OPINION: The South East Governors And The Blood Of Igbos, By Igwe Okoronkwo

World over the head (father)of every family is usually looked up to by other  members of the family for their protection and preservation. This is why when a child is threatened by an outsider, he runs back home believing that with his father not even a roaring  lion can harm him.

No  responsible father or head of family will ever support or do anything that would expose his child or wards to danger. Again, a responsible father or head of family does not keep quiet in the face of threatening danger to his family. He must do and be seen to be doing  something reasonable  to avert the impending doom.

The Igbos are one big family with five fathers or heads of the family. These five Governors of the five Igbo States therefore owe Ndi-Igbo a great duty.  That duty is to protect and preserve the dignity and lives of the Igbos. This is one duty the Northern Governors never fail to deliver to their people. We saw this in the recent drama over the arrest of the Arewa Youths over the quit notice they issued to the Igbos living in the North. The Northern Governors and leaders stood against the arrest and none of the youths was arrested.

With the recent militarization of Igbo land by Buhari and the readiness of the military to start spilling the blood of the Igbos starting from this week, one would have expected the Governors to call Buhari to Order. As the Chief Security Officers of the Igbo Nation,  it is the duty of  the Governors to stop this reckless killing of the Igbos by Buhari. But till today, the Governors are yet to say or do anything about it.

Their reason for turning blind eyes to the impending gruesome massacre  of the Igbos by the Buhari military  may be that they have warned the youths against insisting on Biafra. But what better alternative exists for the Igbos other than Biafra? What is wrong with a people seeking for self determination? Had the Nigerian state being fair and just to Ndi-Igbo, would the youths be asking for Biafra?

Now, if Buhari could negotiate with Boko Haram Terrorists what is wrong in negotiating with the Igbos who  in their agitation for justice,fairness,and good governance have remained non violent? When in the history of Nigeria has the Northern leaders approve the annihilation of their people no matter their crime?  So why are our own Governors keeping quiet?

It is my advice that the five South East Governors should rise up now to their constitutional and moral duties to Ndi-Igbo. Violence is an ill wind that knows no bounds. If they, for whatever reason, continue to support, directly or indirectly, the killing of the Igbos by Buhari, a day may come when, out of frustration,  the remnant of the Igbos may engage them or their children. If that doesn't happen,  then the blood of every slained Biafran may haunt them continually.