By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday warned pan-Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze, to desist from alleged plans to apologise to Fulani Caliphate for Igbo military officers’ involvement in the 1966 coup that led to the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello.

IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that the purported move is not only sacrilegious but also shameful.

The statement read partly: “Ohaneze has crossed the red line by attempting to go and apologize to the Fulani terrorists for what the clueless Ohaneze called forgiveness from the Caliphate for Igbo military officers involvement in the 1966 coup that led to the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello.

“The abominable planned visit of Ohaneze Ndigbo will be on record as aggressors instead of victims.

“These redcap thieves in Ohaneze are ignorant fellows that have allowed bribe money to take away their sense of reasoning.

“These men are the household enemies of Ndigbo and other indigenous people in Nigeria.

Blood tasty Fulanis have murdered indigenous people of Biafra and Ndigbo from 1933, 1945, 1953 1966 till date, Indigenous People of Hausa, indigenous people of Yoruba, indigenous people of Middle Belt and other indigenous peoples in Nigeria.

“These murderous Fulanis have not apologized for killing millions of indigenous people in Nigeria. But the Ohaneze had the effontry to plan to go and apologize to the Fulani Caliphate for the military coup of 1966.

“The military coup of January 15, 1966 was carried out by young military officers from all ethnic groups in Nigeria to stop Mallam Ahmadu Bello and Abubarka Tafa Belawa from the forceful Islamization of Nigeria. But Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and other young military officers including those from Northern, Western saw this as well as Middle Belt regions and stopped them in a bloody coup.

“Ndigbo never sent military officers to stage a coup for them or to murder on their behalf. Nevertheless, the 1966 coup that was carried out by the young military officers from all the ethnic groups in Nigeria was viciously tagged as Igbo coup. Why was the military coup led by Murtala Muhammed, Babangida, Buhari, Abacha and other Northern military officers not tagged Hausa or Fulani coup?

“Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership has seen cash given by Fulani Caliphate to misrepresent Ndigbo and declare Ndigbo guilty of a crime that was no committed by Ndigbo.”

While noting that Ndigbo has been victims of Fulani massacre in the Northern Nigeria from 1933 till date, IPOB added: “During the genocidal war of 1966 - 1970 millions of Ndigbo were massacred both pregnant women and unborn children.

“Still today Ndigbo are being slaughtered in their farms and homes by Fulani terrorists, case of recent Uzu Uwani of Enugu State is a case study. This bunch of Fulani handpicked traitors in Ohaneze, led by Iwuanyanwu have not boldly condemned the Fulanis murderous activities against Ndigbo but decided to make a caricature of Ndigbo's integrity by going to apologize to the murderers.

“This is the height of insult not only to Ndigbo but also to all the indigenous people in Nigeria who have been victims of the sponsored Fulani terrorists attacks. If Ndigbo continues to allow these traitors called Ohaneze Ndigbo to continue parading themselves as leaders of Ndigbo, the lives and safety of Ndigbo is completely compromised.”

IPOB accused Ohaneze Ndigbo of having moles handpicked by Fulani Caliphate to represent its interest and not that of Ndigbo.

“It is time to stop the treacherous Ohaneze from parading themselves as representatives of Ndigbo. They were never appointed nor elected by Ndigbo but they selected and appointed themselves with the approval of their political Masters and Fulani leadership.

“Ohaneze Ndigbo has betrayed Ndigbo. They betrayed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. They betrayed Peter Obi's presidency. Ohaneze are a bunch of handpicked Fulani political stooges who want to speak for Ndigbo without Ndigbo's consent.

“Chief Iwuanyawu led Ohaneze faction are traitors. The gullible men have been brainwashed by their Fulani Masters to apologize to them and take responsibility of atrocities on behalf of Ndigbo for the actions of Nigeria military officers when some of them were not born.

“Sometimes these insatiable fellows claimed that Igbo youths insult their Elders its now clear that they the cause of it.

“If Iwuanyanwu led Ohaneze dare go ahead to criminalize Ndigbo with the so called apologies, they will attract serious consequences as long as IPOB is concerned.

“If Ohaneze Ndigbo dare travel to the Northern Nigeria and apologize to the murderous Fulani Caliphate, IPOB will declare them persona non gratas. And an order will be given to treat anyone that identifies himself or herself as an Ohaneze Ndigbo member both at home and in Diaspora as a criminal and traitor and will be treated as one.

“Going forward, Ohaneze Ndigbo should stop speaking or representing Ndigbo.”

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