We Did not Disrupt Igbo Leaders' Award Ceremony in Enugu, MASSOB, Ohanaeze Youths Deny Allegation

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra
(MASSOB) under the leadership of Uchenna Madu and the Ohanaeze Youth Council have dismissed as false insinuations by the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) that they disrupted an award ceremony for respected Igbo leaders in Enugu on Tuesday.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, specifically said it was unacceptable under any guise for him to bring respected Igbo

elders to any place where they would be humiliated.

In a statement signed by  Samuel Edeson (National Director of
Information) MASSOB; and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and Engr Obinna Adibe,
Secretary General and National PRO of Ohanaeze Youth Council
respectively, the groups stated that the leader of ECA, Elliot Uko should be held responsible
for any break down of law and order in Enugu state.

The Uchenna Madu led MASSOB said, “We are very surprised and shocked
to read on pages of newspapers that MASSOB disrupted an Igbo event to
honour some prominent Biafra leaders. It is not in our nature or
orientation to disrespect, dishonor or insult our elders.

“Evang Elliott Uko who claimed that he called our leader have never
discussed with our leader since eight months ago, MASSOB separated
ourselves from him when we found out that he is an opportunist,
back-biter and instigator of strife among brethren. He did not call or
invite our leader or any other national executive of MASSOB to his
event neither did our leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu called him or
pressurized him to allow MASSOB members to attend his event.”

MASSOB dismissed the negative impression created by Uko that the
leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Chief Nnia Nwodo sponsored the
disruption of ECA event as completely false and capable of sowing a
seed of discord among major stakeholders of Igbo affairs.

 MASSOB warned Eliot Uko and Maria Okwor to stop meddling and creating
confusing falsehood among pro Biafra groups using one group against
another just to achieve a selfish interest, they should stay clear of
pro Biafra groups since they are not clamouring for Biafra.

Ohanaeze Youth Council on her part said, “We read with shock the ugly
incident which played out yesterday (Tuesday) in Enugu State. We are
saddened because this is coming at a time Enugu is being so celebrated
as one of the most peaceful State in the country.

“Going by our investigations, the youths Eliot and his amorphous group
gathered together at the event were transported from several States
outside Enugu. At the end, they ended up creating tension in the very
peaceful and secure State.

“We want to say it clearly that this is unacceptable to us because
this is a deliberate ploy to destroy the good works of the amiable and
hardworking Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,
especially in the area of security.

“This is therefore, a warning to Eliot that he shall be held
responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the Coal City State.
This is so as he clearly admitted in his media interview that indeed
he invited the Biafran agitators to the event. So, everything that
happened was clearly planned.”