By Marcus Ikechukwu
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, chairman of the elders forum of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo World wide, says he never described the Yoruba race as “Political rascals”.
While debunking the purported information as fake and malicious, Iwuanyanwu said it “completely misrepresented” the statement he made at Awka Anambra state, in connection to the killings, destructions of properties and harassment of Igbo in Lagos during the recent elections.
Following the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections which held on the 25th of February, the igbo community residing in Lagos state have been facing threats from their host community.
According to Iwuanyanwu anyone in doubt of what he said could verify from Arise Television, Channels and many other electronic and print media houses, stressing that at no time did he make such ethnic comments.
He said, “My attention has been drawn to a fake news circulating on social media completely misrepresenting the statement I made at Awka Anambra State in connection to the killings, destructions of properties and harassment of Igbos in Lagos during the recent elections.
“I want to make it abundantly clear that at no time did I make the statement credited to me by blackmail circulating on the social media that Yorubas are political rascals as this was fraudulently manipulated.
“I want to warn all perpetrators of this fake news that it is a criminal offence to circulate fake news against a peace-loving NNigerian.”
In a statement signed by himself, on Monday, he explained what transpired.
“What I did at the ceremony was to admonish Igbos who felt threatened by various attacks in Lagos that they have no cause to worry because there are no problems between Igbos and Yorubas,” he said.
“I actually told them to stay in Lagos and go about their normal businesses. I did however mention to them that the attackers are political rascals and their action does not reflect the good relationship between Yorubas and Igbos.
“Having said this, on a personal note, I must comment as follows: I felt very sad that a Nigerian should be denied his democratic right to vote any candidate of his choice because of his tribe. What happened to Igbos in Lagos was in the press and Igbos are very grateful to those distinguished and well meaning Yorubas who rose up to speak against the killings, injuries and destruction of properties of Igbos in Lagos only because they voted the candidates of their choice.
“Ironically, some of the Igbos who lost their properties and who were wounded were not only members of Labour Party but that of some other political parties. This is because I am aware that most Igbos in Lagos voted for the incumbent Governor who in their opinion said the Governor did well in the past four years and deserves to be given another opportunity.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not own any political party and we do not control any political party where our members belong. In effect people are free to choose, work for, and vote for any political party of their choice and that’s why Igbos are virtually in all the political parties in the Country.
” I don’t have any doubt in my mind that the peddlers of this fake news are part of the syndicates that brought misery and sadness to the Igbos resident in Lagos. I am appealing to the Yorubas to fish them out and know that they are portraying Yorubas in a bad light.”
