Ohanaeze to FG: Call those threatening lives, properties of Igbos to order

By: Ikenna Oluka

The Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has urged the Federal Government to caution those threatening the lives and properties of Igbos in Lagos.

This warning was contained in a communiqué issued on Wednesday in Enugu, after an Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing meeting held on March 5 at the secretariat of the group in Enugu.

It called on state governors of the South-East and other Igbo speaking states to sit-up to their responsibilities of protecting and projecting Igbo identity and ideology.

“The interest of the Igbo nation must be sacrosanct in the Nigerian factor. We urge them to use their good offices to beckon on President Muhammadu Buhari to act fast in the interest of peace and national cohesion,” the statement said.

It condemned in totality, the Igbo/Yoruba crisis in Lagos State, adding that leaders of the state should exercise caution in their words and actions, so as to stop heating up the polity.

“Every citizen of Nigeria should be protected in any part of the country. The protection of lives and properties of Ndigbo in Lagos and any other part Nigeria is sacrosanct to Igbo nation, hence we advocate for peace.

“We commend the Afenifere for their positive intervention in the matter,” it said.

The statement also called on President Buhari to assent to the South-East Development Commission Bill.

It congratulated Igbo all over the world for the show of brotherhood and sense of unity in the Feb. 23 Presidential elections.

“By this singular act, we have shown to the rest of the world that the Igbo nation is united and indivisible,” it said.

The statement also cautioned every other group or persons impersonating Ohanaeze Ndigbo to desist from such act with immediate effect.

“We reaffirm our support and loyalty to the national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“We also pass a Vote of Confidence on our President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo and his executives, for the good, great and noble works they are doing for the Igbo nation,” it added.

The two-page communiqué was signed by the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Arthur Obiora.