Ohanaeze alleges plot to legalise terrorist tag on IPOB

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, says it has uncovered alleged moves by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to “secretly approach court for an order to designate IPOB as a terrorist group.”

In a statement yesterday by its President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the body cautioned the courts against granting frivolous orders against the agitators in order not to undermine Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

Nwodo contended that “such move is not only illegal but aimed at furthering the harassment and intimidation of Igbo youths who have been pursuing their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.”

He revealed that they had dispatched letters to the courts to be weary of “such spurious move as it is capable of aggravating the frayed nerves and disrupting the genuine intentions Ohanaeze and critical Igbo leaders are making to bring peace and harmony in the land.”

However, efforts to reach Malami for comments were futile, as he neither received calls nor responded to the messages sent to his mobile phone as at press time.

Also yesterday, the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) said the proscription of the group by the South East governors was “designed and choreographed to justify the discreetly agreed agenda to crush the agitation by military might in order to sustain the 1999 military constitution and current unjust status quo.”

In a statement by its secretary, Elliot Uko, the association said: “The unjust 1999 military constitution and unfair unitary structure it designed, is at the root of the crisis bedevilling Nigeria. Every bullet shot at Umuahia or Aba last week, was aimed at sustaining this status quo and resisting restructuring.”

“The ongoing military action is not targeted at Kanu and IPOB but, at the restructuring breeze blowing across the federation and put an end to it. They know it is impossible to proscribe a movement that lives in the hearts and souls of millions. They also know that the herdsmen are the real terrorists.”