The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared its support for the government led by President Bola Tinubu, commending its dedication to combat corruption, insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria.
Ohanaeze in a statement issued on Friday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, disassociates the organisation from the acting National Youth Leader of the body, Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, who had said the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, should be given the benefit of doubt.
Describing the statement as reckless, the apex Igbo body said “In other words, the press release is extremely impetuous, imprudent, unreflective, despicable, harebrained, intolerable and at variance with the philosophy of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.”
The statement noted that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, expressed his disgust over the statement by Okpalaezeukwu.
According to the statement, the Igbo leader explained that the Igbo “credo” is anchored on hard work, resourcefulness, transparency, equity, fairness and an enabling environment for the Igbo ingenuity and entrepreneurship to find full expressions in Nigeria.
“He therefore wondered why Okpalaezeukwu would dabble into the activities of the anti-corruption agencies as it affects Edu.
“Once more, emphasis is made that Ohanaeze Ndigbo represents the history, emotions and consciousness of the Igbo; and that Ohanaeze serves as the Igbo sacred temple which should not, by any stretch of imagination, be desecrated upon by youthful rascality, imprudence and perversions.
“It is therefore, highly inconceivable that a young man would wake up and issue a press release in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo with neither clearance nor consultations with the leadership.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide lends unalloyed support to President Bola Tinubu commitment to fight corruption, insurgency, banditry and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria; and vehemently dissociates itself from the Okpalaaezeukwu youthful exuberance.”
