The Concerned Igbo Association (CIA) and the Combined Igbo Movement (CIM), have issued messages to every group in Igbo land to desist from using the name of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for financial and political gain under the guise of fighting for Biafra Independence.
The group specifically warned the Ralph Uwazuruike led Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to rethink in what it termed their romance with some politicians in Igbo land whom they alleged were using MASSOB/BIM.
Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, Governor of East Nigeria, wearing military uniform, circa 1966. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
It will be recalled that three weeks ago, Uwazuruike announced that the celebration of the 8th memorial anniversary of the death of Ojukwu is expected to hold on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Ojukwu Memorial Library in Owerri, Imo State.
CIA and CIM worldwide said that after their joint emergency meeting held yesterday 23rd of November, 2019 in Enugu, they have resolved to stand against any move from unscrupulous individuals and groups who wish to tarnish the image of Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu (Odumegwu-Ojukwu).
The two Pro-Igbo groups in a statement jointly signed by: Dr Nwankwo Desmond, National President (CIA), Mr Paul Nwaoye, National Secretary (CIA), Chief Donald Onyebuchi Nwokeoma, National President (CIM) and Comrade Chukwunonso Nnaemeka National Secretary (CIM), specifically warned that they will never fold their arms and watch unscrupulous elements destroyed the revered name of the late Biafran leader.
“It has come to the notice of Concerned Igbo Association (CIA) and Combined Igbo Movement (CIM) both home and in the diaspora that a press statement credited to some groups in Nigeria announcing an event in honor of our famous and pronounced Igbo leader late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of all in old Eastern Nigeria.
“It is in our hearts and in history of Ndigbo and Nigeria in general that Late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s name remains ever green therefore it is disrespectful and dishonorable for certain individuals and groups to be using his name to gain political favor by falsely claiming to have been anointed by our late leader to take his place. He never did any such thing.
“Let us make it clear! The leader of BIM, Uwazuruike, was never anointed by Ezeigbo. Such a claim is baseless and will not be tolerated. After our discussions we discovered that politicians in our land are sponsoring MASSOB and other groups to use Ojukwu’s name to be relevant in politics of Nigeria without referencing the truth or to the family.
“We have concluded to work against any group and oppose it’s decision to hold any event with Ojukwu’s name on 26th of November in Owerri as long as those groups continue to make false claims to leadership.
“We are totally against it and must remain so until they stop using Ojukwu’s name and face their selfish interests. We cannot rule out that they are doing this event to deceive gullible Igbos to believe that they are still fighting for actualization of Biafra, we must stop any group or individual who would wish to use Ojukwu’s name to score cheap political gain for themselves.”
The groups went further to say that in their extensive deliberation regarding numerous issues concerning marginalization of Ndigbo and other Biafrans in Nigeria, they have decided to use this medium to warn MASSOB/BIM and other mushroom groups who are in the need to further their selfish efforts in mentioning Ojukwu’s name in all their kangaroo and sponsored press releases regarding Ndigbo.
“Late Eze Ndigbo gburugburu, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is tilll alive in our minds therefore nobody should tamper with his name again. We still hold late Ojukwu and his family into a high esteem no matter the odds.
“It is true that MASSOB was one of the group demanding and fighting for the actualization of Biafra, but their time has come and gone and they together with BIM cannot be allowed to be constantly reducing the reputation and respect we have for Ojukwu in our life time.
“The numerous and constant press statements cannot help or protect anybody or group when we might get hold of them. Ojukwu’s name must be sacred in our hearts because he sacrificed his life and wealth for us to live today.
“We are mobilizing Ndigbo to stand against any group or whoever prefer to be using Ojukwu’s name only for political purposes without looking inward and know what Ndigbo really need within this social and political landscape.”
They further disclosed that they are not against the restoration of the state of Biafra, but are rather against some deceitful Pro-Biafra groups like MASSOB/BIM, who are playing some dangerous romantic games with politicians in the name of Biafra and Ojukwu.
The Igbos Ethnic Group should understand that General Ojukwu, at no time handed over the relms of Biafra to any body, let alone a functional illiterate who claimed he studied law in India while Indians study law in the United States.