Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has raised the alarm over alleged death threats and plans to burn his house.
Addressing newsmen at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu, Iwuanyanwu condemned the trend of attacking and vilifying anyone who comes to serve Ndigbo as President General.
Iwuanyanwu disclosed that he has been receiving threat calls and messages, with one caller claiming that they were recruited to burn his house. He expressed sadness at being confronted with such threats simply because he wants to serve his people.
The Igbo leader alleged that certain persons are purveying a campaign of calumny against him and the Ohanaeze National Executive Committee members, particularly the recent devilish concoction of plans for Ndigbo to apologize to the Fulani over the killing of Ahmadu Bello in the January 1966 coup. Iwuanyanwu categorically blamed Okechukwu Isiguzoro and his cohorts for all the damaging things published against Ohanaeze and Ndigbo.
Iwuanyanwu said the 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup, but entirely a military affair. He expressed concern that the people causing the unnecessary tension and demarketing Ohanaeze are enemies of Igbo.
The Ohanaeze NEC has given Iwuanyanwu the power to invoke his authority as the President General and leader of the Igbo. He plans to send the names of the perpetrators to the Ime Obi, the traditional body responsible for disciplining errant members, and have them sanctioned according to Igbo customs and tradition.
Iwuanyanwu emphasized that the Igbo have traditional ways of punishing those who work against the interests of the people. He vowed to take action against the alleged enemies of Igbo who are behind the threats and campaign of calumny.