By Tony Adibe
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide emerged from an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) weekend in Enugu, appealing to Igbos in the South-East zone of Nigeria to resist the sit-at-home order by the self-acclaimed, Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Mr. Simon Ekpa.
The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, disclosed in a communique issued after the meeting that the Igbo socio-cultural organization resolved that it was the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s next president in 2023.
NewsBits learnt that the meeting was presided over by Ohaneze Ndigbo, Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay. The NEC of Ohanaeze used the occasion to pass a vote of confidence on Chief Emuchay as Secretary General of Ohaneze and its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, for their selfless services for the Igbo nation.
Recall that some women from the South-East geo-political zone had on February 15 called on Mr Ekpa to leave the people alone and advised everyone to resist the sit-at-home order. Chief Ogbonnia stated that Ohanaeze has found a suitable candidate in Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential standard bearer and expressed unhappiness about attempts to intimidate and prevent the Igbo from voting massively during the February 25 elections.
According to Chief Ogbonnia, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo express shock and doubt that a true Igbo would unconscionably embark on a disingenuous duplicitous adventure aimed at denigrating, disenfranchising and decimating his people.
“The most disturbing is that the unscrupulous sit-at-home and total lock down order by Ekpa falls within the Nigerian general elections. Ohanaeze stands firmly on natural justice and equity to proclaim that it is the turn of the Southeast of Nigeria to produce a president for Nigeria and by the irrevocable forces of providence.
“The right-thinking Nigerians and the global community have embraced the virtues in Peter Obi as the most suitable, competent, visionary, inspiring and energetic presidential candidate for the forthcoming general elections. It is therefore strange that at the very rare consensus, and convergence of history, equity, public consciousness and expertise in Obi, an impetuous youth will engage in an unreflective drum-beat that draws his people to a macabre dance.”
Mr Ekpa, a self-acclaimed successor to the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has in recent weeks, ramped up campaigns against the conduct of the general elections in South-East. Ekpa ordered a compulsory sit-at-home during the polls, with dissenters risking fatal attacks, as usual, from armed miscreants.
However, Chief Ogbonnia described Ekpa’s proclamation as anti-Igbo. He said the Finland-based agitator’s attempt to lock down the South-East during elections was aimed at spoiling the region’s shot at Nigeria’s leadership. Chief Ogbonnia stated: “We are urging residents to disregard the rumoured order making the rounds by Simon Ekpa,” and that “IPOB is only interested in the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The Ohanaeze spokesman further re-emphasised: “The Autopilot ignores the necessary landing permit by his people and Ohanaeze, therefore, urges the residents in Igboland to ignore the sit-at-home in its entirety.”
Ohanaeze also commended the interventions with the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen by Chief Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
Others were Igbo Union in Finland, the general public especially the youths and the reassurances of President Muhammadu Buhari with respect to security and a free and fair election in 2023.
