Ayodele Olalere
A former President of the Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has denied media report claiming he blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for recent killings in the South East.
In a statement signed by him, Nwodo said the report published by IKETEX Media TV was misleading and provocative, adding he never at any point in time uttered such statement.
According to the release, “It has come to my notice that a news item is being peddled in IKETEX MEDIA TV alleging that I have been vindicated on my statement in 2019 that IPOB was responsible for the killings in the South East and that herdsmen were innocent of the killings.
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“The puerile, mendacious and provocative story also credited me with saying that even the recent killings in Ebonyi State were carried out by IPOB and that I was not Governor Uzodimma and wouldn’t be cowed by IPOB and that any attack on my property would attract a reprisal attack from me on Afara Ukwu.
“This is a terrible lie from the pit of hell and intended not just to tarnish my image but to set me on collision course with IPOB,” the statement stated.
Nwodo also denied showing interest in contesting for the 2023 Presidency, adding he has always regarded as IPOB as his ‘children.’
He continued, “Let me state categorically that I have not stated or given anybody the impression that I was interested in the 2023 presidential race, neither does my body language suggest it.
“Furthermore, I couldn’t have indicted IPOB on killings in the South East when I have always held the view that they are my children and share in their grievances arising from the overt marginalisation of the Ibo in the country.
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“In my inaugural speech as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2017, and in my address at Chattam House in London, I had stated clearly and firmly that the struggle of IPOB is my struggle except that we differ in modalities because while they sought outright independence for Biafra, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stood for the restructuring of the nation in a united Nigeria.
“It is also instructive that in the twilight of my service to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, we had reached an understanding to work in concert with IPOB to achieve the desired objective for Ndigbo.
“Where and when did I fall out with IPOB to make a public statement accusing them of any crime or denouncing their activities?’ he asked rhetorically.
He said the report was meant to tarnish his image.
Nwodo also said, “The obvious conclusion from the ill-conceived story is that it was intended to indict me and justify an attack on me.
“This mischief is as condemnable as it is indecent and should be roundly condemned by all decent minds.
“Nobody gains anything from unjustifiably engaging in a smear campaign on an innocent person.”
