Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Apex-Igbo socio-political group has condemned the shoot-at-sight order issued to Nigerian soldiers on Igbo land.
Alex Ogbonnia, spokesman of Ohanaeze in a statement on Sunday warned that the Nigerian government should learn a lesson from history by not fighting an unwinnable war against nationalism.
Quoting Prof. George Obiozor, its President General, Ohanaeze rather advised the Buhari-led government to “seek possible peaceful options that are the only solution that guarantees national unity and peaceful coexistence”.
Ogbonnia added that the dream of Nigerian unity is receding and fading fast with violence, crises, and conflicts, adding that the current problems confronting Nigerian are a product of sustained orchestrated injustice in governance.
He, however, condemned the alleged deployment of Northern officers to South-East and South-South regions of the country.
The statement reads: “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to the “Shoot at Sight Order” given to the Nigerian soldiers on how to engage the Igbo youths in the oncoming week.
“The report further revealed that the exercise will commence from Orlu in Imo State, South-East Nigeria. This is very disturbing.
“The pattern of deployment of northern military officers to the South-East lends credence to the above report. It was revealed that in preparation for the above, the Nigerian army has posted Northern Muslims as commanders over its operations and brigades in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, Edo, Delta and Rivers.
“In Anambra State, the Cantonment Commandant of the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, is Col. Abdulsalam Abubakar Sambo, a Hausa-Fulani Muslim; while in Imo State, the Brigade Commander of 34 Brigade, Obinze, is Brig Gen Ibrahim Tukura, another northerner; in Abia State, the Brigade Commander of 14 Brigade, Ohafia, is Brig Gen M. Ibrahim, still, a northerner; while in Akwa Ibom State, the Brigade Commander of 2 Brigade, Uyo, is Brig Gen Faruk Mijinyawa, another northerner. This is truly worrisome!
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Prof. George Obiozor, an erudite scholar, a seasoned diplomat with diverse experience in governments, has admonished the Nigerian government to “learn a lesson from history by not fighting an unwinnable war against nationalism but seek possible peaceful options that are the only solution that guarantees national unity and peaceful coexistence”.
“Subnational consciousness or ethnocentric nationalism which is a dangerous form of nationalism to national unity has taken over Nigeria”.
“The dream of Nigeria unity is receding and fading fast with violence, crises and conflicts.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is unequivocal that the current problems confronting Nigerian, eg ethnic militia, agitation for secession, insurgency, etc are a product of sustained orchestrated injustice in governance.
“There has been a systemic exclusion and marginalisation of your people, stemming from the historical Biafra war. This is collective punishment.
“The problem with Nigeria in general and the Igbo, in particular, is located in injustice and the simple solution lays in manifest dialogue, equity, and justice.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo warns that Shoot-at- Sight Order to soldiers on Igbo land is a call for another pogrom and genocide.
“Ohanaeze asks the Federal Government to refrain from the use of force in resolving the present national crises.
“History shows that military and violent means to solve the national question is bound to fail as it leads to further national fractionalization, anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration, as in all Empires or multi-national states or countries”.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army through Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima says it does not post officers based on ethnic considerations.
The army was reacting to a report by Saharareporters that it has shunned Southern Officers and deployed Northern Commanders to quell tension in South East.
The publication had accused the Army of religious and ethnic bias in the deployment of officers.
Yerima in a statement said: “the attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to an online publication anchored by SAHARA REPORTERS and cohorts titled NIGERIAN ARMY SHUNS SOUTHERN OFFICERS, DEPLOY NORTHERN COMMANDERS TO QUELL TENSION IN SOUTHEAST”
It added: “Ordinarily, the NA would have ignored this illogical narrative by the online media but for the good of members of the public.
“The NA condemns this report targeted at steering discord and disunity among peace-loving Nigerians who have refused to be drawn into supporting the senseless attacks on security apparatus in the South East and South-South geopolitical zones of the country.
“The NA being a national body does not promote or post its personnel along ethnic or religious lines. Postings in the NA are routine exercises and are based on professional competencies not as portrayed by the baseless publication.
“For the records, let be clear in everyone’s mind that the NA does not train, deploy or operate along ethnic, religious, tribal or regional divides. Senior officers are posted to command units based on their capability and competence taking into consideration their posting history.
“Furthermore, Officers are the most frequently posted personnel of the NA. However, because of the bias and seed of discord that the author of the report wanted to sow, it did not allow him to do a thorough background check of his report.
” Part of the poorly scripted article states that NA’s deployment is based on ethical line. This is one of the dumbest opinions of the writer.
“To put the record straight, while it is true that the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Enugu, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja is from South West, the Commander 34 Brigade Owerri Brigadier General Raymond Utsaha is from the North Central.
“Major General Gold Chibuisi is of the southeast extraction and is also the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Ibadan which is the largest in a number of states under command including 4 Brigade in Edo State.
”Equally, Brigadier General Farouk Mijinyawa was never the Commander of 16 Brigade as misrepresented by the writer.
“It is therefore clear that the concocted story lacks everything in terms of credibility and exists only in the figment of the author’s imagination.
“The NA urge the general public to know that in the past months, several subversive elements have attempted to discredit the formidable security network in the South East and the NA in line with her constitutional roles of aiding the civil authority deployed officers and men to checkmate the activities of these bad elements who are bent on wrecking havoc in the region. The amateurish article presented in a self-styled fictitious movie-like scenario devoid of even the basic rudiments of a news report is simply unacceptable.
“The uncoordinated and poorly written article exposes the real intent albeit the very low IQ of the author and that speaks volumes on the motive of the publisher.”
“Furthermore, the NA would like to request all peace-loving Nigerians to disregard the content of the said article in its entirety as it lacks common logic.
“The NA under the able leadership of the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru remains committed to the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as protecting lives and properties of all citizens and residents in Nigeria,” he concluded.
