Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has said it had nothing to do with a newspaper advertorial of December 5, 2024, to the effect that the body has endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State.
In a statement issued by Dr Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, the Igbo apex social organisation, said that the open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was never authorised by it.
“We are aware that the Igbo nation will surely be incensed and rattled by such an advertorial that did not pass through the Igbo cultural consensus.
“The egalitarian Igbo formed an Imeobi Ohanaeze and the Ohanaeze General Assembly where the major issues affecting the Igbo are deliberated upon before arriving at a resolution.
“It must be clearly stated that we do not in any way begrudge the legitimate and inalienable right of the Anioma movement led by Sen. Ned Nwoko, ” Ogbonnia said.
According to the statement Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide commends the courage and steadfastness of the Distinguished Senator Nwoko.
“But a situation where we have other demands for state creation, such as Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, Orlu States, etc; it is very unthoughtful, hare-brained and a huge embarrassment to the Igbo nation for a few persons to use the hallowed name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to issue a far-reaching Press release without adequate consultations with the Igbo stakeholders,” the scribe said.
