Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has faulted the Federal Government for tagging the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.
Anambra State President of Ohanaeze, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene in an interaction with the media on Saturday urged FG to remove the tag, Vanguard reported.
Okeke-Ogene is seeking the Vice Presidency of Ohanaeze nationwide in the January 2021 election of the group.
He said that it was unfortunate and unacceptable for the group to be given a terrorist tag when its activities are carried out in a peaceful manner.
He argued that the terrorist tag was unwarranted because the group does not pose a threat to the lives or property of Nigerians.
Okeke-Ogene said that FG’s focus should rather be on terrorists in the North-East that regularly kill and maim Nigerians, posing a threat to the nation’s unity.
“Have you ever heard that IPOB kidnapped or killed anybody unjustly? Why should the government go to court within 24hrs after a misunderstanding between Operation Python Dance II of the Nigerian Army and IPOB without a proper investigation and declared the group a terrorist organization, while those with intention of tarnishing the image of the country before the international community are operating freely in the society without any government action?
“The Federal Government was totally wrong in declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation,” he stated.