In response to the circulating news reports, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has stated that the Igbos will not offer an apology for the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa during the 1966 coup.
Iwuanyanwu made this declaration while refuting the allegations made by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization is considering apologizing to the Fulani ethnic groups.
The respected statesman, speaking in Owerri, Imo State, emphasized that the Igbos were not involved in the coup, and it is unjust to accuse them of being responsible.
He declared that Ohanaeze Ndigbo would never apologise for something they did not do.
He said, “I was shocked to read a voice mail message which was circulating all over the country and all over the world alleging that we held a meeting in Enugu and that the meeting was poorly attended where the decision was taken that we are going to Sokoto to apologise to the Fulanis over the death of Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa and other Northerners. They abused me and insulted me. I read it and I was sad. I don’t expect that somebody or a Christian will come out and tell a completely false story against me. I never said anything like that.”
He explained that the recent retreat in Enugu was a meeting of committees established for the development of Igboland, and the issue of apologising to the Fulanis was never discussed.
“Igbos didn’t kill anybody or leader but the Igbos were killed. So, as far as Ohaneze Ndigbo is concerned, Igbo did not have any business with that coup, that coup was purely a military affair like other coups that occurred in the country,” he added.
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