Igbo Elders’ Consultative Forum (IECF) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has aligned itself with the position of the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, that the people of the region are not joining the August 1 nationwide protest against hunger and other hardship in the country.

Chief Iwuanyanwu, before his death few days ago, told Ndigbo not to participate in the planned protest.

Chairman, Igbo Elders’ Forum in the FCT, Chief Simon Okeke, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said “Ndigbo are not protesting; we are mourning the deaths our illustrious sons and leaders.

He noted that Igbo has lost three of its sons in recent time – Iwuanyanwu, Sir Ferdinand Agu and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, describing their death as heartrending.

He recalled that Iwuanynwu, “spoke with necessary emphasises and authority, on behalf of Ndigbo worldwide, that the Igbos are not part of any protest at this time in the history of the country.”

According to him, after the crisis of the 2023 presidential election, Ndigbo resolved to work with other ethnic groups to restructure the Nigerian state “for prosperity, justice and peace.”

He stated that it would amount to gross provocation for any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed or privileged, to spread malicious falsehood linking Ndigbo to the planned protest.

Chief Okeke accused President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson Mr. Bayo Onanuga and “his co-handlers,” of spreading hate speeches against Ndigbo.

He noted that “It was the same persons whose hate speeches led to mass violence against Igbo’s in Lagos State during the last gubernatorial election.”

The IECF Chairman regretted that “till date, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies have not prosecuted Mr. Bayo Onanuga and members of his gang for promoting and justifying mass violence against Igbos.”

He condemned Onanuga’s statement linking Peter Obi to the impending protest, despite the fact that Obi’s politics is devoid of violence.

Chief Okeke asked President Tinibu to call Onanuga to order “so that he does not misrepresent the presidency and create the impression of a presidential animus against Igbos.

He also called on the Nigeria police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to hold Onanuga responsible for any violence against Ndigbo or Peter Obi. (New Telegraph)