Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has debunked media publication which claimed that over “100 Northerners were murdered in the South-East within last week,” dismissing the said publication as “a lie from the pit of hell.”
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation which also claimed that the publication was a calculated attempt to disrepute the zone and possibly de-market the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, that is currently gaining national and international acceptability.
Ohanaeze called for the investigation of those behind the unfounded allegation, urging security agencies to arrest them and compel them to show proof of the location of the alleged genocide and the identifies of the victims.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, urged members of the public to discountenance the said report.
Ohanaeze expressed shock that a supposedly media organization would run with an unsubstantiated claims as its front page story without any efforts to verify such bogus claims capable of setting the country aflame.
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read: “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to the front page report by the Daily Trust Newspaper of Friday, December 16, 2022, to the effect that the “Coordinator of the Northern Consensus Forum, Dr Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu” and others have “directed commodity traders and truck drivers to shun the South-East of Nigeria over incessant killings of their members by members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB),” adding that “they have declared 3 days warning strike due to the constant killing of the northerners in the South-East.”
“The most disturbing part of the report is that “not less than 100 northerners were murdered in the South-East within last week.”
“In the first place, it is a lie from the pit of hell that “not less than 100 northerners were murdered in the South-East within last week.”
“Second: the said Dr. Aliyu has not been in the picture among the Northern leaders resident in the South-East and as such is not in a position to speak on the relationship between the Northerners and the people of the South-East.
“Third: one begins to imagine the very intendment of the purveyor of such a false, mendacious and devilish alarm that “not less than 100 northerners have been killed in the South-East within last week.”
“Four: an introspection will reveal the damage caused on the image of Nigeria among the comity of nations that 100 persons are killed in one week. Five: apart from the negative image to Nigeria, such unverified front page report is a breach on the duties and civic responsibilities expected of a national daily such as the Daily Trust.
“Six: investigative journalism suggests that both the number of persons killed and the locations where they were killed should have been indicated in the report by the Daily Trust. Seven: unfortunately, Aliyu has inadvertently reduced the worth of a Nigerian to that of a chicken that could be slaughtered in hundreds within a week.
“Eight: the onus lies on Aliyu to locate the corpses of the said 100 persons.
Nine: Evidently, such false alarm is a security threat capable of causing pandemonium across the country. Ten: Going further, is there any other group, among the diverse groups in Nigeria that has come up with a claim of killings by the IPOB? And many more questions that ordinarily will compel the security agents to interrogate the said Coordinator of the Northern Consensus Forum, Dr Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu and adequate measures taken to serve as a deterrent to other alarmists.”
The apex Igbo body noted, however, that there had been unrest in the South-East, but said efforts had been on to bring it under control.
It urged the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the zone by taking necessary steps including negotiations with the actors to quell the insecurity in the zone.
“There is no gainsaying the relentless efforts of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Clergy, traditional rulers and indeed all the well-meaning Igbo about the adverse consequences of youth restiveness in the South-East.
“We have in that trepidation repeatedly called on the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to come to our aid by adopting a political solution to the agitations by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
“We note with sadness, that various forms of insecurity such as banditry, kidnapping, herders-farmers clash, etc have come to define our daily lives. We hold the view that while some aspects of the insecurity in Nigeria are amorphous, the IPOB are a known group that can be negotiated out of the present socio-economic quagmire.”
Ohanaeze said that Obi could be the target of the false publication as those who feel threatened by his swelling support across the country are desperately looking for ways to de-market him.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the alarmist publication in question is politically motivated to create mistrust between the North and the South.
“It is therefore curious that the first time an Igbo, Mr Peter Obi, is gaining unprecedented authentic national and international endorsements based on his outstanding performance credentials, for to the leadership of the country, instead of appeal to justice, equity and reflective mutual reciprocity, some crisis entrepreneurs are sowing the seeds of discord and deep mistrust between the North and the South-East.”
Ohanaeze said that the South-East and other zones particularly the North had enjoyed very cordial relationship over the years.
“It is important to inform the “new-breed” chauvinists that the Igbo friendliness, hospitality and cosmopolitanism have often found profound expressions in diverse inter-ethnic relations in Nigeria.
“For instance, a Fulani man from Sokoto Caliphate – Mallam Umaru Altine, was in 1952 elected as the first Mayor of the City of Enugu, the heartbeat of the Igbo Nation. He contested for a second term and won and remained in office till 1958.
“Also in 1959, the Igbo, led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, supported Alhaji Tafawa Balewa to become the Prime Minister of Nigeria. Furthermore, the Igbo led by Dr. Alex Ekwueme supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari to become the President of Nigeria in 1979; also to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, 2007 and in 2015, a group of Igbo led by Dr. Chris Ngige, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, among others, supported the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“Apart from the democratic dispensations, the South-East were obliged to the military Heads of State such as Gen.Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Gen.Sani Abacha and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar; all from the North.”
Ohanaeze warned against giving ethnic coloration to the insecurity in parts of the country including the unrest in South-East.
“The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor lays no pretensions to the insecurity in the South-East of Nigeria but frowns at any form of mischief that incites the North against the South-East.
“In other words, the likes of Aliyu are drawn to a recent remark by Sarkin Hausawa or the Leader of the Northerners in Enugu State, Alhaji Abubakar Sambo. Speaking on the cordial relationship between the Northerners and their Igbo host, Sambo enthused “I can confidently tell you that we have a strong bond and that we feel like a part of the government.
“Yes, we have a lot of representatives in various committees in the state government. The first is the most powerful committee that the governor has given so much attention and commitment to financially, morally and what have you – that is the Enugu State Security and Peace Committee. The committee has been in existence since the inception of this current government and we’ve been working. In that committee, I happen to be a member and there are about 10 other Northerners in that committee. We have the representatives of the Commissioner of Police, the Director of SSS, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state who comes in person.”
“The above Sambo euphoria is reflected in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states of the South-East. This indeed is the Igbo characterisation.”
Ohanaeze urged Northerners in the South-East to disregard the false publication and go about their lawful businesses without fear.
Noting that “the incessant sit-at-home in the South-East is an ill wind that blows nobody any good,” Ohanaeze urged the Presidency to engage those behind the development in meaningful dialogue for the peace of the zone.
