The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia has said the people who claim to be working for Simon Ekpa have been threatening to kill him.
Ogbonnia in a statement said, “Since four days ago, my phone has been inundated with phone calls by unknown persons alleging that I want to kill Simon Ekpa and that they will kill me first, before I kill their leader, Mr. Ekpa.
“Of course, that I can or will kill Ekpa is the most ridiculous, malicious, mischievous and satanic of all the statements in this world.
“It is common knowledge that I don’t have the capacity to kill. I am neither trained as a soldier nor as a police officer or in any paramilitary organization with a duty to respond to threats to life and property. At my age, I cannot even kill a fly, talk more of a global Leviathan in the person of Mr. Simon Ekpa,” he said.
According to him, in his duty as the spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, he could not shirk his duty to stand by the core Igbo interests and Ohanaeze position on any national issue.
Ogbonnia said Igbos had become uncomfortable with the sit-at-home syndrome in the region, adding that the persistent sit at home has caused the Igbo more harm than good.
“I also absolved the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the lingering sit-at-home in the Southeast, indicating that Ohanaeze is a persuasive and not a coercive organization and, thus, cannot stop the sit-at-home. I added that if the federal government feels that the security of Nigeria is being threatened by anybody or a group, it is the duty of the government and not Ohanaeze to take the necessary action.
“I emphasized that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has appealed to our son, Mr. Ekpa to come home for a dialogue and that we will continue to appeal for peace in the South East. This is the Ohanaeze position and indeed that of the Igbo leaders.
“Let it be known that in spite of the threat to my life and indeed every other patriotic Igbo leader, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu will continue to remind the Igbo youths that it is a contradiction to face the barrel of the gun inward.
“The primary duty of a freedom fighter is to defend and protect his people, and not the contrary. It is inconceivable how the destruction of the Igbo economy through the intermittent sit-at-home syndrome will resonate with the central philosophy and aspirations of the Igbo in the present Nigeria.
“Finally, I wish to assure our son, Mr. Simon Ekpa, that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is interested in his well-being, and cannot contemplate nor be a party to neutralizing or killing him. The mischief makers are once again at work. There is no record where an officer of Ohanaeze has ever killed or taken part in a conspiracy to kill an Igbo or any person for that matter.
“Part of our duty, as leaders, is to appeal to our sons of all persuasions that we can work together in the interest of the Igbo,” he added
