The apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said it was wrong for some Nigerians to assume that statements from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) represent the views of Ndigbo.
It said the pro-Biafra group does not speak for the Southeast, and that only Ohanaeze is entitled to do so.
The organisation noted that IPOB, like other groups, is entitled to its views.
Ohanaeze said it has been lobbying other regions to support the Southeast geopolitical zone to produce the next president.
It agreed with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the need to lobby other regions.
The Chairman of ACF, Chief Audu Ogbe, on Thursday said the Southeast must get the support of other regions to enable the zone produce the next president.
Responding, Ohanaeze spokesman Alex Ogbonnia said:
“The idea of going round and lobbying other regions for support for president from the Southeast region is good. There’s nothing wrong about it.
“Chief Ogbe also knows that the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, has spoken to him about the need for the president to come from the Southeast geopolitical zone.
“We have also met the people of Southsouth and the people of Southwest. So, we are moving about.”
Ogbonnia called on Nigerians to support someone from the Southeast for president in 2023.
“We want to use this opportunity to remind the ACF that in 1959, the Igbo through Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe supported the North.
“Twenty years after in 1979, the Igbo through Alex Ekwueme, K.O. Mbadiwe, and others also supported the North which saw to the emergence of Alhaji Shehu Shagari as the president.
“Another 20 years after, the Igbo supported President Olusegun Obasanjo and thereafter, we supported Yar’adua and later Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. We have always been supporting others.
“Our simple prayer is for Nigerians to do unto the Igbo what we have been doing unto others,” he said.
On the misconception that IPOB represents Ndigbo, Ogbonnia said: “The other thing which they also said is that IPOB is causing embarrassment and all that.
“It is strange and curious that some Nigerians would highlight the views expressed by IPOB and not the ones expressed by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“IPOB is an organisation. We have many organisations in Igboland.
“But Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the umbrella body of all the associations in Igboland.
“Nigerians should rather take the views of Ohanaeze as representing the entire Igbo people.”
[The Nation]
