Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo people, has denied the rumor of a coup plot against the government of President Bola Tinubu, and reaffirmed its loyalty and support to the democratic dispensation. The organization said that the rumor was false, baseless, and malicious, and aimed at creating tension and division in the country.
The rumor, which circulated on social media and some online platforms, claimed that some Igbo military officers were planning to overthrow the government of Tinubu, who was elected as the president of Nigeria in 2023, and install an Igbo president. The rumor also alleged that the coup plot was backed by some foreign powers and some opposition parties.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, said that the rumor was a fabrication and a figment of the imagination of the enemies of Nigeria, who wanted to destabilize the country and undermine the unity and peace of the nation. He said that the Igbo people were law-abiding and patriotic citizens, who respected the constitution and the democratic process.
Chief Nwodo said that the Igbo people had no interest or intention of staging a coup or overthrowing the government of Tinubu, whom he described as a friend and a brother of the Igbo nation. He said that the Igbo people had supported and voted for Tinubu in the 2023 election, and had also benefited from his policies and programs, especially in the areas of infrastructure, security, and economic development.
Chief Nwodo said that the Igbo people were grateful to Tinubu for his inclusive and visionary leadership, and for his recognition and respect for the diversity and plurality of the Nigerian nation. He said that Tinubu had appointed many Igbo people into key positions in his government, and had also supported the Igbo agenda of restructuring, devolution of power, and regional integration.
Chief Nwodo said that the Igbo people were committed to the success and progress of the Tinubu administration, and to the stability and prosperity of Nigeria. He said that the Igbo people would continue to work with Tinubu and other stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities facing the country, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the security situation, the economic recovery, and the constitutional review.
Chief Nwodo said that the Igbo people were also hopeful that Tinubu would fulfill his promise of ensuring a power shift to the South-East zone in the 2027 election, and that he would support the emergence of an Igbo president. He said that this would be a historic and symbolic gesture that would cement the bond and trust between the Igbo and the Yoruba, and also promote the unity and harmony of the country.
Chief Nwodo urged the security agencies to investigate the source and motive of the coup rumor, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also appealed to the media and the public to disregard the rumor and to refrain from spreading false and inciting information that could endanger the peace and security of the country.
Source: Tribune Online
