The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has distanced itself from the planned Easter Retreat in Asaba, Delta State.

Ohanaeze described as mischievous flyers in circulation, inviting the general public to Asaba for an Igbo Easter Retreat holding between March 30 and April 2, 2024.

Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, said the apex Igbo socio-cultural body would have ignored the hare-brained “Igbo Easter Retreat” as the highest mark of rascality and insensibility, but since silence may be misconstrued by the gullible public as giving validity to an orchestrated aberration, “this rebuttal becomes very imperative.”

A statement by Ogbonnia said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo notes with dismay that the mischief makers, impostors, charlatans and media navigators who masquerade on the invaluable footprints of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for narrow, perverse and illicit interests fail to appreciate the profound emotional attachment the Igbo owe to Ohanaeze; and that such a sacred Igbo identity should not be desecrated on the whims, caprices, rascality and exuberances of some social deviants and wary transgressors.

“That Ohanaeze Ndigbo held an Igbo Retreat with the theme Ako bu Ije at the Old Governor’s Lodge, Enugu on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Retreat was chaired by Admiral Allison Amaechina Madueke, GCON, the former military administrator of the Old Anambra and Old Imo states and the former Chief of the Naval Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The retreat attracted eminent personalities from all walks of life including the governor of Enugu State, represented by His Excellency, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State. There were paper presentations by reflective scholars such as Professor Okey Ikechukwu, Monsignor Professor Obiora Ike, Prof. Nnenna Oti, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr. Domnic Nnaemeka Okechukwu, Dr. Sam Obaji, Dr. Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, among others.

“Sequel to the aforesaid, it is, therefore, insensitive for a genuine Ohanaeze Ndigbo to organise a retreat on Easter Saturday and Monday when the predominant Igbo Christians and elders should be in their various communities and residences for the Easter celebration.

“As a corollary to the above, the mischievous Asaba flyer regrettably carries names of Igbo professors. It will be indeed most inconceivable of a genuine professor or any other person to portray ignorance that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo which resides in Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as the President General and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, as the Secretary General, amongst others.

“The good people of Delta State and the general public are hereby notified that appropriate security agencies have been duly alerted about the unscrupulous marauders whose sole aim is to upset, disarticulate and torpedo the peace and tranquillity for which Asaba town is known. It is unthinkable that the Commissioner of Police in Delta State will create room for another crisis soon after the bloodbath at Ughelli axis of the State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide dissociates itself from the hair-brained Easter Retreat at Asaba. We further caution that anybody attending such an event is doing so at his or her own risk.”