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• Calls on Ohanaeze to intervene
From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Ebonyi State Government has accused Anambra people of orchestrated attempt at tarnishing the corporate image of the state and its indigenes by portraying them as criminals.
It called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to intervene and stop further escalation of the issue, not only to save the image of Ebonyi people but the Igbo in general.
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor stated the displeasure of the state over some viral video clips on social media portraying Ebonyi people as criminals in Anambra State.
Speaking when President of the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Peter Mbam, led the group to pay him a courtesy visit in Abakaliki, yesterday, he said that it was insidious to brand the generality of Ebonyians as criminals due to the offences of a few miscreants.
He called on the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation to remain the leading umbrella of unity and progress in the region, affirming that no Igbo man can attain the level of sainthood by rubbishing the image of his brother.
Okpor enjoined the leadership of the group to use its influence in extending the content of their slogan, “Onye aghana nwanneya” (Be your brother’s keeper) in propagating the unity and oneness of the Igbo.
The commissioner categorically decried the use of social media in trying suspects instead of following due process through court of competent jurisdiction.
He said: “Ebonyi indigenes in all parts of the world are industrious, hardworking and law-abiding people. So, as a government, we strongly condemn the criminal activities involving Ebonyi people and maintain that the few hoodlums cannot be used to generalize Ebonyi people as criminals.”
Okpor assured the Ohanaeze of the state government’s readiness to partner them to achieve the desired result.
Elsewhere, Ebonyi indigenes condemned the videos which according to them narrowed Ebonyians as reason for insecurity Anambra State.
A group of Ebonyi professionals urged their state government to engage its Anambra counterpart to end the dangerous stereotyping which might victimize innocent Ebonyi people carrying on with their decent endeavours.
They alleged that some landlords in Anambra were already refusing to accept Ebonyi people as tenants. “Ebonyiphobia is live and these videos worsen it,” said Dr. Laz Eze.
Another indigene of Ebonyi, Eze Igwe described what the Anambra Vigilante did in the videos stereotyping the Ebonyi man as despicable and disgusting.
