B’Haram Allegation: Ohanaeze Youths Give APC 48hrs To Apologise To Ihejirika, Igbo Nation

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Sunday, September 7th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

The Youth wing of apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has threatened to label the All Progressives Congress APC an ‘anti-Igbo political party’ should it fails to apologise to ex- Chief of Army Staff COAS, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, within 48 hours.

Outgoing Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Lt.Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika

A statement jointly signed by its National Secretary, Emmanuel Nnabuike, and Publicity Secretary, Obinna Adibe made available to newsmen, followed the APC’s demand for Iherjika’s prosecution over alleged sponsorship of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

APC had demanded the former Army chief prosecution in the wake of claims made by Australian negotiator, Mr. Stephen Davies.

In the statement entitled, “Ongoing Attempts To Brand Gen. Ihejirika a Boko Haram Sponsor’” the Ohanaeze youths described the negotiator’s claims as “spurious”.

They also expressed disappointment that the major opposition political party in Nigeria, did not bother to ascertain the veracity of its allegations before calling for Ihejirika’s prosecution.

The group noted that Ihejirika deserved an apology from the APC since the Department of State Security DSS has now absolved him of any involvement with Boko Haram.

According to the statement: “It is on record that the same people trying to frame up Gen. Ihejirika are the same people who claimed they would make Nigeria ungovernable for President Jonathan, in the aftermath of the 2011 presidential election.

“We view the call for Ihejirika’s trial by the APC through its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, without bothering to confirm the authenticity of the statement, as malicious and premeditated.

The statement continued: “Now that the Director of State Security Service has officially absolved Ihejirika of any complicity in the matter, we ask the APC to issue an apology to Gen. Ihejirika and Ndigbo within 48 hours.

“If they fail to do so, the APC shall be formally labeled an anti-Igbo party and other sanctions shall follow.”

The group however, described Davies as a “fraudulent character and mercenary”.

“Security is too weighty a matter to be politicised, therefore it is unpatriotic for political leaders to embark on character assassination based on unsubstantiated and misguided rumours.

“Dr Stephen Davies has shown himself to be a fraudulent character and a mercenary, whose stock in trade is the distortion of information in order to cause chaos, thereby creating more business for him.”

It added that Davies employed “cheap propaganda tactics” by naming Ihejirika alongside former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who has been consistently linked with the emergence and sponsorship of Boko Haram as the sect’s sponsor in order to lend credence to his claims in the eyes of “gullible members of the public”.

The Ohaneze youth further noted that Davies did not provide any evidence or motivation for Ihejirika, a Christian and an Igbo from the South East, to sponsor Boko Haram.

Further casting doubt on his claims, the group observed that his allegation that the Central Bank of Nigeria official who handled the funding of Boko Haram was an uncle to three of the Nyanya bombing suspects was equally disproved by the DSS.

They said : “It is uncharitable for Nigerians to reward someone who laid down his life in defence of his country by associating him with the sponsorship of the sect,” the statement stated.