Ohanaeze Ndigbo has dismissed the assertions made by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), which alleged that Northerners in the Southeast region are being harassed.
The rebuttal by the pan-Igbo organisation, comes in the wake of former military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon’s statement, affirming Boko Haram as the primary obstacle to Nigeria’s peace and development since the Civil War.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo urged the NEF to take Gowon’s statement seriously while urging the forum’s claims of harassment and attacks on Northerners conducting lawful business in the southeast to be unsubstantiated and divisive.
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement, said:
”Former military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon recently underscored the severity of the threat posed by Boko Haram, labelling it as the primary obstacle to Nigeria’s peace and development since the Civil War. His candid acknowledgement sheds light on the pressing need for concerted action to address this menace.
”However, OHANAEZE NDIGBO finds it disheartening that the Northern Elders Forum, through Salisu Mohammed, Deputy Director, chose to propagate unsubstantiated claims regarding alleged harassment and attacks on Northerners conducting lawful business in the southeast.
”OHANAEZE NDIGBO advocates for a thorough investigation to verify the authenticity, location, and timeline of the circulated video depicting this purported harassment.
”We vehemently condemn all forms of violence and intimidation against any Nigerian, whether in the East or North. We call on the Northern Elders Forum to exercise caution and refrain from making divisive accusations against the southeast.
”National security challenges demand unity and collaboration among all Nigerians to support the efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies in combating threats.
”We implore the Northern Elders Forum to provide precise details to aid in identifying and bringing culprits to justice.
”The inconsistencies and retractions in the Northern Elders Forum’s statements raise doubts and hamper national cohesion. Nigerians and Ndigbo anticipate that future declarations will be responsible and truthful, free from contradictions that undermine credibility.
”OHANAEZE NDIGBO remains committed to fostering unity and peace in Nigeria, and we call for a concerted effort to address security challenges holistically. Let us set aside regional prejudices and work collectively towards a safer and more prosperous nation.”