Ohanaeze Ndigbo distances self from purported national peace summit

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has dissociated itself from a purported two-day peace summit in the South East region allegedly organised in collaboration with the National Peace Movement of Nigeria (NPMN).

In a statement issued yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Chiedozie Ogbonnia, insulated the organisation from the peace summit with NPMN, even as he warned the group to desist from using Ohanaeze’s name for pecuniary reasons

The statement said: “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to an online invitation to a two-day South East Peace Summit by the National Peace Movement of Nigeria in collaboration with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“We hereby state that Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not give approval to any person or group for collaboration in a peace summit.

Evidently, Igbo indigenes are fascinated with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as their heritage; being the umbrella organisation of all Igbo globally.

“While a few unscrupulous elements, impostors and pretenders in a most disingenuous manner, use Ohanaeze name for narrow, selfish and pecuniary interests, majority of Ndigbo strive to protect the integrity and image of the group at all times.

“It is, therefore, sacrilegious for any person or group of persons to contemplate using Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s name without authorisation from its leadership.

“The group, led by Prof. George Obiozor, dissociates itself from the two-day peace summit by the NPMN and warns that consequences await deviants that may use the organisation’s name for any purpose in the future without clearance and approval,” it added.