The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), has described as irresponsible demand by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the arrest of its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed over a secession video.
In the video, NEF through Baba-Ahmed had asked the federal government to grant Igbo’s request to go their separate way.
But spokesman of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Alex Ogbonnia, called for the arrest of Baba-Ahmed for the statement it described as seditious and uncouth.
However, NEF in a statement on Friday, said it stands by its spokesman, while describing the calls for his arrest as “pathetic and beneath even the ordinary standards of Ohaneze Ndigbo.”
The statement reads: “The Northern Elders Forum states categorically that all comments and statements made by Dr Baba-Ahmed are authorized, and they represent its positions.
“The press statement which he read on the 8th of June, 2021 at the Forum’s headquarters in Abuja in presence of the full Forum was the statement of the Forum by which it still stands.
“We’re aware of attempts to create the impression that this statement is recent as well as other attempts to misrepresent its contents to create scapegoats for the failure to limit the damage of irredentism.
“In spite of many efforts to inform the public appropriately, it appears that Ohaneze Ndigbo has fallen prey to more mischief, or is itself actively involved in incitement against a citizen.
“The Forum stands by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, a Nigerian whose pedigree and service to our nation has few parallels.
“It sees the claim that Dr Baba-Ahmed is a security risk, and the demand that he should be arrested as pathetic and beneath even the ordinary standards of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
“We serve notice that we know who to hold responsible in the event of any harm to Dr Baba-Ahmed.
“The Forum advises Ohaneze Ndigbo to focus its attention on contributing to securing people of the South East from multiple threats, and ensuring that Ndigbo has a befitting relevance in Nigeria.
“The Forum affirms its full confidence in Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who will continue to serve the country and the North as we search for a future that accommodates all interests in Nigeria.”
