Igbo Renaissance Forum, Enugu State Chapter, has lamented the inhuman
and demeaning treatment currently being meted out on Ndi Igbo and
other Nigerians residing in China.
The forum in a press statement signed by its International Coordinator, Mr. Nze Onwuka, has therefore called on all South East political leaders and Governors to rise up to their responsibilities and save their people saying the deafening silence in the face of life threatening challenges facing their people in China is disdainful.
The group in a statement tagged, “Fate Of Ndi Igbo Stranded And Molested In China, When Silence Is Goldenly Evil – Igbo Renaissance Forum”, said “We received with amazement and shock the inhuman and demeaning treatment currently being meted out on Ndi Igbo and other Nigerians in China. A few days ago, videos of molestation and intimidation of Ndi Igbo and other Nigerians living in China went viral online. We have taken time to investigate the matter and have
confirmed the videos that we received in relation to the incidents recorded as factual.
“We want to use this medium to speak directly to the South East political leaders, and specifically to the South East Governors that your deafening silence in the face of obvious life-threatening circumstances facing your people in China is disdainful and insensitive to put it mildly.
The Forum described as sad that while Nigerians stranded in China are
being subjected to inhuman treatments by the Chinese “It is even more sad that our leaders, who were always screaming on podiums during campaigns, vowing and pledging to protect and preserve our lives and rights have decided to be very silent and are acting as if they are deaf, dumb and blind!
“We are waiting for Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to address this matter with the urgency it deserves. It is disheartening for us as Ndi Igbo to observe the kind of efforts that go into rescuing citizens from regions other than ours from unsavoury situations, only to see a snail speed action when any bad situation seems to affect Ndi Igbo more.”
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The forum therefore demands that the South East Governors by Friday 10th of April 2010 should tell Ndi Igbo in definite terms, the course of action on how to engage the federal government to evacuate their people facing homelessness, anxiety, vagaries of the weather and ultimately COVID-19 in China at this moment.
“We resolve that the South East Governors constitute a Diaspora interface organization at the shortest possible time, made up of credible individuals to get to work and to quickly come up with a comprehensive welfare report on Ndi Igbo across the globe. This is very pertinent for us, as we battle this pandemic and beyond, for R&D purposes.
“We demand that a database of Ndi Igbo stranded in China be raised immediately. That is the only way we can work out an efficient plan for a successful action.
“We demand that the South East Governors, the South East Parliamentary Caucus and Ohaneze Ndigbo convene an emergency meeting on or before the 15th of April, 2020 to holistically look at the Igbo nation and its survival through this COVID-19 pandemic and beyond as we are tired of the silence in the face of serious threats to our existence by the effects of the measures to combat COVID-19 globally.”
While urging those caught in this unfortunate situation in China not
to lose hope, as they are not alone, the forum urged them to maintain the peace and be of good conduct as great ambassadors, vowing not to rest until they are safely evacuated back to Nigeria.
They also commended the courage and resilience of frontline health workers in the fight against the ravaging and rampaging COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and prayed they stay protected by nature as they save lives just as they advised everyone to ensure that safety precautions are followed and that citizens should endeavour to stay at home and help stop the spread of the virus.
