The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned comment by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo against its spokesman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
Baba-Ahmed, who is NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, had in a circulated broadcast video said about the Igbos, “We said if secession is what every Igbo wants, and this is what the Igbos want, the nation should not fight a war over it”.
In response to that, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze spokesman on Wednesday, condemned the statement by the NEF spokesman and called for his arrest, describing his statement as extremely nauseating, uncouth, provocative, incendiary, inflammatory and above all, very arrogant and licentious.
But NEF leadership disagreed with Ohanaeze, saying that Baba-Ahmed did not make inciting comments as claimed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The Forum’s convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, in a statement, said that Ogbonnia’s comments are dangerous and irresponsible, alleging that it is designed to put the life of Dr Baba-Ahmed in peril.
He said that all comments and statements made by its spokesman were authorised, and they represent NEF’s positions.
Abdullahi said, “We’re aware of attempts to create the impression that this statement is recent as well as other attempts to misrepresent its contents to create scapegoats for the failure to limit the damage of irredentism.”
He advised Ohaneze Ndigbo to focus its attention on contributing to securing the people of the South-East from multiple threats, and ensuring that Ndigbo has a befitting relevance in Nigeria.
