Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, advised the media to stop circulating news releases sent on its behalf by unauthorized individuals on Wednesday in Enugu.
The organization called the behavior of some media outlets disrespectful and embarrassing.
Speaking to reporters on behalf of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, its President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo’s National Publicity Secretary Dr. Alex Ogbonnia stated that the organization completely denounced the crime.
After the National Executive Council meeting of the organization, he addressed.
“Some of Igbo youth groups issue statements in the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo surprisingly, journalists accept it from them in spite the organisation’s disclaimer that they does not represent the interest of Igbo people.
“But we continue to see them in the press and the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo has made it clear that anybody has right to belong to a political group or champion whatever interest.
“But using the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo is deplorable and despicable especially on the issues they canvas.
“They do it for some peculiar selfish narrow interests and Ohaneze Ndigbo condemns that,” Ogbonnia said.
He further said the Ohaneze agreed to hold Igbo Day annually on every Sept. 29, adding that the committees for that had been inaugurated.
The president-general also said that another committee was inaugurated to harmonise some of the culture in Igboland by unifying them into a central Igbo culture.
“This committee is headed by Obi of Onitsha, HRH, Alfred Achebe and they will see that cultural festivals like new yam is not done differently by communities in Igboland but choose a day or period it will be celebrated generally.
“We also agreed to restructure Ohaneze Ndigbo on how to make money without depending on anybody as well as the issue of every Monday’s sit-at-home in the southeast,” he said. (NAN)