Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, has condemned Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, a chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, for allegedly disparaging the Yoruba tribe.
According to news sources, Iwuanyawu, the Head of the Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, was accused of referring to Yoruba people as “political rascals.”
He was claimed to have made the comment while speaking in Awka, Anambra State’s capital, on Saturday, during Governor Charles Soludo’s first anniversary celebration.
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Nevertheless, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Organising Secretary, Apagun Omololu, Afenifere criticized Iwaunyawu’s remark and urged the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership to caution him.
The organization stated that it would contact the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to seek clarification on Iwuanyanwu’s comment and whether his viewpoint reflects the thought of the Yoruba Igbo group.
As a result, Afenifere asked all Yoruba, and indeed all Nigerians, to be calm and continue to show love to their Igbo and other ethnic nations.
The statement read, “In the past few hours, Afenifere has been inundated with complaints by several Yoruba sons and daughters from all over the world regarding the comment made by the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Their complaints were that at an event in Awka, Anambra State, on Saturday, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made a comment ridiculing the Yoruba race.
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“We have since reviewed the video recording of the event and our leadership will be reaching out to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to seek clarification on why Chief Iwuanyanwu made the comment and whether his view is a reflection of what Ohanaeze Ndigbo indeed thinks of the Yorubas.
“We hereby call on Ohaneze to warn the chief not to insult the Yoruba. We are a proud nation. We are a hospitable race. All these should not be interpreted to mean weakness. In fact, it is a sign of being civilised. Enough of the provocation.
“In line with the Yoruba ethos of Omoluabi (good upbringing), we are hereby urging all Yoruba, and indeed all Nigerians, to remain calm and continue to show love to their Igbo compatriots and members of other ethnic nationalities. We are one people under one nation and one God. The Yoruba have a long history of association and partnership with our Igbo brothers and sisters. Our diversity is one of Nigeria’s strengths in the comity of nations and we should not allow politics, religion , ethnicity or anything else to divide us.
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“We urge all Yorubas to continue to relate well with all other ethnic groups in Nigeria and abroad. Our common humanity is more important than the divisive antics or careless remarks of any individual or group. The Yorubas are known worldwide as promoters of peace, unity and orderliness. We should hold on strongly to those virtues in the interest of peace, progress and prosperity in Nigeria and the world.”
Similarly, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has rejected media claims that Iwuanyanwu called Yorubas “political rascals.”
The comment attributed to Iwuanyanwu was described by the Igbo group as a classic fabrication, produced by mischief makers to sow inter-ethnic enmity between the two ethnic groups.
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