ENUGU, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership has denied receiving gratification from the Presidency to abandon Biafra struggle, saying the allegation levelled against it by promoters of Biafra Radio is false and unfounded.
Briefing newsmen at the end of its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Enugu, on Wednesday, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Igariwey, also cautioned officials of the Igbo group against inflammatory statements, adding that they should get clearance from their national secretariat before going to press.
Igariwey said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was not comfortable with various positions being expressed on national issues by officials of the organisation, stressing that such was undermining the unity of Ndigbo.
“These are difficult times and we must speak with one voice to avoid misunderstanding and misrepresentations.
“For instance, Ohanaeze has made no statements on the issue of Indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB). We’ve never pretended to be speaking for either the MASSOB or IPOB.
“We have gone into no such negotiations with any person, so the allegations of Ohanaeze speaking on their behalf are unfounded and should be discountenanced.
“Few weeks ago, there was somebody who claimed to be a member of the advisory committee of the Imeobi, stating that Ohanaeze had endorsed Uzo Kalu in his Senate election. We found that as very embarrassing as there was no such NEC and there ought not to be any such discussion in NEC, as Ohanaeze cannot be endorsing one Igbo man against another Igbo man.
“We had to repute that story and stop any other Igbo person from making statements on behalf of Ohanaeze without clearance from the President-General.
“The youth wing is not permitted to make any statement under the name of Ohaneze without clearance from the President-General. It was also resolved that no member of NEC can issue statement under the name Ohanaeze without clearance from either the President-General or secretary-general till further notice,” he said.
The President General reiterated the fact that the organisation held meeting with the United States Consul-General on Igbo perception of Nigeria last week Friday, stressing that the youth wing leader of the group accused to have represented the IPOB at the meeting was neither there nor at any youth group of Igbo extraction.
“Ohanaeze is not about IPOB but about the general interest of Igbos. Ohaneze is not a member of IPOB,” he concluded.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
