Why we’re opposed to Ohanaeze summit – IPOB

Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka and Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday, gave reasons why it is opposed to the planned Ohanaeze Ndigbo summit on restructuring of Nigeria, slated for May 21 in Awka, Anambra State.

Stating it has nothing against those who genuinely believe restructuring would best address the myriad of problems afflicting the masses in the country, IPOB said it would not allow those who allegedly connived with Nigeria soldiers to attack and kill its members, including its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group also feels strong against those it described as traitors and collaborators using the cloak of restructuring to advance their personal political ambitions, at the expense of the masses.

IPOB accused the apex Igbo body of trying to use the cover of a restructuring summit to hoodwink the people, when, according to it, the actors in the body are against restructuring and “act against the interest of IPOB whose activism made restructuring widely acceptable.”

A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: “We feel the need to clarify why we are opposed to this particular Ohanaeze Ndigbo jamboree, slated for Awka on May 21. Anybody or group who attends the event will be seen as an enemy of the people, and a direct supporter of Operation Python Dance, which was instigated by the organisers of the said Ohanaeze Ndigbo summit, to eliminate Kanu and his family, thereby, leaving our land open to Fulani dominance in perpetuity.

“To associate with Nnia Nwodo’s summit is tantamount to an endorsement of mass murder of innocent agitators fighting for the freedom of everybody.

“IPOB is not against those who hold the legitimate view that restructuring will best address the myriad of problems afflicting the masses. We are firm believers in democracy, plurality of opinion and divergence of views; so, if during a referendum, a majority of the people vote to adopt restructuring as the preferred option to outright break from Nigeria, we would be bound by it.

“We have issues with traitors and collaborators using the cloak of restructuring to advance their personal political ambitions at the expense of the well being of the masses.”

Meanwhile, the newly sworn in leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, National Youth wing, has said it will not succumb to intimidation and threats of truncating the May 21, Igbo summit.
They stated this during their maiden meeting, held in Owerri, on Tuesday, where they said any attempt to stop the meeting, would undermine their fundamental human rights to speech, association and assembly.

In a communique they issued at the end of the meeting, signed by the Deputy National Leader, Dr Kingsley Dozie, and 10 others, the youths said they recognise and uphold the fact that Ndigbo are industrious, enterprising and law abiding people, with incontrovertible sense of conviviality, “but, we advise members of IPOB to embrace peace, dialogue and constructive reasoning as the best medium for the common good.”

“In as much as we condemn the unjust killing of our people and proscription of IPOB, we will not succumb to intimidation and threats of truncating the Igbo summit holding in Awka on May 21, 2018.”