Women want Kanu, IPOB to ‘fizzle’ out over threat to Ohanaeze leader

The recent call allegedly by the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for the stoning of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has attracted harsh criticisms and condemnation with Igbo women describing the threat as unnecessary.

The women are also calling for Kanu and his group to “fizzle out for peace to reign in the land.”

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Leader of Ohanaeze Women’s Wing in Enugu State, Dr. (Mrs.) Selina Ugwuoke-Adibuah, said such utterances attributed to Kanu were often associated with the Igbo, and reiterated that Kanu and his group should fizzle out for peace to reign in the land.

During her group’s solidarity visit to Chief Nwodo at Ohanaeze House in Enugu, the women leader called on youths to respect their elders and avoid being misled by the antics of the self-acclaimed IPOB leader.

In an interview with South-East Trust in Enugu, Ugwuoke-Adibuah said: “Let Kanu fizzle out. He is our son. Nnia Nwodo is also our son. We won’t let a bad son kill a good one. That was why we came out recently to show solidarity to Nnia.

“We know when his house was bombed. Nothing will scratch him. He has Ofo. He is vocal, diplomatic and humble. He can bend down to greet anybody because of Igbo people. He is a son we are very proud of.”

Insisting that it was not in the character of Ndigbo to make such unguarded utterances, the Ohanaeze women leader said she had never heard that an Igbo man would stone another because of mere opinion differences, adding that, “Chief Nnia Nwodo has done so well for the Igbo.

“Among Hausa, Yoruba and other ethnic nationalities, even globally, the Igbo race is now more respected. Nnia stretches hands across the Niger. He, in various fura, sensitises the fact that the Igbo actually fought for Nigerian unity more than other tribes, therefore we deserve our fair share.”

Ugwuoke-Adibuah, a former national vice president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, warned Igbo youths against toeing the line of Kanu. She said: “The insolence of Kanu is well known. He wants war. Remember when we almost lost elections because he frightened us against voting. He would threaten to kill if markets were open.

“There is nothing like knowing our history and planning for the future. I was in the war front with Ojukwu and Achuzie during the civil war. I was also a Biafran diplomat. Biafra is now something we think about in policy matters, not as an entity to carve out.”

South-East Trust reports that Chief Nwodo had during the visit told his guests, “Igbo tradition and culture forbid a father joining issues with his son.

“I am currently the father of the Igbo nation. I reserve my comments against the IPOB leader, hoping he will realise his mistakes. I had also received a threat that my only son would be killed, and another report on the social media that I had a serious accident while going to Anambra.”

SouthEast Trust reports both Ohanaeze and IPOB have resolved their friction after the First Republic Aviation minister, Chief Mbazulike Amechi brokered peace between them.