Victor EzejaThe apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has stated that the proscribed Igbo separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has no mandate to speak for the people of the South-east region.
Ohanaeze made the declaration following a pronouncement by the IPOB that it has banned the consumption of ‘Fulani beef’ in the Southeast region.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor, said though IPOB’s anger was based on the injustice against Igbos over the years, that still does not give them the “mandate to speak for the entire people of the South-East.”
Obiozor, while reacting to angry and ‘inciting’ responses credited to some Northern groups over the IPOB ban, cautioned both sides to be cautious in their comments so as not to throw the country into another chaotic situation as what was witnessed during the civil war.
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In his words, “Take it from me and it is the right statement; IPOB doesn’t speak for Igbo and that is the truth.
“To be very candid with you, the IPOB anger is an accumulated anger based on perceived or real injustice against Ndigbo for so long.
“We understand their anger and the anger of many youths across the country.
“However, the truth of the matter is that they are not mandated to speak for Ndigbo.”
Obiozor also had words for Northern groups, saying their responses to the IPOB threats were inciting comments.
“The Northern groups that are making the statements are unfortunate because we don’t respond when their youths in their youthful exuberance make certain comments like they did before that all Igbo must leave the North.
The outlawed Igbo separatist group, had on Monday, placed an indefinite ban on the consumption of what it tagged beef from ‘Fulani cattle’ in the South-East”.
In a statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said ban would take effect from April 1.
But in response to the IPOB threat, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in a statement issued by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, called for a total boycott of all businesses operated by Igbos in the Northern part of the country effective from April 1.
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