Marginalized and Silenced: IPOB Cries Out Over Systemic Exclusion of Igbos in Nigeria”

 The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other concerned voices from the South East have once again raised alarm over what they describe as “blatant and systematic marginalization of the Igbo people by the Nigerian federal government.” The group accuses the government of deploying policies and infrastructure projects in a way that deliberately excludes the region while branding any protest from the people as “IPOB troublemaking.”

Student Loan Scheme Excludes South East

According to IPOB, the recently launched federal student loan program—intended to ease the burden of tuition for students across Nigeria—has suspiciously excluded public tertiary institutions in the South East. “How can you preach one Nigeria when federal programs meant for the youth deliberately sideline our children?” asked a university student in Enugu.

JAMB Results Raise Eyebrows

Another point of contention is the recently released JAMB results, where candidates from the South East recorded unusually high failure rates. IPOB alleges foul play and demands transparency in the grading and verification process. “This is not failure by effort, it is systemic sabotage,” said an education activist in Abia.

No Functional Sea Port

Despite being a major commercial hub with a vast entrepreneurial population, the South East remains without a functional sea port. IPOB claims that all efforts to upgrade the Onitsha River Port or build a viable sea port in the region have been stalled intentionally.

Key Federal Agencies: No Igbo Leadership

Federal agencies like the NNPC, FIRS, and Customs reportedly have little to no representation from the South East at leadership levels. IPOB sees this as a clear sign of exclusion. “We are qualified. We are educated. Yet, we are never picked,” said an analyst in Anambra.

International Airport and Railway: Still a Dream

The region still lacks a fully functional international airport and is absent from the national railway network. While other regions boast of rail links and foreign air traffic hubs, the South East remains disconnected. “We fly to Abuja just to fly abroad. Is that fair?” lamented a businesswoman from Imo.

Over-Policing and Checkpoints

While underdeveloped in infrastructure, the South East is saturated with military checkpoints, sometimes more than one within a single kilometer. Locals complain of harassment, extortion, and delay. “It feels like a military zone, not a civilian region,” said a motorist in Ebonyi.

Labeled at Every Turn

IPOB insists that every time Igbos raise their voices in protest, they’re quickly labeled as separatists or terrorists. “When we cry, you call us IPOB. When we beg, you ignore us. When we sit quietly, you forget us,” a youth leader from Nsukka said.

The Call for Justice

The group calls on the international community, human rights organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to take note of these patterns and demand equity. “You cannot build a country by suppressing one of its pillars,” IPOB stated in a press release.