Burning Of Ohaneze Secretariat, South-East APC Demands Police Probe

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Monday, February 2nd, 2015

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu – The South east chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, to as a matter of urgent national importance institute a high-powered probe panel to investigate the masterminds behind the recent fire incident that nearly razed down the National Secretariat of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

A statement signed by its publicity secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, made available to African Examiner in Enugu on sunday, said, “to us, the Ohaneze Ndigbo’s secretariat reminds us of a common bond heritage and symbol of the Igbo nation.

“Located at Park Avenue, Enugu, capital of Eastern region; hence we frown at such sacrilegious act.

“Sir, it may interest you to know that the secretariat has never been attacked; until the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo refused bluntly to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election.

“Since November 2014, intense pressure has been mounted on the leadership of Ohaneze led by Gary Enwo Igariwey, to endorse Mr President, which they resisted in the collective interest of Ndigbo.

“Bizarre events which followed the rational decision of Ohaneze Ndigbo to reject the endorsement of President Jonathan, in what we dub a non-partisan posture, were legion.

“One of these bizarre events is the factionalization of Ohaneze Ndigbo, a once cohesive, dynamic and the mouth piece of Ndigbo.

“Secondly, was the double speak of the splinter Igbo Leaders of Thought led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, which tongue-in-cheek said, ‘We are fully aware that Jonathan’s administration has not seriously addressed the core promises and commitments made to Ndigbo during the 2011 election campaign. In spite of this, it is in the best interest of our people that he be re-elected”.’

The stated added “We hold dear to the old age epigram that the core ingredient of election in liberal democracy is the referendum on the performance of the incumbent; therefore to latch on the flimsy religious sentiment of Islamization of Nigeria cannot hold water.

“Accordingly, we do not think Ndigbo or indeed Nigerians have the leisure to reward a president who failed to fix the East-Road, 2nd Niger Bridge, Mambilla Power Plant, Enugu Coal, the 3 Greenfield Refineries awarded at a whopping cost of $23billion and who out of unbridled corruption crashed the Naira.

“We are at a loss how our elder statesmen of the so called Igbo Leaders of Thought want a president that eminent Igbo sons and daughters – Professor Charles Soludo, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Senator Ken Nnamani, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili and host of others, including their good selves awarded F9, to repeat a life time class squandered.

“In sum, it will be of interest if the IGP uses his good office to fish out the hoodlums who burnt the Ohaneze Ndigbo secretariat before more harm is done”.