The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned that former President Olusegun Obasanjo must stay away from the selection process of the next President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
IPOB said Ohanaeze members planning to visit Obasanjo with the aim to intervene in the selection process must jettison such a move.
Emma Powerful, the spokesman of IPOB said all Igbos outside the Southeast must be allowed to participate in the election process.
Ohanaeze will select a new President-General in January 2025 following the expiration of the tenure of late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Ahead of the election, Rivers State has been scheduled to produce the next President-General.
However, there are reports of some Ohanaeze chieftains planning to visit Obasanjo to intervene in the process.
Displeased by such a move, IPOB warned those responsible to allow the Ime-Obi, religious leaders, and first class Traditional Rulers to settle the differences and pick the next President-General.
A statement by Powerful reads partly: “Furthermore, IPOB want to state it categorically and unequivocally that any individual or group of individuals who has contemplated, is contemplating or will contemplate to embark on a disgraceful visit to Obasanjo in Ota Farm to interfere in the coming election of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Socio-cultural organization must jettison such thoughts and contemplations for their own good.
“It is the duty of the Ime-obi Ohanaeze, religious leaders, and first class Traditional Rulers in Igboland to settle the differences between members or factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, not a non-Igbo person or group.
“Obasanjo MUST stay away from getting himself involved in Ohanaeze matter even if some selfish individuals want to drag him into Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s issues.
“There was never a time when any Yoruba group came to the Igboland with their problems for Igbo people to settle it for them.
“It is not only shameful but subservient for any person or persons to contemplate taking Ohanaeze Ndigbo matter to another tribe to settle. That will not be allowed to happen.
“Ndigbo has men and women of honour and integrity who can intervene to justly settle any internal issues that may arise in Ala Igbo. We do not need outsiders and anti-Igbo people like Obasanjo and his cronies.
“IPOB forbid those misguided selfish Ohanaeze Ndigbo individuals from disgracing Ndigbo further with their behaviour. If these individuals insist on still going to Obasanjo to get himself involved in purely Ohanaeze Ndigbo internal matter, then such person or persons should after undertaking such journey, remain in Ota farms and never contemplate returning to Ala Igbo.
“If Ohanaeze Ndigbo just try to deny Ndigbo in Rivers State their due right to present the next president general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, then those behind that attempt must be ready to take full responsibility for what would happen afterwards.
“More than (75%) of Ndigbo living in Rivers State are competent and qualified individuals with the capacity and capability to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo as its President General.
“We are not going to watch and allow some lunatics and sycophants to try to bastardise and destroy the thread that holds us together and work in opposition to the general interest of Ndigbo.”
Ohanaeze PG: IPOB backs Rivers, kicks against Obasanjo interference