By Praise Chinecherem
Igboezue International Association Nigeria and the Diaspora, IIAND has urged Ndigbo not to panic about their travail in Nigeria, assuring them of God’s presence with them.
National President, Chief Pius Okoye who gave the advice in a chat with newsmen in Onitsha also enjoined Ndigbo not to relent in the exceptional features they were known for.
He listed such attributes to include working hard, being law abiding and living in peace and harmony with their neighbours, as well as avoiding shedding of innocent blood, saying that God who uplifted them out of state of poverty and penury after the Nigerian Biafra Civil war would always be with them.
He however warned organizations and individuals dragging the name of Ndigbo to the mud to rethink or end the way of other people who have maligned the name of Ndigbo.
He said, “We are hearing rumour that a group and its members have been paid, and that are planning to apologize to a particular ethnic group that has been killing Ndigbo and others in Nigeria for the killing of one of their own only God knows when, as a way to atone to the hardship against Ndigbo and we ask the question who should be apologizing to who?
“We in IIAND believe that Ndigbo have not sinned against anybody and have nothing to apologize to anyone in Nigeria, rather it is Ndigbo that should be apologized to by Nigerians and that particular ethnic group that has caused pains to families in Igbo land.”
Reacting to the recent attack against the person Mr. Peter Obi and bringing Ndigbo to the matter that does not concern them by Minister of Works Chief Dave Umadi, IIAND, said that it is unfortunate that Igbo sons and daughters in politics are the ones bringing Ndigbo into matters they have no business with because of their hatred against each other because of their political leanings.
“Yes Peter Obi criticized the Federal government planned construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, which former Vice President and PDP stalwart, Atiku Abubakar first criticize and the Federal government replied Atiku on point not against him as a person or his ethnic background.
“We are shocked that Umahi instead of replying Obi on point like the Federal government did against Abubakar, he attacked the person of Obi accusing him of trying to incite Ndigbo ahmgaibst President Tinubu’s.
“The matter, Obi’s criticism of the project neither concern Tinubu nor Ndigbo, and we wonder why a man of such caliber a former Governor of Ebonyi State should bring Ndigbo into such matter that does not concern them if not for trying to retain his job.
“We think that Ndigbo deserve an apology from Umahi, if he has stopped at just attacking Obi and accusing him of incitement, we would not have worry, but bringing Ndigbo is that his comment is lack of respect for the Igbo nation. We demand apology from him.
“Obi’s criticism of the coastal road project has no connection with Igbo people and Obi did not mention anything Igbo in his comment neither did he make any insinuation to Ndigbo. It is unfortunate that Igbo politicians appointed into offices and seeking higher political position see insulting Ndigbo and their people as only way to retain their jobs and also grab higher political offices.
“Dave Umahi’s dragging the Igbo into a criticism that does not concern them has political undertone that is aimed at achieving a result but we want to tell him that retaining appointment and condemning one ethnics group does not help politicians in achieving their goals, the people you are doing it for will not trust you when issues of trust comes.
“Igbo politicians should jettison this senseless character they acquired after the civil war, which is resorting to insulting and dragging their people to the mud while trying to stay afloat. Those nursing political ambitions should stop believing that if they don’t say things against their ethnic group they will not be accepted or trusted by people from other ethnic groups.
“Umahi should apologize to Ndigbo now and stop further dragging of Igbo ethnic group into issues they have nothing to do with,” he warned.
