Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has dismissed a viral social media post falsely attributed to its President-General, Senator Azuta Mbata, alleging that he urged Ndigbo to arm themselves in anticipation of an imminent war.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation described the report as a dangerous fabrication deliberately crafted to incite fear and violence, demanding a comprehensive probe of the matter.
Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, dismissed the report as a complete falsehood.
“Let it be stated clearly, categorically, and without any equivocation that Senator Azuta Mbata, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, never made such infernal statements, never issued any call to arms, and never authorised any such publication,” Chukwu said.
He described the narrative as reckless, dangerous, and criminal, warning that it was deliberately designed to provoke violence, instil fear, and falsely portray Ndigbo as promoters of lawlessness.
He described Senator Mbata as a respected elder statesman whose leadership and advocacy have consistently been rooted in peaceful engagement, constitutionalism, justice and fairness.
“By character, record, and conviction, Senator Azuta Mbata cannot be associated with calls for violence, illegal arms acquisition, or the breakdown of law and order,” he added.
Reaffirming the apex Igbo group’s long-standing stance, Chukwu maintained that Ohanaeze remains a responsible socio-cultural organisation committed to dialogue, unity and peaceful coexistence within Nigeria.
“Neither the President-General nor Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide can be a party to this violent propaganda and deliberate falsehood aimed at destabilising the polity,” he added.
Ohanaeze also urged relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the source of the fabricated post and prosecute those responsible, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to public peace, national security, and inter-ethnic harmony.
Chukwu advised members of the public to completely disregard the fake story, describing it as a calculated attempt to malign the leadership and integrity of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“The purveyors of this lie are enemies of Ndigbo and enemies of Nigeria,” he said.
