The immediate past President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has denied granting any interview on the bombing of the country home of his successor, Professor George Obiozor, by hoodlums.
Obiozor, an accomplished diplomat, and a former Nigeria Ambassador to the United States of America, had his country home in his Awo-Omanma community bombed on Saturday in a most callous manner.
The condemnable act was greeted by outrage. The damage was huge. The loss, irreplaceable. A reporter on one social media quoted Nwodo as saying that he will deal with IPOB if they dared burn down his house.
However, Nwodo, in a statement he personally signed, has denied granting any interview in Enugu, as he is currently out of the country.
He said the publication was a deliberate act to put him on a collusion course with IPOB, and a ploy to incite the burning of his home.
Following is the full text of the statement.
“My attention has been drawn to a news item circulating in the social media in Nigeria quoting me as saying that I will deal with gunmen if they try to burn my house.
“The faceless reporter claimed that Nwodo was reacting to the burning of the home of the incumbent President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Imo state.
“Since I left the Ohanaeze Presidency after a successful tenure, I have been deliberately away from media glare for obvious reason of allowing my successor own the media space. I rarely appear in public outing except for where its inevitable. I had also turned down several media approaches for interviews as a result of this principled position.
I have been outside the country for over one week for medical checkup yet the mischief maker(s) chose to put words in my mouth as speaking to newsmen in Enugu.
“There is no doubt in my mind that those behind this cheap blackmail are engaged in devious act to not only dent my image by continuously dragging my name negatively with IPOB but working assiduously to find an alibi to burn down my house and possibly attack my person.
“For the interest of the gullible public, I am presently in United states and did not speak to any media group or individual and has no problem with any group whether IPOB or anybody in whatever name called.
“This continuous attempt to put my name in the black side of IPOB or some Igbo leaders is bound to fail because it’s not standing on truth of a man who has made enormous sacrifice for his people
“Those behind this dangerous act will definitely face the law of the land and of God who detest the destruction of a person’s hard earned reputation unjustly.
“I therefore wish to urge the public to disregard the news item and treat it as one of the minuses of social media.”
IPOB Denies Complicity
IPOB, in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Emma Powerful denied having a hand in the razing of Professor Obiozor’s House.
The statement reads:
BURNING OF PROFESSOR OBIOZOR’S HOUSE, BARBARIC, CONDEMNABLE- IPOB
“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, totally condemn the burning of the house of Professor George Obiozor, the President General of Ohanaeze. This barbaric act is shameful and disgraceful to Ndigbo.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that criminals behind this cowardly act are those against the liberation of Biafra and the release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU so as to create the wrong impression that Biafra agitators are violent. Those behind this evil act have nothing to do with IPOB, ESN or Biafra agitation. They are sponsored criminals and must be made to face the consequences of their action.
“We don’t consider Professor Obiozor an enemy of IPOB and Biafra struggle. So, anybody targeting him is treading on a dangerous ground. He has done nothing to deserve such devilish and wicked attack.
*IPOB M.Branch unit will stop at nothing in unraveling those behind this dastardly attack.
“The criminal elements being recruited by evil politicians wrecking havock across our land should stop their murderous activities or brace up for IPOB.
“Wicked politicians must be held responsible for the on-going destruction of IGBO land.
“IPOB is ready to confront these criminals created by politicians in the name of Ebubeagu security outfit which they intended to use to replace ESN.
“Ebubeagu security outfit has turned to unknown gunmen terrorising our people. They are involved in Kidnappings and burning of people’s properties and houses in Imo State and other states.
ESN operatives need the cooperation of the public to deal with the Ebubeagu security outfit because they have been a torn in the flesh of our people and must be stopped.”
However not a few people blame a group they identify as Rogue IPOB for the atrocious act. This group, they allege, are committing a number of atrocities in the name of IPOB.
However, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has put the blame on Politicians.
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