Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, an Igbo socio-cultural
association, says Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, its chairman, did not refer to the
Yoruba race as political rascals.
Speaking in Anambra on Saturday at the event marking one
year in the office of Chukwuma Soludo, governor of the state, Iwuanyanwu said
those destroying Igbo properties in Lagos were “political rascals”.
Reacting to the development, Afenifere, the Yoruba
socio-political group, said it has called on the Ohanaeze to warn Iwuanyanwu
not to insult the Yoruba race.
Afenifere said it has also reached out to Iwuanyanwu to seek
clarification on why he “made the comment and whether his view is a reflection
of what Ohanaeze Ndigbo indeed thinks of the Yorubas”.
However, in a statement on Sunday by Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze
national publicity secretary, the group said its chairman’s speech was twisted
by insidious minds who wished to create a rift between the Igbo and the Yoruba
ethnicities.
“I want to tell those in Lagos to realise that there is no
war between us and the Yoruba. Those who attacked Ndigbo in Lagos recently are
rascals who should be arrested,” NAN quoted Ogbonnia to have said.
“This has mischievously been twisted to imply that ‘Yoruba
people are political rascals and that we will fight them’. This is quite from
the insidious minds of those who wish to create a rift between the Igbo and the
Yoruba ethnicities.
“At no time in
history, has there is often a tug of war between two major groups; mostly the
good people with conscience on one hand and the devious insidious minds on the
other.”
Ogbonnia said Iwuanyanwu is a detribalized Nigerian who
would never denigrate the Yoruba race.
“So, as much as some mischief makers will twist the speech
by Iwuanyanwu, the truth remains that he holds the Yorubas in a very high
esteem and he used the Awka event to express it,” he said.
“It is important to highlight that Chief Iwuanyanwu is a
renowned patriotic detribalized Nigerian who has enjoyed the fidelity,
confidence, solidarity, and support of the Yoruba when he was in active
business and politics.
“Iwuanyanwu in all his private and public discussions has often commended the profound Yoruba cultural values, intellect, and hospitality. He applauds the cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba, citing that several Igbo are integral parts of various Yoruba communities.
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