Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Didn’t Refer To Yorubas As Political Rascals – Ohanaeze Ndigbo

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has denied reports that its chairman, Council of Elders, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu referred to Yoruba people as political rascals.

Iwuanyanwu, who spoke at an event to mark the first anniversary of Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, said those destroying Igbo properties in Lagos were “political rascals”.

He said, “I want to tell those in Lagos to realize that there is no war between us (Igbos) and the Yorubas. Those who attacked Ndigbo in Lagos recently are rascals who should be arrested.”

Reacting to the comment, Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group, said it has called on the Ohanaeze to warn Iwuanyanwu not to insult the Yoruba race.

Afenifere said it has also reached out to Iwuanyanwu to seek clarification on why he “made the comment and whether his view is a reflection of what Ohanaeze Ndigbo indeed thinks of the Yorubas”

“We are a hospitable race. All these should not be interpreted to mean weakness. In fact, it is a sign of being civilized; enough of the provocation,” the group added.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Clarifies iwuanyanwu’s Comment

However, in a statement on Sunday by Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze’s national publicity secretary, the group said its chairman’s speech was twisted by insidious minds who wished to create a rift between the Igbo and the Yoruba ethnicities.

He said Iwuanyanwu only said, “I want to tell those in Lagos to realize that there is no war between us and the Yorubas”, adding that “those who attacked Ndigbo in Lagos recently are rascals who should be arrested”.

“This has mischievously been twisted to imply that ‘Yoruba people are political rascals and that we will fight them’. This is quite damaging from the insidious minds of those who wish to create a rift between the Igbo and the Yoruba ethnics.

“At no time in history, has there is often a tug of war between two major groups; mostly the good people with conscience on one hand and the devious insidious minds on the other.

“So, as much as some mischief makers will twist the speech by Iwuanyanwu, the truth remains that he holds the Yorubas in a very high esteem and he used the Awka event to express it,” Ogbonnia said.

He added that the emphasis was that “we must not attribute the ugly event in Lagos to the good people of Yoruba ethnic, rather, it was the handiwork of rascals, hooligans, spivs, charlatans, miscreants and dregs of Lagos society.

“It is important to highlight that Iwuanyanwu is a renowned patriotic detribalized Nigerian who has enjoyed the fidelity, confidence, solidarity, and support of the Yoruba when he was in active business and politics.

“Iwuanyanwu in all his private and public discussions has often commended the profound Yoruba cultural values, intellect and hospitality.

“He applauds the cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba, citing that several Igbo are integral parts of various Yoruba communities.”

He maintained that there have been successful marriages of Yoruba daughters by frontline Igbo sons, citing Emeka Anyaoku; Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien; Prof. Vincent Ike, Prof. Okey Ndibe and others.

Ogbonnia exemplifies the irreproachable similarity in the Igbo-Yoruba cultural values and cosmology.

“Evidently, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), enjoyed the support of eminent Igbo sons and daughters.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will resist any attempt to paint the 2023 presidential election with an ethnic tag,” he added.

KanyiDaily recalls that Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga had warned Igbos in Lagos, saying this year should be the last time they would interfere in Lagos politics because the state belongs to Yorubas.