About 42 Igbo organisations have planned to organise a five million-man march for what they describe as true federalism in the five south eastern states in December.

They say the protest march will hold simultaneously in Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states at a date before Christmas. The Founder of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Evangelist Elliot Uko, made this known after a marathon meeting with Igbo traders organisations and some Niger Delta groups.

The Niger Delta groups which attended the meeting yesterday at the IYM secretariat in Enugu included, Union of Niger Delta and South-South Youth Congress, among others.

According to Uko, 13 different marches for the restructuring of Nigeria will hold in Afikpo, Abakaliki, Nsukka, Enugu, Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia, Okigwe, Owerri, Orlu, Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka.

He said: “These peaceful marches will be led by the clergy and students groups in each of the cities and towns in the South East.

“Only the truth can save the situation and the truth is that Nigeria must be urgently restructured in order to give all sections a sense of belonging thereby enthroning true federalism without delay. Only an early return to true federalism will heal Nigeria.

“I do not think any Igbo leader will be stupid enough to commit political suicide by trying to deny the truth.

“Any attempt to impose scripted agenda on the people will only drive those leaders to irrelevance and self-destruction.”

•Excerpted from a Saturday Vanguard report. Photo shows IYM President, Evangelist Elliot Uko.