By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha The apex Igbo socio cultural Organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Nnamdi Kanu led-Indegineous People of Bi...
By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha
The apex Igbo socio cultural Organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo
and the Nnamdi Kanu led-Indegineous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday agreed
to work harmoniously towards the interest of the Ibo.
The two group,s which bad been at loggerheads especially in
the recent times, brokered peace at the instance of First Republic Aviation
Minister, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi.
Addressing newsmen after the peace meeting at the elder
statesman’s house in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State,
Amechi described as unnecessary any form of altercation between Ohaneze Ndigbo
and IPOB.
He said both bodies were fighting for the welfare of Ndigbo.
Amechi, the only surviving member of the Zikist Movement,
expressed joy over the withdrawal threat by Nnamdi Kanu of stoning Chief Nnia
Nwodo as well as agreeing to work harmoniously with Ohaneze Ndigbo for the
interest of the South East.
He also revealed part of the resolution from the meeting was
the demand for de-proscription of IPOB which he described as illegal.
He urged Governors and State Houses of Assembly in the
region to commence action towards lifting the ban.
He said: “I summoned the two bodies of Ohaneze Ndigbo and
IPOB to express my displeasure with what I have been reading in the newspapers
about Kanu giving orders for the stoning of Chief Nwodo by IPOB.
“I’m happy that even before this my peace meeting, Kanu has
retracted the statement. We therefore appeal to Nwodo to accept the retraction
and get it off his mind as IPOB has agreed to work with them.
“The two bodies realizing that it is the same battle they
are fighting, marginalization, killings and denial of Federal Government to
develop South East and Igbo land in general have agreed to work together for
the welfare of Ndigbo.”
Representive of the IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor said he was at the
meeting with the blessings and instructions of his clients, just as he thanked
Amaechi who he said was not a stranger to what he was doing having been once
declared a terrorist.
He confirmed the retraction of his client’s threats on the
Ohaneze boss, describing it as one spoken at the heat of the moment.
While stressing the urgent need for regional security, he
insisted that such would not be achievable without the de-proscription of the
pro-Biafran body, saying “it has to participate as the muscle of building the
security.”
He said: “There was a synergy between us and the Ohaneze.
Nobody is leaving this place with acrimony. There’s peace in Igbo land. Anybody
coming in to take advantage of some leadership crises in Igbo land is actually
making a mistake.
“The Igbos are united and love themselves, otherwise, they
couldn’t have sustained themselves for the 3-year civil war. Whoever saying
anything contrary is sowing a seed of discord.
Speaking on behalf of Ohaneze Ndigbo, state President of the
body, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said the body endorsed all that were contained
in the communique.
He said, “Those who thought our fences are fallen will know
that the fences are much stronger than they thought.”
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