The President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, the apex Igbo socio-political organisation, John Nwodo on Friday said that the antics and unguarded statements of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-styled leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, (IPOB) have exposed the Igbo in different parts of Nigeria to unnecessary danger.
Nwodo spoke at a rally in Awka while responding to the recent call by Kanu and his group for Anambra people to boycott the forthcoming Governorship election in the state.
According to Nwodo, Kanu’s unguarded utterance over the election provided the Inspector General of Police the cover to flood Anambra with police operatives who are now extorting money from the people.
He said, “Why should Anambra people be denied the opportunity to choose their own leader; nobody, no matter how highly-placed, can dictate to Anambra people when to vote, whether to vote or who to vote for.”
“Anambra, nay Igbo, are still part and parcel of the federal republic of Nigeria. Yes, we are not happy with our treatment in Nigeria; some of us want Biafra.
“Yes, some of us prefer a restructured federal republic of Nigeria, but the fact remains that we are still part and parcel of the present federal republic of Nigeria, bound by its laws, no matter how repressive or unjust.
“Our approach to the reforms of our laws even if it leads to self-determination or restructuring, must be lawful.
‘‘We must convince other Nigerians of our point of view; we must strive to make others share our convictions.
“Our language must be civil, respectful and lead to consensus building.
‘‘We must resist any attempt to allow division among us, as to which way we must go; it must not become a source of altercations between us.
“As we speak, very many of our people living in the north are in complete awe and consternation regarding how safe they will be after October 1.
“Other northerners living among us are also worried.
“The inspector-general of police has taken public notice of Nnamdi Kanu’s comments, inviting a possible invasion of Anambra by the Nigerian police, thereby increasing the already existing siege on our people, which leads to daily extortion on our highways.
“All these developments have arisen out of unguarded utterances.
“I find no venue more suited for the statements I make here; every constituent part of Anambra is represented here and I believe that the honorable members here are competent enough to carry the Ohaneze message to every nook and cranny of Anambra state.”
While urging the people to ignore Kanu and IPOB, Nwodo also warned the group to stop arrogating to themselves the supreme leadership of Igboland.