COALITION OF SOUTH EAST YOUTH LEADERS (COSEYL).
PRESS RELEASE
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the apex sociopolitical Igbo youth group in the South East geopolitical zone, received and read with concern a piece entitled ‘Ohanaeze Youths Disown Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; As Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Hope Uzodinma allegedly accused of Masterminding Imo Killings,’ co-signed by Igboayaka O. Igboayaka and Nweke Cedric, both under the style ‘Comrade.’
It beats our imagination yet that the so-called Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC could come up with such a weightless, senseless, baseless and meaningless piece of corrigendum targeted at a respected worthy Igbo leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, serving and current President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo over what it said was carried in a report by Intersociety, an Onitsha-based research group focusing on promoting good governance, democracy and accountability in Nigeria. It should also be borne in mind that COSEYL too has obtained and read the said report but did not see where the report named or mentioned Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as either an accomplice or mastermind of the killings in Imo State. The OYC’s piece, following COSEYL’s review, failed objectivity test. Too sad.
While COSEYL is totally against the killing of any Igbo youth in Imo State, and by extension other parts of Igboland, it is our understanding that some vested interests parading as pro-Ndigbo now use cheap blackmail, smear campaign, propaganda and bad press, aided by the internet, to drive their agenda. These unfortunate impulsive radicals are the problem of Ndigbo, having no recourse, whatsoever, to established Igbo customs. This is what all men of conscience and reason should resist, especially in this day and age when cancel culture thrives fuelled by rumours and grapevine sources. It is an Igbo saying that teaches us: ‘Nwata bulie nna ya elu, ọgọdọ awụchie ya anya,’ a child gets consumed up trying to belittle his father. Talk of little nza challenging its Chi to a fight!
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu became President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in April of 2023. It is shocking to us learning that Chief Iwuanyanwu could be tagged as culprit, even asked to explain his role and carry out investigation on what he knows nothing about. We wish to tell these hotheads to go and check the record, research on the role Iwuanyanwu played for Ndigbo as an engineer during and after the civil war. His many contributions to the Igbo cause, his role in the national life of the Nigerian state. Chief Iwuanyanwu is not only an elder statesman but a philanthropist whose generosity has beamed across many Igbo communities. He is Igbo, unapologetically; one who stood his ground calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, when invited to a national programme organised by Arewa group in the North. For emphasis, we wish to remind these fellows, whoever they are, that Chief Iwuanyanwu told the world on that occasion that Biafra was no crime, but a demand for inclusion, a protest to be heard.
Again, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as ably led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is only a group of non-state actors acting in the interest of Ndigbo and not an arm of government to carry out investigation or inquiry into any alleged killings. It is governments that constitute and empower panels and commissions to investigate on matters, not usually groups.
As a group rooted in our people’s tradition and ways of doing things, Igbo culture, as we know it, does not enthrone insult to elders. Such is abhorrent and frowned upon in Alaigbo hence we wonder where these individuals are coming from. Before you condemn someone, first walk in their shoes. No people kill their warriors and depend on mercenaries when event of war comes. Chief Iwuanyanwu is a selfless elder statesman who have put his life on the line serving the collective interest of Ndigbo. We do not see any reason for the attacks on his person.
Trying to imply, by whatever means, that a man of Chief Iwuanyanwu’s standing would bend because of Gov. Hope Uzodinma or any other governor at that, is demeaning and callous vituperation. We know who emerged first in the nation’s political landscape and space, and who made what contribution and when. These young tearaways should go read up on Hardel and Enic, a construction company that helped the reconstructionist agenda of the Igbo post-war and the idea and man behind it.
We won’t support mudslingers and abettors of cheap blackmail to use whatever platform, name or association to erode our culture and values. We urge these prodigals to come back home. They need to edit their lives, article and views; the future beckons.
Signed:
Comrade Goodluck Ibem
President General
Comrade Okey Nwaoru
Secretary General