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Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Dr. Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, the spokesperson of the organization, has blown the whistle on a deadly conspiracy, accusing individuals claiming to be in Simon Ekpa’s camp of IPOB of unleashing a torrent of threats against his life.
In a statement, Ogbonnia said: “Since four days ago, my phone has been inundated with phone calls by unknown persons alleging that I want to kill Mr. Simon Ekpa; and that they will kill me first, before I kill their leader, Mr. Ekpa.
He described it as utterly absurd, malevolent, and diabolical to suggest that there was ever a possibility of harming Ekpa, with such a notion being deemed the most preposterous of all.
“Of course, that I can or will kill Ekpa is the most ridiculous, malicious, mischievous and satanic of all the statements in this world.
“It is a common knowledge that I don’t have the capacity to kill. I am neither trained as a soldier nor as a police officer or in any paramilitary organization with a duty to respond to threats to life and property. At my age, I cannot even kill a fly, talk more of a global Leviathan in the person of Mr. Simon Ekpa.
“In my duty as the spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, I cannot shirk in my duty to stand by the core Igbo interests and Ohanaeze position on any national issue.
He stated that the Igbo community is no longer comfortable with the continued observance of stay-at-home days in the South East, recognizing that the prolonged hiatus has caused more harm than good to their socio-economic fabric.
“I also absolved the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the lingering sit at home in the South East, indicating that Ohanaeze is a persuasive and not a coercive organization, thus does not have the capacity to stop the sit at home. I added that if the federal government feels that the security of Nigeria is being threatened by anybody or a group, it is the duty of the government and not Ohanaeze to take the necessary action.
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“I emphasized that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has appealed to our son, Mr. Ekpa to come home for a dialogue and that we will continue to appeal for peace in the South East. This is the Ohanaeze position and indeed that of the Igbo leaders.
“Let it be known that in spite of the threat to my life and indeed every other patriotic Igbo leader, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, will continue to remind the Igbo youths that it is a contradiction to face the barrel of the gun inwards.
“The primary duty of a freedom fighter is to defend and protect his people, and not the contrary. It is inconceivable how the destruction of Igbo economy through the intermittent sit at home syndrome will resonate with the central philosophy and aspirations of the Igbo in the present Nigeria.
“Finally, I wish to assure our son, Mr. Simon Ekpa, that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is interested in his well-being, and cannot contemplate nor be a party to neutralizing or killing him. The mischief makers are once again at work. There is no record where an officer of Ohanaeze has ever killed or taken part in a conspiracy to kill an Igbo or any person for that matter.
“Part of our duty, as leaders, is to appeal to our sons of all persuasions that we can work together in the interest of the Igbo”.
As part of their responsibilities, leaders have been encouraging all Igbo people, despite their differing views, to put aside their differences and work collaboratively for the betterment of their community.
