Ohanaeze lauds Afenifere for their recent stand on Nigerian unity

COSMAS CHUKWU

Sequel to the recent position of the Yoruba national group taken at its national meeting, on the protection of other Nigerians in their area and the need for the corporate existence and unity of the Peoples of the country, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has lauded them for this patriotic gesture. 

Ohanaeze spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia in a press statement he issued yesterday. 

The pan-Igbo group commended its Yoruba counterpart for its dogged and unwavering commitment to pan-Nigerianism even as it called on other Nigerian tribal groups to borrow a leaf from Afenifere. 

The full Ohanaeze meeting reads:

“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to the Communiqué issued by the Afenifere, the umbrella socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba ethnic on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the end of its monthly meeting held at the residence of its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, Nigeria. 

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo salutes the courage, tenacity, dedication, robustness and unwavering commitment to the ideals of pan-Nigerianism and the continued existence of Nigeria without caring whose ox is gored. We applaud the resolutions of its meeting in its entirety and pray that God Almighty will continue to grant the Afenifere the wisdom and courage to always champion the cause of a better Nigeria.

“We are persuaded that the Afenifere’s resolutions as published are fundamental and foundational to the current socio-political crisis gnawing at the heart of Nigeria; and that those resolutions speak truth to the conscience of the powers that be in Nigeria.

“Ohanaeze supports those resolutions in all ramifications and joins in calling on the President and Government of Nigeria to, as a matter of urgency, restore public confidence and hope in the Nigerian project.

“Afenifere’s unflinching stand on the side of equity and justice has not come to us as a surprise given that the organization has, at various times, stood for truth each time Nigeria finds herself at the crossroads. We are not unmindful of Afenifere’s role in restoring democracy to Nigeria through the platform of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

“The Afenifere leaders, with alliances across the national divide and the international bodies, launched the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which eventually gave birth to the Committee for Unity and Understanding (CUU), among others.

We thank the Afenifere for telling the world the true position on the February 25 Presidential election, which from available records was won by Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party. 

“Furthermore, we commend the Afenifere for its reassurances of security and support to stranger communities in Yorubaland, particularly Lagos State and for reassuring our people that there is no war between the Yoruba and any other group in Nigeria, especially the Igbo. 

“In addition, we commend the Afenifere for strongly condemning the “campaigns of calumny and acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election, particularly in Lagos State where the election was made to appear like an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and the Igbo; which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of brigandage and disenfranchisement”.

“Such rejection could not have come at a better time than this. 

“We encourage other ethnic socio-cultural organizations to borrow a leaf from the Afenifere in standing up for principles of equity and justice and to be counted each time Nigeria is confronted with political crises. We join Afenifere in restating our confidence in the judiciary with the hope that it will acquit itself creditably in the election litigations presently before it without fear or favour.

“Finally, we commend Afenifere for its wisdom and maturity in discountenancing the handiwork of mischief makers in an attempt to misrepresent the remarks by our patriotic, charismatic and detribalized leader, the  Chairman, Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba). 

“Iwuanyanwu is a thoroughbred cosmopolitan, inter-ethnic unifier with diverse national and international contacts; and a committed champion of Nigerian unity. It is therefore inconceivable for Ahaejiagamba to contemplate an uncomplimentary remark against any group in Nigeria.

“We want to place on record that when the history of Nigerian travails is written, Chief Ayo Adebanjo will feature most copiously on the side of justice, nobility, honour, courage, character and integrity.”