EASTER CELEBRATIONS MESSAGE: 2025 NATIONAL CENSUS COMMITTEE – A REPEAT OF THE 1962/63 CENSUS CRISIS OF ETHNIC MISTRUST AND SUSPICION, AS IGBOS VOW TO ESTABLISH A FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST FULANI HERDSMEN AND INSECURITY  

As we gather to commemorate the profound significance of the 2025 Easter celebrations, the Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, extends its heartfelt greetings to all Nigerians, and particularly to the Igbo community both at home and in the diaspora. This sacred season, which celebrates the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, serves as a poignant reminder of hope, renewal, and the strength of our communal bonds.

However, it is with great concern and urgency that we turn our attention to the inauguration of the 2025 National Census Committee by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Ohanaeze Ndigbo unequivocally characterizes this committee as lopsided and poorly constituted, carrying the alarming potential to replicate the errors of the 1962 and 1963 national censuses—errors that resulted in ethnicized figures and severe distortions for partisan political maneuvering. 

We hereby sound a clarion call to the Federal Government: unless immediate steps are taken to disband and reconstitute the 2025 National Census Committee with full adherence to the principles of Federal Character, the delicate threads of ethnic trust will fray further, leading to an environment of suspicion capable of irreparably damaging the integrity and credibility of the impending 2025 National Census and headcount. 

Moreover, the Federal Government must eschew the dangerous practice of yielding to the whims of anarchists and unpatriotic politicians who thrive on nepotism and the perception of favoritism within this committee. Such dynamics risk inflaming tensions and catalyzing violence, undermining the stability that we collectively strive to achieve.

In alignment with our Easter message, we implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exercise decisive leadership by disbanding the current committee and reconvening it in a manner that fairly accommodates all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Such reconstitution is critical to averting the possibility of widespread national protests against skewed census figures that may arise from perceived biases.

Furthermore, it is imperative to address the severe insecurity challenges that have beset the Southeast, which have regrettably obstructed many Igbos in the diaspora from returning home to join their families in the Easter celebrations. The grim reality of the situation necessitates urgent and substantive action to rectify these security challenges, which have driven away both foreign and local investors from our region.

The apparent inaction and conspicuous silence exhibited by our Southeast governors in the face of unrelenting violence is a damning indictment of weak leadership. Their failure to address the unchecked criminal activities perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen, alongside ISIS terrorists masquerading as hunters and kidnappers, signals an alarming acceptance of defeat.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo advocates for the urgent adoption of self-defense measures within our communities, echoing the sentiments of prominent Nigerian security officials who stress the necessity of establishing a fortified first line of defense against these threats. Therefore, we call upon all Igbo Town Union Presidents, Traditional Rulers, Village Heads, and Community Leaders to act expeditiously in erecting defensive structures against Fulani herdsmen, ISIS terrorists, and other armed groups currently exploiting our forests as cover for their criminal endeavors.

In concluding our message, we assert that the self-defense of the Igbo is not merely an option but a fundamental right in facing the escalating threats to our safety and livelihoods. The ongoing conspiracy of silence among Southeast governors must end; we demand proactive engagement and leadership to provide robust solutions to ensure the safety of our communities.

To that end, we implore all Igbo communities to prioritize the formation of strong community-based vigilante groups aimed at safeguarding our farmlands and forests from the perilous incursions of jihadist armed groups in the Southeast.

In this season of renewal and hope, let us unite in purpose and action, resolutely confronting the challenges before us, ensuring a secure and prosperous future for all Ndigbo.

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo  

Date: 19th April 2025