From CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has reiterated its resolve to protect the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, from sponsored attacks directed against him in the course of discharging his constitutional responsibilities to the nation.
This is coming on the heels of the incident that transpired during a stakeholders meeting on road infrastructural development last Sunday in Lagos.
The organisation which frowned at the development, asserted that the Igbo community, alongside other Nigerians, would not tolerate such open attacks or a calculated campaign of calumny against their leaders, as any attempt to disrupt Umahi’s ability to perform his constitutional duties under the guise of public protest is not only an affront to the minister, but to the ethos of democracy.
It would be recalled that a woman, allegedly orchestrated by some unpatriotic elements, breached protocol to launch a verbal attack aimed at embarrassing Umahi during the Sunday event.
According to Ohanaeze, the reprehensible act was curbed by vigilant security agents present at the event, thus thwarting what could be described as a blatant coup against the dignity of the minister.
Secretary-General of the Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze, Okechukwu lsiguzoro, in a statement yesterday, emphasised that Ndigbo unequivocally denounce any and all forms of public humiliation directed towards Umahi.
According to the statement, “As members of civil society, it is paramount to uphold and respect decorum in our public discourse.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the esteemed apex socio-cultural organisation representing the interests of Igbo people, wishes to address the recent incident during the Lagos stakeholders meeting on Sunday, an event of profound importance concerning the nation’s infrastructure.
“It has come to our attention that videos portraying a disconcerting scene have been circulating on various online platforms. These videos depict an unfortunate attempt to undermine the minister’s authority and public standing during the aforementioned meeting.
“Furthermore, our investigation revealed that the claims made by the aforementioned woman, who claimed to be a former patroness of a political campaign organisation, merit skepticism.
“Our intelligence gathering indicates that she is, in fact, affiliated with an opposition party that appears to be striving to derail the progress of the current administration through underhanded tactics. Such acts of political opportunism will not be tolerated and the necessary measures will be enacted to safeguard the integrity and stability of political discourse.
“In the light of these events, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has communicated our commitment towards implementing proactive mechanisms aimed at deterring entities with malign intentions from disrupting the essential work being conducted by Senator Umahi and his team.
“We commend the minister for his outreach efforts, engaging various geopolitical zones regarding vital infrastructural projects across the nation. Such initiatives underscore the importance of constructive dialogue and collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges facing our country today.
“It is crucial to note that in a democratic society, any grievance should be addressed through lawful and established channels. We implore all aggrieved parties to redirect their energy towards seeking judicial redress rather than resorting to disruptive antics, which only serve to propagate division and chaos.
“In conclusion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls for unity, decorum and respect amongst all political operatives in Nigeria. We stand resolute in our support of Senator Umahi and his commitment to serve the nation.
“Any attempt to undermine his authority in public discourse will be met with significant opposition, not only from us, but from well-meaning Nigerians who believe in the sanctity of our institutions and the rule of law.”
