By Tony Adibe
The National Publicity Secretary of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia has cried out over frantic phone calls from unknown persons threatening to kill him. He said that the “mischief makers” who thrive in confusion are “once again at work,” trying to use his head and knock that of the Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.
Raising the alarm in a statement issued on Tuesday in Enugu, Dr Ogbonnia said that since four days ago, “my phone has been inundated with phone calls by unknown persons alleging that I want to kill Mr. Simon Ekpa; and that they will kill me first, before I kill their leader, Mr. Ekpa.”
Throwing more light on the matter, the Ohanaeze Spokesman said: “Of course, that I can or will kill Ekpa is the most ridiculous, malicious, mischievous and satanic of all the statements in this world.
“It is a common knowledge that I don’t have the capacity to kill. I am neither trained as a soldier nor as a police officer or in any paramilitary organization with a duty to respond to threats to life and property. At my age, I cannot even kill a fly, talk more of a global Leviathan in the person of Mr. Simon Ekpa.”
He further spoke on the fact that he could not, under any circumstances, avoid his duty to stand by the core Igbo interests and and Ohanaeze position on any national issue.
According to Ogbonnia, “In my duty as the spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I cannot shirk in my duty to stand by the core Igbo interests and Ohanaeze position on any national issue.
“Undoubtedly, I expressed the view that the Igbo have become uncomfortable with the sit-at-home syndrome in the South East of Nigeria ; and that the persistent sit-at-home has caused the Igbo more harm than good. I also absolved the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the lingering sit-at-home in the South East, indicating that Ohanaeze is a persuasive and not a coercive organization and, thus cannot stop the sit-at-home.
“I added that if the federal government feels that the security of Nigeria is being threatened by anybody or a group, it is the duty of the government and not Ohanaeze to take the necessary action. I emphasized that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has appealed to our son, Mr. Ekpa to come home for a dialogue and that we will continue to appeal for peace in the South East. This is the Ohanaeze position and indeed that of the Igbo Leaders.”
He said that despite the obvious threat to his life and to the life of any other patriotic Igbo, the current Ohanaeze leadership would continue to remind the Igbo youths that is a contradiction to face the barrel of the gun inwards.
“Let it be known that in spite of the threat to my life and indeed every other patriotic Igbo leader, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, CFR, OFR, MFR, GCSI, FNSE, FNIST, FNICE, KSC (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) will continue to remind the Igbo youths that it is a contradiction to face the barrel of the gun inwards,” he said.
Ogbonnia said that the primary duty of a freedom fighter was to defend and protect his people, and not the contrary. “It is inconceivable how the destruction of Igbo economy through the intermittent sit-at-home syndrome will resonate with the central philosophy and aspirations of the Igbo in the present Nigeria,” he cautioned.
The Ohanaeze Spokesman further stated: “Finally, I wish to assure our son, Mr. Simon Ekpa, that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is interested in his well-being, and cannot contemplate nor be a party to neutralizing or killing him. The mischief makers are once again at work. There is no record where an officer of Ohanaeze has ever killed or taken part in a conspiracy to kill an Igbo or any person for that matter. Part of our duty, as leaders, is to appeal to our sons of all persuasions that we can work together in the interest of the Igbo.”
- E-Sign. Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia; the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide
