Boko Haram: Igbo Group Condemns Allegation Against Ihejirika , Aka Ikenga Too

Ndigbo Lagos, a socio-political group, has condemned the statement credited to Stephen Davies, an Australian negotiator between Boko Haram insurgents and the Federal Government, alleging that former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirija (rtd) was among those sponsoring the sect.

In a press release, the group described the allegation as frivolous and a defamation of Ihejirika’s character. It said Davies did not deduce or suggest any piece of evidence to support his accusation and warned against tarnishing Ihejirika’s image.
The statement read in part: “The apparently procured and orchestrated interview on Arise Television, where Ihejirika was alleged to be a sponsor of Boko Haram is in bad taste. Given the lack of evidence, the nature of delivery of the allegation and the character of the accused General, we believe that Ihejirika’s traducers are playing dirty politics.
“General Ihejirika will be remembered for being one of the most outstanding commanders Nigeria has had. He is not only an accomplished tactician but also a strategic leader of a fighting force. In his time, he not only decimated the fighting capability of Boko Haram, but also built enduring military institutions to permanently checkmate insurgency in Nigeria.”
“When Ihejirika retired from the army, the same self-centered northern bigots wanted him tried by the World Court for being ‘overzealous’ in crushing Boko Haram. Eight months down the road, he is accused of being a sponsor.”
We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to institute a high powered enquiry to address this obnoxious allegation and lay it to rest.”


 On its part, Aka Ikenga, reacting through its President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, described the allegation as “a tale told a by a fool”.
Said Uwazuruike: “It is like a tale told by a fool. It is a peddler of false news who will go around beating his chest that one nonentity spoke to other nonentities.
“Whoever said that must be a big fool and whoever is repeating is also a big fool. One unknown man from somewhere said somebody told him that a particular person is sponsoring Boko Haram and he goes about town.
“Who made the statement? An unknown entity. Who is the person repeating it?
“Somebody who was in government for eight years, who was in government when Boko Haram started in 2002, who was in government when the sect was festering, and somebody who till today has never condemned Boko Haram.
“I am even disappointed in the national chairman of a party going about talking like somebody that has diarrhoea of the mouth.
“I think all of them should go and hide their heads in shame. How can they claim to be leaders when all they do is accept any rubbish statement from any unknown entity?
“If Ihejirika was one of those accused, this negotiator should have told us when he was in Obasanjo or Yar’adua’s government.
“When he was the COAS, he dealt viciously with Boko Haram that the same set of disgruntled people threatened to report him to ICC for not respecting the rights of Boko Haram people. And the same set of people are accusing him of being behind Boko Haram.”

Sun News