A group, under the aegis of International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law-Intersociety, has condemned the activities of some Igbo leaders who are seeking political favours from the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari in the guise of representing the interest of Igbo people in Nigeria.
In a statement, entitled: ‘’Bastardization of right to ethnic identity: A critical evaluation of the despicable activities of red-capped Igbo natives in Nigeria,’’ and signed by the its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, it decried the desecration of Igbo leadership titles and hijacking of the Igbo affairs by people they described as ‘’merchants of Igbo miseries.’’
The statement read: “While other Nigerian public figures are busy studying the new political calculations occasioned by the ethno-religious emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect for the purpose of collective social, economic and political benefits/developments for their people and landscapes, “these charlatan red-capped individuals of Igbo extraction are busy wangling their ways to Daura, looking for what goes into their pockets, using misleadingly Igbo interest as bargaining chips.
“When the two million Igbo registered voters residing in Lagos State were denied Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, by Professor Attahiru Jega, the so-called Igbo leaders, sided with electoral enemies of their race and said nothing.
“But when other registered Igbo voters with PVCs, elected three of their sons and daughters as well as three other non-Igbo citizens as new members of House of Reps under the platforms of PDP and Accord Party in Lagos State, during the March 28 National Assembly poll, these soiled citizens turned the historic victory into political merchandise.
“They red-capped themselves in Idumota and Alaba markets and rushed to the palace of Oba of Lagos to trade off the ethnic identity rights of the Igbo race for blood cash leading to historic death threats against the Igbo.”
