The Secretary General of the Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, has condemned the threats of violence issued by
some pro-Biafra activists over the demand for the release of the
Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Nwaorgu also said the threats of
secession by some activists over alleged marginalisation of the Igbo was
not the right way to address the issue.
Some pro-Biafra activists under the
aegis of the Indigenous People of Biafra had threatened to destroy the
Nigerian High Commission building in India over the detention of Kanu.
There has also been a series of protests outside the country over the
detention of Kanu.
But while speaking in an interview with
our correspondent on Thursday, Nwaorgu said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would
never support violence and cautioned the activists against doing so.
He said, “We condemn the threats of
violence issued by pro-Biafra activists. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not
supporting violence. So, we don’t support the threats to destroy embassy
buildings. Yes, there is marginalisation of the Igbo ethnic group in
the President Muhammadu Buhari government but the threat of violence and
secession is out of point.
“We are not planning to secede. We are
going to sort out the inequality issue with our fellow Nigerians. We
are fighting for justice, equity and fair play. That is why we want the
recommendations of the 2014 National Conference to be implemented.”
On the call for the ban of the Eze
Ndigbo titles outside Igbo land, Nwaorgu said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo had
already constituted a committee headed by Chief Guy Ikokwu to address
the matter.
According to him, the committee’s recommendations would enable the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to standardise the Eze Ndigbo title.
Nwaorgu also said the group was not
bothered by the plans of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All
Progressives Congress to field a northern candidate for the 2019
presidential election.
He said, “Man proposes, God disposes.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not a political party and not under any political
party. When the time comes, we shall analyse the situation and take a
stand in the best interest of the Ndigbo.
“The political parties are playing their
politics. That the North should produce a candidate for the 2019
presidential election is not binding on us. Neither is the APC’s
decision binding on us. We shall take our decision and that will be in
the interest of the Igbo people.”
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