Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo socio-cultural organization, has raised a voice of warning and defiance against purported attempts by a faction of Igbo elders to apologize to the Fulani leadership regarding the tumultuous events surrounding the 1966 coup.
In a statement on Thursday by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the organization issued a stern warning to the deviant elders, urging them to reassess their actions and seek reconciliation with the Ndigbo.
It added that failure to heed this call and persist in their dishonourable quest to acquiesce before the Fulani leadership will result in severe consequences, including ostracism and proscription across Igboland.
The statement read, “The apex Igbo organisation stands resolute in safeguarding the honour and legacy of the Igbo forebears – among them Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, Dr Michael Okpara, Chief Francis Akanu-Ibiam, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu – who laid the foundations of Igbo identity with unwavering commitment and sacrifice.
“To contemplate a narrative distortion, to bend the knee in unwarranted contrition to external forces, is to disgrace the indelible spirit of the Igbo people and their storied history.
“The distressing revelation of certain Igbo elders embarking on a misguided pilgrimage to seek forgiveness from the Fulani leadership betrays not only the trust of the Igbo populace but also distorts the essence of Igbo pride and resilience.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasises that any public apologies made to Fulani leadership on behalf of Ndigbo without the imprimatur of Imeobi and the General Assembly of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, hold no weight among the 60 million-strong global Igbo community.
Furthermore, the sanctity of Ohanaeze as a sacred institution must be upheld, guarding it against exploitation for personal or political agendas.
The clandestine machinations between select Igbo leaders and the Fulani elite, purportedly driven by a Southeast governor with imperial ambitions in 2027, threaten to compromise the very fabric of Igbo honour and integrity.”
