APC Replies Ohananeze, Says Owes No Apology To Ihejirika

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Politics Monday, September 8th, 2014

By Funmilayo Omidiji

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted it owes the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, no apology on its demand that he be investigated on allegation of being a sponsor of dreaded Boko Haram group.

Following the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun statement with respect to questioning of Ihejirika and former Borno state Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff at a press conference last week in Abuja, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing faulted the statement yesterday and described the opposition an anti – Igbo political group.

However, in a statement on Monday, by the party’s South East Youths Spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu, APC maintained “For the avoidance of doubt, what our National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun called for is for President Goodluck Jonathan, to invite the International Criminal Court of Justice to investigate and prosecute Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), consequent upon the allegation leveled against him by the Federal Government negotiator, Rev. Dr Stephen Davis”.

While noting that the country was a signatory to ICC, Okechukwu stressed that his party just like other patriotic Nigerians “is of the candid view that unraveling the masterminds, sponsors, allies and sympathizers of the monster called Boko Haram is a sure bet to stamping out the insurgency”.

The raging controversy followed the Federal government foreign – negotiator, Dr. Stepehen Davis who revealed penultimate last week in an international television medium. He had accused both Ihejirika and sheriff as the financiers of the militants activities.

Besides the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing’s 48 hours ultimatum and demand for apology, the Spokesperson of Department of States Security (DSS), Ms. Marylin Ogar last Friday shocked the world again, as she alongside absolving the former army Chief denied Federal government ever engaging Dr. Davis to negotiate the release of over 200 Chibok Secondary school girls in Borno state.

Ogar at a briefing described the Australian negotiator as “self styled” and “self acclaimed”.