The President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, worldwide Professor George Obiozor has condemned the gruesome killing of Dr. Chike Akunyili the husband of former NAFDAC DG, Prof. Dora Akunyili in Anambra State.
Obiozor who made the condemnation during a Prayer Session to mark World Igbo day celebration at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki decried the incessant killings in the South East.
The President-General who was represented by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Amb. Okey Emuchay said that the Igbo Nation was now under siege by criminal elements with too many killings on its trail. He called on the religious leaders and stakeholders to rededicate themselves to the rescue of the Igbo Nation to overcome the current siege in the zone.
“We need to take a pause on the happenings in the Igbo Nation. We need to seek the face of God. We need to remember our brothers and sisters that have been killed over the years. But more importantly, we need to think about today. The Igbo Nation is under siege-there are too many killings.
“As I sat there waiting for this event to start, a video was sent to me about the senseless killings in Anambra State involving the husband of former NAFDAC DG, Prof. Dora Akunyili. He was brutally murdered. If you see the video and see how brutally Dr. Akunyili was killed, you won’t be able to do anything today. “The senseless killings in the last couple of days in Anambra State calls for retrospection and deep reflections. We are under siege.
“All South-East states are under siege. We plead with the men of God gathered here, the mothers in this hall, the fathers in this hall and everybody-something needs to be done. Something urgent needs to be done”.
“This is the message from the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor”. “He advised IPOB and other groups to think and to think so deeply, because if you kill anybody today, who would be there tomorrow? This is the message, I have brought from Prof. Obiozor”
Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi called the people of the South East not to lose hope in the prosperity of the zone, identifing love for one another as the panacea to the prevailing disorder in the region.
Umahi represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugballa blamed the current insecurity in the zone on greed and hatred by Igbos themselves and enjoined Ndigbo to love themselves to regenerate the unity which is the hallmark of Igbo prosperity.
The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South East Zone, Reverend Father Abraham Nwali said the event was put together to salvage the face and dignity of Ndigbo in the country and world over.
Reverend Father Nwali described the day as a remarkable one as it allowed the body of Christ to pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of the fallen heroes of Ndigbo who lost their lives in the course of preserving the freedom, identity and dignity of Igbo Nation which he observed shared a lot in common with the Israelites.
The CAN Chairman called on Ndigbo to observe the day in sober reflection for God to answer their prayers and galvanize Igbo unity. He appealed to the stakeholders, leaders and Ndigbo worldwide to unite in the struggle for Igbo Unity to enable the Igbo Nation reclaim its pride of place in the country.