National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), Okwu Nnabuike, yesterday, slammed the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu faction of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, accusing it of playing selfish and ethnic politics to the detriment of Ndigbo.
Okwu was reacting to a statement Ohanaeze issued against its youth wing through the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonna.
Okwu, in a statement, said some chieftains of the Igbo group were against him, because he did not support their selfish interests, adding that Ohanaeze has been operating under two factions, a matter that is now subject of litigation. He also said it was laughable that Iwuanyanwu, who was not elected, was busy issuing orders.
The Igbo youth leader noted that his only crime was congratulating President Bola Tinubu, and for commending his appointment of an Igbo son from Enugu State as one of the service chiefs.
He said: “Trouble started when we congratulated Tinubu. All hell was let loose. They said we have committed abomination; that an Igbo son, Peter Obi, is in court to reclaim his mandate.
“But we made them understand that unless the court says otherwise, Tinubu is now the President of Nigeria. It behoves every citizen to work with him to move the country forward. If tomorrow, the court declares Obi winner, we would also rally round him. That’s our stand; but they were not happy with that; they called for our heads.
“As if that was not enough, an illustrious Igbo son, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, and we commended the President for that.
“They are calling for our head again. They first said Ogalla is not from Igbo speaking part of the South East. We find this very offensive. He is a bona fide son of Igbo land, from Umuopu, in Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Council of the state. Who is more Igbo than him?
“What is obvious is that once it is not someone from among them, they would not appreciate it.”
