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The youth wing of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has dissociated itself from a recent legislative action raised by Hon Ikenga Chinyere, member representing Ideator Federal Constituency over arrest of President of Ohaneze Youth Council, Comrade Igboayaka Igboayaka.
Chinyere had last week, read a petition against Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, which he claimed emanated from the Ohanaeze Youth Council, over the arrest of Igboayaka.
Recall that on Saturday, February 8, 2025, after he allegedly won reelection as OYC President at the fifth National Election Convention of the OYC, which took place in Owerri, Imo State, Igboayaka was arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ebonyi State Police Command.
The OYC had in the said petition, called out the Ebonyi State Governor and the State Commissioner of Police over the arrest, demanding immediate release of the said Igboayaka.
But in a reaction to the action, National Publicity Secretary of the Ohaneze Youths, Mazi Chika Art Adiele on Monday, said the purported petition was nothing but a concocted tissue of fallacy and criminality on the basis of impersonation.
He said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, is one indivisible body, under the leadership of Senator John Azuta Mbata as President General and Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, as Ag. National Youth Leader and President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Anambra State Chapter.
He recalled that the apex Igbo social cultural organization and her leadership had, in several fora, both private and public, admonished Igboayaka to desist from what they called, “his criminal impersonation of using the name OHANAEZE NDIGBO as a tool for defrauding the public and causing confusion to unsuspecting Nigerians.
This he said, has caused an identity crisis for Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Adiele’s reaction which came in a statement, warned the public to desist forthwith, from recognizing the said Igboayaka as an officer of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide nor as the Leader of the Youth Wing.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Igboayaka’s reckless and criminal activities, have continued to cause significant damages to the image of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and indeed Ndigbo at large.
“We are aware that he was arrested last month by the Ebonyi state command of the Nigerian Police over some serious and sensitive allegations and not limited to impersonation,” he said.
The Ohaneze Youths spokesperson advised Hon. Ikenga Imo to immediately withdraw the petition as presented on the floor of the Green Chambers and further desist from supporting such illegality and criminality using his revered position as a Member of the Hallowed Green Chamber of the National Assembly.
He also called on the leadership of the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives led by Hon. Iduma Igariwey Enwo and other revered members of the caucus to call Hon. Ikenga Imo to order.
Adiele wrote; “Therefore, as the Apex Igbo Youths body, it is our collective interest to speak with One Voice and will not hesitate to unleash the long arm of the law against any individual or group of individuals parading themselves or using Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a tool for economic merchandising.
“Lastly, we implore all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard Hon Ikenga Chinyere Imo, over his mischievous attempt to hoodwink the public, with a view to weeping up negative emotions against Gov Nwifuru, who is currently busy delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Ebonyi State.
“We commend Ebonyi state command of the Nigerian Police for rising up to the occasion and taking responsibility for the overall Security and Stability in Ebonyi State and South East.”
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