Eze Ndigbo distances palace from arrest of IPOB members in Ghana

The Eze Ndigbo Ghana, HRM Dr. Chukwudi Ihenetu, has dismissed the information making the rounds on the social media that he connived with Ghanaian government to arrest some Nigerians  allegedly holding IPOB meeting on Sunday as false.

In a statement published on his Facebook page and a copy sent to the media, the royal father, who has championed several peace meetings involving Ndigbo and the host country, Ghana, said it was the handiwork of his enemies who were bent on causing disaffection between him and his Igbo brothers whom he has ruled for over nine years.

While dismissing the information as tissues of lies, HRM Ihenetu said: “My fellow Igbomen.and women, I am your son HRM  Amb. Jude  Chukwudi Ihenetu, Eze Ndigbo Ghana. By special  grace of God. I have been here for several years and precisely  9 years on the throne as Eze Ndigbo Ghana.

“ One of my core values is to promote  Igbo values and culture as traditional  ruler and also bring  Igbo and Ghana close as a host nation and at the same time to defend every Igboman in all sector here in Ghana to the best of my knowledge and  I have been doing the best I can.

“Recently  from this office, I was able to release 541 Nigerians, mostly Igbo. About 98 per cent  or them are Igbo held by Ghana immigration  over documentation issues. I did the best I can. I feed them and also provided  transportation  to take them home and many of them stranded, came here and I cared for  them.

“You might have red about me on internet  on practical things that I do to assist  our people.

I have  travelled  to many countries, many regions here in Ghana to bring our people more especially  Igbo closer to their host country, Ghana and in extension Nigerians.

“I am the king of Igbo community  sitting on the comfort of Igbo throne but also in extension  to support  every Nigerian with the little I can because I can not do it all.

Besides, I played vital role in ending over 25 years trade dispute between Nigerian traders and Ghana Trade Union. If I went this lent to help my brothers, how will I now be the same person initiating their arrest? So, it is unthinkable, it is falsehood born out of envy and greed.

“Also,  I am a very true Igbo man. Mother, father Igbo. I am from the South Eastern part of Nigeria  and in very ramifications, every  Igbo man whose generations passed through the 30 months civil war and still experiencing the marginalisation and structural imbalance ravaging Nigéria is a Biafran and we are doing the best we can to support  each other in terms of business, love, peace and unity among each and every one of us until solutions will be found to these problems, hence I continued defending  every  Igbo man the best way I can.

“Recently, on Sunday to be precise, I got information that   some Igbo were arrested here in Ghana allegedly having IPOB meeting and before you know it on Monday  about 21 women came to the palace lamenting that their husband’s  were arrested, 13 of them with their children on their back and I woke up to do the best I can to get freedom for our people, to know the root cause of the problem and why our people were arrested. Supprisenly today, Tuesday, I received information on my facebook page from more than 1000  sources that  one Sunny  and one Comrade Alfred were circulating  on the social media that I, HRM Ihenetu  connived with Nigeria government to arrest Igbo in Ghana where they were allegedly holding IPOB meeting.

“I am using this medium to dismiss this allegations as false. My enemies are only spreading this rumour to smear my name and cause misunderstanding between myself and good people of Igbo community in Ghana. I want to let them know that their evil plan would not work because I am standing for the Igbo and Nigerians and for the peace of Nigeria  and Ghana.

“This information is false. Ask Nigerians here, since this incident occurred, I am the only Igboman that has gone to know what the problem is all about and I have also done my best to reach out to both countries on the best way to solve the problem and our people released.

Anybody that is writing this thrash on the internet is only spreading falsehood and the law of justice and equity will soon catch up with them,” he said.

(Daily Sun)