By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The rivalry between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has been resolved following the intervention of an elder statesman, Chief Mbazulike Amechi.

Amechi, who spoke with journalists on Tuesday after the peace meeting at his country home, Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, noted that both bodies were working for the welfare of Ndigbo.

He described as unnecessary any form of altercation between Ohanaeze Ndigbo and IPOB, saying that part of the resolution at the meeting was the demand for de-proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government.

The First Republic Aviation Minister expressed joy over the withdrawal the threat by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to stone Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, as well as agreeing to work harmoniously with Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the interest of the South East.

He said: “I summoned the two bodies of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and IPOB to express my displeasure with what I have been reading in the newspapers about Kanu giving orders for the stoning of Chief Nwodo by IPOB.

I’m happy that even before this my peace meeting, Kanu has retracted the statement. We therefore appeal to Nwodo to accept the retraction and get it off his mind as IPOB has agreed to work with them.

“The two bodies realising that it is the same battle they are fighting – marginalisation, killings and denial of Federal Government to develop South East and Igbo land in general – have agreed to work together for the welfare of Ndigbo.”

Chief called on Governors and State Houses of Assembly in the region to kick off action towards lifting the ban on IPOB.

In his speech, IPOB representative, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, said he was at the meeting with the blessings and instructions of his clients, just as he thanked Amechi, who he said was not a stranger to what Kanu is doing having been once declared a terrorist.

While confirming the retraction of Kanu’s threat on Nwodo, Ejimakor described it as a statement made at the heat of the moment.

“There was a synergy between us and the Ohanaeze. Nobody is leaving this place with acrimony. There’s peace in Igbo land. Anybody coming in to take advantage of some leadership crises in Igbo land is actually making a mistake.

“The Igbos are united and love themselves, otherwise, they couldn’t have sustained themselves for the three-year civil war. Whoever saying anything contrary is sowing a seed of discord,” Ejimakor added.

He harped on the need for regional security, saying that such would not be achievable without the de-proscription of the pro-Biafran body. “It has to participate as the muscle of building the security,” Ejimakor stated.

On his part, Ohanaeze Anambra State President, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, who spoke on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General said the body endorsed all that were contained in the communique.

“Those who thought our fences are fallen will know that the fences are much stronger than they thought,” he stated.

Recall that Ohaneaze and IPOB had been at loggerheads over the farmer's style of handling issues concerning Igbo but the recent threat by Kanu took the underlying rivalry to another level.

•PHOTO: IPOB and Ohanaeze Ndigbo representatives with elder statesman, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, during the peace meeting . . . on Tuesday at Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State

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