“My daughter is very happily married to a Yoruba, and they have given me four adorable grandchildren. Those my grandchildren are Yoruba, not Igbo.” – Iwuanyanwu.
The Chairman of Elders Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu says he never said the Yoruba are political rascals. He described the report as wicked and handiwork of enemies of peace.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, in a statement in Owerri, issued by his Special Adviser, Media, Ben Osuagwu, said that all the people who attended the First Anniversary of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s administration as Governor of Anambra State including the Channels TV, Arise TV, and all other electronic and print media houses that covered the event could testify that he never made such a statement as he was quoted to have said, or generalised that Yorubas are political rascals.
Rather, what he said was that Igbos should go about their businesses in Lagos as there was no war between Igbos and Yorubas. He stated that he only said that those who are instigating crises between Yorubas and Igbos, destroying properties of Igbos , killing, burning, intimidating and harassing Igbos in Lagos are political rascals
Chief Iwuanyanwu made it abundantly clear that at no time did he make the statement credited to him by blackmail circulating on the social media that Yorubas are political rascals. He said his speech was fraudulently manipulated to cause disaffection.
Chief Iwuanyanwu said that over the years, the relationship between the Igbos and Yorubas has been very cordial even before the amalgamation of Nigeria.
Chief Iwuanyanwu warned the perpetrators of the malicious and wicked fake news and propaganda that it is a criminal offence to circulate such against a peace loving Nigerian.
Chief Iwuanyanwu has received many chieftaincy titles in Yoruba land including the BALOGUN BABAGUWA OF IBADAN. One wonders how such a personality would be quoted by some mischievous elements to have made such a statement.
Chief Iwuanyanwu said that he has many personal friends and Staff of Yoruba tribe in his various companies who played major roles in shaping his economic destiny and, therefore, do not have any reason whatsoever to insult the Yoruba tribe who he regards with great respect.
The Elder Statesman felt sad that a Nigerian could be denied his democratic right to vote any candidate of his choice because of his tribe.
He noted that what happened to Igbos was in the Press and pointed out that Igbos are very grateful to those distinguished Yorubas who rose to speak against the killings, injuries, and destruction of properties of Igbos in Lagos only because they voted the candidates of their choice.
The Chairman of Elders Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo further noted that some of the Igbos who lost their properties and were wounded were not only members of the Labour Party but also members of other Political Parties. He stated that most Igbos in Lagos voted for the incumbent Governor because they said that he did well in his first four year term and deserved to be reelected.
The Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo restated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not own a political party and does not control any political party where their members belong. In effect he said, people are free to choose, work for and vote for any political party of their choice and that is why Igbos are in all the political parties of their choice in the country.
Chief Iwuanyanwu observed that the peddlers of this fake news are part of the syndicate that brought misery and sadness to the Igbos resident in Lagos. He appealed to the Yorubas to fish them out as they are portraying the Yorubas in bad light.
Chief Iwuanyanwu on a personal note pointed out that one of his daughters is married to a prominent Yoruba family in Ibadan, Oyo State for over twenty years and the marriage is blessed with four adorable children. He expressed happiness and pride in his son-in law-and maintained that the children of the marriage are Yorubas and not Igbos by the culture of Igboland. He said that he will not be happy if at anytime any group of people discriminate against them in Yorubaland because their mother is Igbo.
Chief Iwuanyanwu called on all men of goodwill to arrest the present situation which if not nipped in the bud may cause social unrest.
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