Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Factional Secretary-General of the Igbo sociocultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on Igbos to observe the 2024 Igbo Day as a period of deep reflection and remembrance for their fallen heroes.
Ohanaeze encourages the Igbo community to hold a minute of silence at noon on September 27, 2024, to honor the heroes of the Southeast as part of this year’s celebrations. In a statement released alongside Local Organizing Committee Chairman Alexander Chikeule Okemiri, Isiguzoro announced the theme for this year: “Ozoemela” (Never Again).
The statement emphasizes the importance of this occasion for honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the Igbo identity and recognizing the suffering that has shaped their history. It highlights the collective trauma from events such as the Biafra War, the Aba Women’s Riot, and various riots that affected the Igbo people.
Ohanaeze urges that the 2024 Igbo Day be observed as a prayer conference, with activities taking place at various worship centers around the world. These include gatherings for Igbo Global Muslims on September 27, Sabbath worshippers on September 28, and Igbo Christian faithful on September 29. Everyone is encouraged to observe a minute of silence at noon on September 29 in their respective time zones to honor the fallen heroes.
This year’s celebration serves not only as a commemoration of the past but also as a moment for collective reflection, healing, and seeking divine forgiveness for the political elite’s misdeeds that have affected the community. Isiguzoro also noted the troubling resurgence of armed Biafra agitators and called for reassessment of their approaches.
He added that this year’s celebration will lead up to the Ohanaeze elections scheduled for January 10-11, 2025, emphasizing the need for prayers for the elections and for the release of political prisoners, particularly Nnamdi Kanu.
Isiguzoro urged the Igbo community to remain prayerful amidst Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and highlighted the need for forgiveness, both for themselves and for those who misunderstand them, affirming the Igbo identity as one of builders and contributors to the nation.
