NEW YORK TIMES REPORT CAN SPARK UNREST IN NIGERIA – OHANAEZE
NDIGBO
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE Igbo apex group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned The New York Times against publishing “unsubstantiated and potentially inflammatory reports” that could spark unrest in Nigeria.
Here are the key issues:
– Denial of Involvement : Ohanaeze Ndigbo denies Igbo individuals were involved in providing intelligence to the US for the Sokoto airstrike, calling it “scapegoating”.
– Historical Precedent : The group cites the 1966 pogrom against Igbo as a reason to be cautious of such reports, which can fuel ethnic tensions.
– Absurd Portrayal : The article’s claim of an Onitsha trader influencing Trump’s actions is “far-fetched” and “intended to incite tribal animosity”.
– Christian Persecution Narrative : Ohanaeze Ndigbo says Igbo are not the primary proponents of this narrative, despite being victims.
– Apology Demand : The group demands an apology and retraction of the article, warning against “insidious anti-Igbo campaigns”
_”The article’s claim that this individual influenced President Trump’s actions is not only far-fetched but also demonstrably intended to incite tribal animosity and suspicion towards the Igbo population,”_ Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
In light of these undeniable facts, Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands that New York Times issues an immediate and unreserved apology for publishing this deliberately misleading and potentially dangerous article and that the article be retracted.
“We hold the New York Times accountable for any escalation of tensions that this article may incite, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
“Furthermore, we implore all Igbo civil rights organisations to refrain from commenting on security matters pertaining to the US-Nigeria collaboration against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Nigeria so that our concerns are not twisted out of proportion or used to justify the article,” the organisation said.
About the Author
