IPOB threats: Ohanaeze Expresses Concern, Proffers Urgent Political Solution

Following threat of a seven-day lockdown issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed concern over its implications and challenged Southeast governors to summon an emergency meeting of Igbo stakeholders to restore peace in the zone.

The Prof. George Obiozor-led group, yesterday, said the meeting was necessary with a view to staving off threats to the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State and the burial of Victoria, wife of Nigeria’s first Head of State, the late Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.

It said the emergency meeting should also address other legitimate issues in Igboland and how to secure the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu through political means.

The group, therefore, pleaded with IPOB to cancel the November 5 to November 11 lockdown order in the interest of Igboland and its people.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo also advised Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano to convene a joint meeting of the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Association of Town Unions (ASATU) with a view to activating talks in all the 181 towns in the state ahead of the governorship poll.

These suggestions were contained in a statement by  Ohahaeze’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia.

Also yesterday, some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Southeast cautioned IPOB against attracting a state of emergency to  Anambra State through the lockdown threat.

In the statement, Ohanaeze noted that Anambra State,  being the “economic livewire” of the Southeast should not be destroyed through the planned disruption of the governorship election.

The statement reads in part: “In many respects, Anambra State is the engine that propels the Igbo enterprise.  As elders, we should not fold our arms while the goat dies in the tether.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is of the conviction that the disruption of the Anambra State election and the adverse consequences are a major setback to the Igbo civilisation.

“Therefore, any harm to the Iroko tree (Anambra State) will create untold disastrous chain reactions and catastrophe for the Igbo.

“Our President-General Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor, is more perturbed when the Anambra ordeal is juxtaposed with the calibre of personages it has produced. Some of them are the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Dr. Alex. Ekwueme, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Chike Obi, Prof.  Dora Akunyili, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, Dr. Nwafor Orizu and Prof. Keneth Dike.

“There are also prominent sons of the state like Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Mr.  Peter Obi, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Arthur Eze, Dr. Chris Ngige, HRM Igwe Alfred Achebe, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Cardinal Francis Arinze  and numerous young and old billionaires.

“While pleading with IPOB to rescind the lockdown order, Ohanaeze Ndigbo request the Southeast  Governors’ Forum to convene an emergency meeting of Igbo stakeholders and youth leaders for the purpose of addressing the crises in the zone, especially as they relate to the Anambra State election and the political solution for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu..

“It is also lamentable that the burial ceremony of the Afara Ukwu born Chief Victoria Aguiyi- Ironsi, slated for November 5 in Umuahia, Abia State may be drastically affected by the prevailing Igbo social climate. Her husband, the late Gen.  J-T. U Aguiyi-Ironsi represents so many things to the Igbo and we owe his soul a duty.”

The group noted that one of the causes of the crisis of confidence in the Southeast is “the yawning gap between youths and the masses on one side and the political leaders on the other.”

For this reason, it said, “the leadership of the various youth groups should not be excluded in any meeting aimed at resolving the current crises in Igboland.”

It further called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to brace in their roles as cultural and spiritual leaders by ensuring that “the serenity, tranquility and aggressive entrepreneurship for which the Igbo are known were not lost to dark forces.”

The organisation also reiterated its solidarity with any group that peacefully protests the Igbo alienation in the project Nigeria

“It is based on the foregoing that Ohanaeze adopts the philosophy of dialogue, negotiations in coalition with other concerned groups that comprise the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum led by Chief Edwin   Clark,” Ohanaeze added.

The CSOs warned that using sit-at-home to create a breakdown of law and order in the Southeast and threatening the conduct of the November 6 election in Anambra State could make declaration of ‘State-of-Emergency’ inexcusable.

The groups- International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and the Coalition of Democracy and Human Rights Organisations – also warned that anarchy in Anambra State could pave the way for massive rigging during the poll.

Emeka Umeagbalasi spoke for the groups at a news conference in Enugu.