The All Progressives Congress on Monday rebuffed threats by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing to label it as an ‘anti-Igbo political party’ if it fails to apologise to former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.
The Ohanaeze youths had on Sunday given the APC 48 hours to make the apology, or be tagged with the anti-Igbo label – for calling on the International Criminal Court of Justice to prosecute Ihejirika for allegedly sponsoring the Boko Haram sect, as claimed by Australian negotiator, Mr. Stephen Davies.
The Ohanaeze youths pointed to Ihejirika’s exoneration by the Department of State Services to justify its demand for the apology.
But, barely 24 hours after the South-East youth umbrella body issued the threat, the APC has responded, saying it would not apologise to the retired army general.
The APC replied the Ohanaeze youths in a statement signed, and made available to our correspondent, by its South East spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu.
In the statement captioned ‘APC is Pan-Nigeria Not Anti-Igbo’, the opposition party said, “For the avoidance of doubt, what our National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun called is for President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, to invite the International Criminal Court of Justice to investigate and prosecute Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), consequent upon the allegation levelled by the Federal Government negotiator, Rev. Dr Stephen Davis.
“Nigeria is signatory to ICC and it seems Boko Haram has overwhelmed Mr. President.
“APC in league with other Nigerian patriots is of the candid view that unravelling the masterminds, sponsors, allies and sympathizers of the monster called Boko Haram is a sure bet to stamping out the insurgency.
“This is what our great party is patriotically demanding, and we sincerely reassure Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing that we mean well.
“We have no apology to tender to anybody.
“APC in the best tradition of democracy is requesting President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, C-in-C, to use his good office to invite ICC to first investigate and secondly to prosecute Senator Sheriff, Gen. Ihejirika or any person found culpable, simple and short.”
Source: Punch
