By Chioma Gabriel & Emmanuel Aziken

ABUJA—  President-General of the Igbo umbrella organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has said Ohanaeze would not disown the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on the fact that no father would publicly disown his child.

Speaking at the commencement of a nationwide tour in Abuja, Nwodo also charged Ndigbo to embrace his work plan of uniting the people for the enormous challenge ahead.

Noting that the marginalisation of the Igbo would stop only when the people resolved to come together, Nwodo urged all strata of Igbo society to unify for the common good.

Ohaneze-Ndigbo

While urging the people to bury their differences, he said: “The goodwill and enthusiasm of the people on his emergence would only be the catalyst that would fire his determination to serve the people diligently.”

On IPOB and MASSOB, Chief Nwodo said: “No reasonable father would disown his child publicly because he misbehaved.” He pointed out that Nigerians should also ask themselves questions regarding the circumstances that forced these youths to react the way they are doing.

Nwodo said there are  apparent double standards in the handling of protesters in Nigeria by security agencies and wondered if there are different laws for different people.

The Ohanaeze president-general said the persistent marginalization of Ndigbo in the country would be a thing of the past, if the people take their destiny in their hands and take their God-given entrepreneurial skill home by investing in the spirit of Akurue uno (the wealth that reaches home).

Nwodo, who was accompanied on the trip by some members of his executive committee, was received by various segments of the people with dancing and singing.

Earlier on arrival in Abuja, Tuesday, he paid a courtesy call on the Palace of Igbo One, the Ezeigbo of Abuja, Chief Nwosu Ibe, who prayed for him and charged him to restore the pride of Ndigbo.

Ohanaeze warns against fifth columnists

Meantime, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has flayed what it termed the hand of fifth columnists carrying out a smear campaign against the new leadership and president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

A statement by  Chuks Ibegbu, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said  “some persons, who were  not happy with the outcome of the well conducted Ohanaeze Ndigbo national election,which the whole world acclaimed, have started a campaign of calumny geared to tarnish the image of the organisation and the President General, Chief Nwodo in particular.

According to the statement released yesterday, “these fifth columnists insinuated that the President General of the apex Igbo organisation visited the former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Abuja with a hidden agenda that is purportedly against the interest of Ndigbo.

“Nothing can be further from the truth. Immediately after the election that brought the new leadership of the body on board, there was a wide acclaim within Igbo land and from friends of Ndigbo. Several of these highly placed callers pledged their readiness to work with the new leadership of the body.

“At the inaugural meeting of the new exco, it was agreed that the new leadership would reach out and build bridges with individuals and groups that are ready to have mutual linkage with Ndigbo in addition to a ‘thank you‘ visit to Igbo leaders, individuals and groups all over the country.

“It is in line with this that the President General and his team visited some Igbo/Igbo groups in Abuja, in addition to some of the individuals that congratulated and showed goodwill to the new leadership after the election. “From there, he and his entourage moved to Lagos to  thank Ndigbo for their maximum support during and after the election.”

“This tour is ongoing and has no political ,, ethnic or religious connotation except the greater interest of Ndigbo. The new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo have pledged to serve Ndigbo and Mr President General even promised to lay down his life for Ndigbo if need be.

“We advise the fifth columnists to desist from this campaign and find other things to occupy themselves with.The present leadership   will reach out to all shades of opinion in Igbo land and outside Igbo land   with a view to serving the collective interest of Ndigbo.”