Ndigbo in Malaysia wants the Lagos Government to immediately stop harassing Igbo People going home in the night from their various places of employment or business referring them as 'destitute'.

He added further: 'This action did not in any way reflect one Nigeria and does not project Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as a progressive which he profess to be and is least expected of a learned legal luminary (SAN) like him.
The Communique was signed by the Representatives of various State Associations in Malaysia.

The leaders in attendance include,The Convener ,Comrade Biafra Diboh, Uchenna Ndunaka (Imo) , Ken Chiquado Ezeonu (Anambra) , Ogbonnaya Sunday (Ebonyi) ,Asst Prof Patrick Nwabueze Okechukwu(Abia), Ngwu Daniel Amechi(Enugu) ,Oge Stanley, Collins Baba Awuzie, Chinedu Onyia and host of others