The Youth wing of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has vowed not to allow any politician, group or individuals to turn the Southeast into a theatre of war, for any incendiary intent or purpose.
The Igbo youths made the position clear in reaction to a statement by a group, Ohaneze Youth Council led by Igboayaka Igboayaka, making all manner of allegations against the leadership of the Ohaneze Ndigbo and the situation in the Southeast.
Igboayaka had in the said statement, lashed out at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide, under the leadership of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Dr Alex Ogbonna, for disassociating itself from the position of Ohanaeze Youth Council on the alleged incessant, political killings in Imo state under Gov. Hope Uzodinma.
But in a chat with our correspondent in Awka, the acting Youth leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu said the claims by Igboayaka that a total of 87,700 persons were killed, detained and displaced only in Imo State, are unverifiable and capable of violent incitement.
He said the Ohaneze Ndigbo under the leadership of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, will not tolerate any form of extrajudicial killing of Igbo youths and has demonstrated such commitment in visible terms.
The Igbo youths handed a 4-day ultimatum to the Igboayaka group to tender an unreserved apology to the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership for his defamatory comments.
Also in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing, Mazi Chika Art Adiele, the apex Igbo youth organization described Igboayaka as an attention seeker and lone Impersonator, struggling to deliver on the bargains of other political interest of paymasters in Imo State and beyond.
The Igbo youths maintained that there is nothing like Ohanaeze Youth Council, “rather we are the incumbent Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide; duly elected on the 5th of August 2021, under the supervision of the National Executive Committee(NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide then led by the revered late Prof George Obiozor as President General, and Amb. Okey Emuchay as Secretary General.
“Therefore, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka does not represent nor speak for the Igbo Youths, and should be disregarded.
“Indeed, the South East has a fair share of the national security challenges, but politicizing it cannot be condoned and must be vehemently resist.
“Let us make it clear that the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing will never condone extra judicially killing of unarmed Igbo Youths anywhere, neither do we support nor align ourselves with any individual or group(s) that attempt to maligne or disparage Gov. Hope Uzodinma or any other political opposition in Imo State by mere speculations or hearsay, without due diligence.
“In the same vein, we will not support any criminal activities driven by either economic gain or political desperation. We will never allow Igboland to be turned into a theatre of war by irresponsible actors who use our Youths to capture power.”
The statement noted that Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is a man with distinctive stardom from kindergarten till date.
“he was a brave Biafran Army Captain and was one of the Engineers that invented the renowned Biafrian Bomb known as Ogbunigwe. An Icon with reputation and legacies in various Businesses. Ahaejiagamba at a time was the highest employer of labour in the entire East of the Niger and his NGO- Iwuanyanwu Foundation trained over 10,000 indigent Youths through scholarship. A great man whose commitment and contribution gave birth to conceived idea of an International Cargo Airport Owerri when it mattered most.
“In less than about three months in office as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, he has demonstrated uncommon capacity in Security, Peace and Economic Development of Ala-Igbo especially as it affects the Youths. Ahaejiagamba has tactically activated various measures working very hard to ensure the release of Mazi Nnnadi Kanu without making noise about it.
“Igboayaka does not have one trade, job or business accredited to his name or person, other than being a political jobber for gullible and desperate Politicians.
“We cannot discern how Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Iwuanyanwu has masterminded the killing of Ndigbo in Imo State for the past 41 months, and we demand expeditious clarification.
“We hereby issue a 4-day ultimatum to Igboayaka to withdraw such fallacy and tender unreserved apology to the Leader of Igbo nation and Igbo youths at large or face the consequences for defamation.
“We reaffirm our Confidence and Solidarity on the action Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba) and the National Executive Committee NEC,” the statement concluded.
