Igbo Elders Consultative Forum
An Igbo socio-cultural group for elders in the South East under the auspices of Igbo Elders Consultative Forum with headquarters in Abuja has lamented the tragedy that has befallen the Igbo nation in the death of three personalities of Igbo extraction in successions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to the press by its Chairman, Chief (Dr) Simon Okeke and Secretary, Prof Charles Nwekeakwu, the elders said they were in shock and mourning the Igbo distinguished personalities that had departed in quick succession.
“As leaders of Ndi Igbo, we want to express our gratitude to Nigerians of all ethnic and religious identities who have sent their condolences over the death of our leader, Engr. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR, CFR, FNSE, Aha eji eje mba Ndi Igbo, and our sons, Sir (Arc.) Ferdinand Agu, MFR, and Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Uba.
“We mourn these illustrious and much beloved sons. Their death is heartrending. But we thank God for the life they lived. We pray for divine grace for their families, Ndi-Igbo and the people of Nigeria have to bear these irreparable losses, “the statement read.
On the nationwide protest, the elders said that before the death of the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Iwuanyanwu that he spoke with emphasis and authority, on behalf of Ohanaeze that the Igbo are not part of any protest at this time in the history of the country.
The elders noted that after the crisis of the 2023 presidential elections that the Igbo had resolved to work with other ethnic groups to restructure the Nigerian state for prosperity, justice and peace. They added that since then, the Igbo have been sharing ideas and working together with other Nigerians for the transformation and redemption of the Nigerian state.
They said that in keeping with the famed Igbo values of enterprise, justice and equity, tolerance, and respect for others that the Igbo would continue to be good Nigerian citizens and work for a prosperous, just, equitable and peaceful Nigeria.
“We will not shy away from the duties of patriotism and courageous citizenship.
“As we promote peace and prosperity for Nigeria and show respect for other Nigerian peoples, we will demand the same from others. Ndi Igbo have contributed immensely and will continue to contribute to the greatness of Nigeria. Therefore, it is unacceptable and a gross provocation for any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed or privileged, to overlook die clear statement of Ohanaezc Ndi-Igbo that the Igbo are not part of any national protest and spread malicious falsehood linking Ndi Igbo to the proposed protest.
“We know that some persons, especially Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson, and his co-handlers continue to spread hate speeches against the Igbo. It was the same persons whose hate speeches led to mass violence against the Igbo in Lagos State during the last gubernatorial election.
“Till date, the Nigeria police and other security agencies have not prosecuted Mr Onanuga and members of his gang for promoting and justifying mass violence against Ndi Igbo. This is a dereliction of the duty not to prosecute law breakers under the law.
“The most awful and dangerous of Onanuga’s promotion of ethnic violence against the Igbo is to tag Mr Peter Obi as the leader of the impending protest when every Nigerian knows that Mr Obi’s approach to politics is totally devoid of resort or reference to violence.
“Mr Onanuga is enlightened enough to read Mr Obi’s statements through the period of his campaign for presidency till date. He has heard Mr Obi several times cautioning against violence, yet he deliberately publishes falsehood against him so that he can direct violence against the Igbo as part of his continuing agenda of fomenting ethnic violence against Ndi Igbo.
“We know that Igbo will always triumph. Onanuga and his gang are not consequential enough to misdirect the sail of Ndi Igbo anywhere in the world. But it is important to alert Mr President, the entire security agencies and the Nigerian nation of the potent threat that Mr Onanuga’s hateful speech against Nigerian citizens of Igbo ethnic group poses to national security. We hope that the security agencies will not sleep at the wheel and allow a repeat of the ethnic violence against the Igbo that occurred in Lagos on March 18, 2023.
“We ask President Tinubu to call Onanuga to order so that he does not misrepresent the presidency and create the impression of a presidential animus against the Igbo. We ask the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to hold Mr Onanugu and members of his hateful gang responsible for any violence against Ndi Igbo or Mr Obi, a man of peace who has exercised his right of free speech with the highest degree of civility and patriotism, despite the provocation of the likes of Mr Onanuga,
“All in all, there is every reason to be bitter and angry about the situation in our country today. We also want to use this opportunity to maintain our call on Mr President to do everything possible to resolve the security challenges in the South East, including the release of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. It is important to note that the visit of our late President-General of Ohanaeze Worldwide, Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, was his last official assignment before his demise. We firmly believe that the release of Mr Kanu is not only key to resolving the security challenges in the South East, but will also be a balm on the soul of our former President-General.
Once again, if only for emphasis and for avoidance of doubt, Ndigbo are not protesting; we are mourning the sad deaths of our illustrious sons and leaders, “the elders concluded.
