ABUJA—THE State Security Service (SSS) yesterday slammed the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, for expressing fear over the organisation’s invitation and turning it into an “object of public drama and cheap blackmail.”
Ojukwu had alleged, Monday, in Enugu that the Federal Government planned to kill him and the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. He said consequently, he was no longer under any obligation to honour the invitation, which he had said, weekend, he might honour. Sympathisers have, however, continued to throng the Enugu residence of Chief Ojukwu to solidarise with him over his refusal to honour the SSS invitation.
The SSS in a veiled reference to the escape by the Ikemba from Nigeria to Ivory Coast during the civil war, said Chief Ojukwu “misunderstood the gesture and took fright, out of concern for his personal comfort, which unfortunately is consonant with his character over the years.”
The service, in the two-page statement signed by Ezra Tobechukwu on behalf of the Director-General, Col. Kayode Are, said: “The Department of State Services wishes, in the public interest, to clarify its interaction with Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, which has been turned into an object of public drama and cheap blackmail.
“As far as security is concerned, the corporate existence of Nigeria is a matter which is beyond politics. The reality today is that while some leaders are striving assiduously to build a better Nigeria for all, some are committed to dismembering the country, through violent or non-violent means, and disturbing the peace, which all enjoy.
“In accordance with the mandate of the Service as enshrined in the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, if for no reason, the conduct of any individual is inimical to peace and stability, the Service has a duty to call that person or group to order through lawful means.
“It was in recognition of the delicate nature of the issue at hand that a senior member of the Service invited Chief Ojukwu for dialogue. Chief Ojukwu was accorded all the courtesies and respect due to an elder and statesman. He was even encouraged to come along with his lawyer and any other person he wishes to be present during the planned interaction. Apparently, Chief Ojukwu misunderstood the gesture and took fright, out of concern for his personal comfort, which unfortunately is consonant with his character, over the years.
“The Service would not join issues with Chief Ojukwu, but having rejected the option of dialogue, other coursers of lawful action open to the Service would be pursued to their logical end in addressing the matter. Clearly, if the intention was to arrest the Chief, that would have been done through due process, without hesitation.”
Sympathisers throng his Enugu residence
However, sympathisers have continued to throng the residence of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to show solidarity with him over his refusal to honour the invitation extended to him by the State Security Service (SSS).
At his Independence Layout house in Enugu yesterday, prominent politicians from various political parties and cultural organisations including the Afenifere called to express sympathy with the Ikemba Nnewi who alleged, Monday, that his life was in danger.
Reacting to the invitation yesterday, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, queried the one-way ticket to Abuja issued to Ojukwu by the SSS, warning that the Igbo would not tolerate any further harassment of the Ikemba or any Igbo citizen in the country.
Also speaking, an Igbo activist and South-East Vice-Chairman of the Bisi Akande-led faction of the Alliance for Democracy, the Reverend Okechukwu Obioha, asked Ojukwu to honour the SSS invitation if his hands were clean, saying that the law would protect him.
At the residence of Chief Ojukwu were former presidential aspirant of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Chief Nnia Nwodo; Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd); former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuma Onoh, who is also his father-in-law and Col. Emma Nwobosi (rtd).
It was learnt that chieftains of the pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, among others, called on telephone to express their solidarity with Ojukwu and praised his decision not to honour the invitation that was improperly served.
Journalists who thronged his house were, however, prevented by Ojukwu’s personal security men from seeing him, claiming that they were under instruction to do so. But Secretary-General of the Igbo National Assembly (INA), Chief Onwuka Ukwa, who said he was with the Ikemba throughout yesterday, confirmed that there was absolute calm at his residence.
“He (Ojukwu) is okay. Everything is calm. I have been with him since morning. People have been coming and calling on phone, and he has been talking with them. The callers were expressing their sympathy and solidarity with him. We have not heard any other thing from the SSS,” he said.
Responding to a question after addressing journalists on the proposed formation of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Standing Committee, in Enugu yesterday, Bishop Chukwuma, said he supported Ojukwu’s decision not to travel to Abuja on a one way ticket, adding that such invitation “is suspicious” and laden with “ulterior motives.”
Said he: “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think the Ikemba has done anything to warrant being harassed. I have always said it, no Igbo man should be intimidated because there are other people everywhere making statements, Wole Soyinka is there, nobody has called him.”
The Bishop, who said he was against violent political activities and any plan to disintegrate the country, however, said the motive behind the formation of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was not to dismember the country.
“As a Bishop, I don’t support violence, I don’t support disintegration, but the thing is that Igbo are not having their place in this country.”
He, however, said if the security agencies had any problems with the former Biafran leader, they should “handle him with care and deal with him gently.”
