Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has refuted speculations making the rounds that it requested President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to deploy soldiers to every community in the South-East.
Ohanaeze in a press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, dismissed such speculation as unfounded and a lie from the pit of hell.
According to the statement, those peddling the rumour are mischievous elements who want to incite the masses against Ohanaeze leadership.
It, therefore, urged members of the public to discountenance such fake news being propagated by mischief makers.
Ohanaeze disowned one impostor called Mazi Okechuku Isiguzoro who claims to be Ohanaeze Secretary over a media report credited to him.
According to Ohanaeze, Isiguzoro is not an official of the apex Igbo body, and lacks the mandate to speak for it, hence any purported comment from him should be totally disregarded.
Below is a full text of the statement made available to Ikengaonline:
“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to one of the most alarming, embarrassing and unnerving news making the rounds to the effect that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy soldiers to all the corners of the South-East of Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze urges the general public to disregard the unguarded and unreflective statement credited to Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro. The Tribune Online quoted Isiguzoro, urging “President Bola Tinubu to deploy soldiers to every corner of the South-East.” The statement added that the second Biafra War has begun: In the words of Isiguzoro: “We are telling Tinubu that the second Biafra war has begun and he should deploy soldiers to all the nooks and crannies of the South-East.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by one of the most experienced illustrious Igbo patriot, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) can never contemplate the subjugation of the people of the South-East to a military siege through the deployment of soldiers to all the nooks and crannies of the South-East.
“Second, Ohanaeze Ndigbo also debunks the news that the “Second Biafran War has begun in the South-East.”
We wish to inform the world, especially our business partners, that there is no war in the South-East of Nigeria. And that the phantom Biafran war rests in the figment of the imaginations of the purveyors of such news. The South-East, comprising, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, is calm with a conducive ambience for people to go about their daily businesses.
“Ohanaeze has repeatedly urged the media to always distinguish between the grains and the chaff or apply the Paul and Barnabas theory, in reporting issues affecting the Igbo. We have informed that the Igbo all over the world have an emotional attachment to the umbrella organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo that holds them together. Some of these mercenaries belittle the very purpose for which the Ohanaeze was inaugurated by eminent Igbo leaders, most of whom are now deceased.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo and indeed the eminent sons and daughters of Igbo land have pleaded with such mercenaries to desist from lowering the hallowed image of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to their levels. To the average human, it is strange that somebody would wake up in his room and begin to propagate views that at variance with the Igbo position, using the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“This group has been reminded to no avail that Ohanaeze represents the Igbo history, emotions, collective consciousness and solidarity that should not be dragged to the mud.
“In the past, the fundamental tenets of the media held tenaciously to verifiable facts and authenticity of information before publication, a virtue that attracted dignity and honour to the journalists. For the Tribune to escalate such a sensational news that touches on the peace and security of the country is simply true to type and a disservice to the nation.”
