From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied intervening in the face-off between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in any form.
A report had emerged claiming that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had asked the EFCC to tread carefully in the case by way of respecting the subsisting court order restraining it from arresting the former governor over the alleged N8 billion money laundering case.
The report further stated that the “Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, Chimaobi Ezejiofor, and the President of the Yoruba Youth Council, Comrade Eric Oluwole in separate statements expressed curiousness as to why the EFCC could not wait to exhaust the legal opportunities before clamping down on Bello”.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia on Monday, the apex-Igbo socio-cultural organization said that ordinarily, it would have ignored the media reports, but silence could mean giving validity to such a fallacy.
Ohanaeze said that, “In the first place, the name Chimaobi Ezejiofor is a new entrant amongst the fraudsters, charlatans, impersonators and mischief makers who ride on the invaluable footprints of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to defraud the unsuspecting public.
“Secondly, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council is unknown to the organs and structures of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. It is a mischievous contrivance for illicit and immediate stomach infrastructure.
They regretted the actions of some “Unscrupulous, duplicitous and compromised media contractors who collaborate with the transgressors and mercenaries to tarnish the hallowed image of the globally acknowledged umbrella organization that represents the Igbo collective consciousness.
“Still, the worst recrudescence is that some media platforms who have gained some impressive reputation have allowed their names to be associated with obnoxious yellow journalism. Otherwise, even the most unlettered mischief maker knows that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, is the Secretary General; while the spokesman of the group is Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the modus operandi of the EFCC is not within the current amplitude and resonance of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Iwuanyanwu; and thus cannot contemplate a press release for or against the EFCC.
“The Igbo leader since his assumption of Office as the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has rather pre-occupied himself with rechanneling the Igbo entrepreneurship, inventiveness, ingenuity, and enormous human and material resources towards a new economic dawn, job opportunities and prosperity In Igbo land.”