The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has exonerated Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State from any involvement in a plot against the possible release of Nnamdi Kanu, as alleged by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Ohanaeze insisted that Nwifuru is a committed Igbo political leader who would not work against the possible release of Kanu.
IPOB had named some top Igbo political leaders working against Kanuโs release.
A statement by IPOB named Nwifuru as one of those working against Kanuโs release.
However, the factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said indicting Nwifuru was a costly mistake.
A statement by Isiguzoro reads: โOur attention is drawn to the indictments by IPOB that some highly placed political elites have been holding clandestine and nocturnal meetings against the possible release of Nnamdi Kanu.
โHowever, we are certain that Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, is not involved in this plot.
โThere must be a mix-up somewhere, and we believe itโs a costly mistake to get an innocent man involved in this indictment.โ
While the organisation clarifies that they do not speak on behalf of the Governor of Ebonyi, they believe that it is the responsibility of Igbo leadership to exonerate an innocent man whose name may have been wrongly implicated.
โWe assure IPOB that Governor Nwifuru remains concerned about the welfare and well-being of residents and indigenous people of Ebonyi State.
โGovernor Francis Nwifuruโs commitment to serving his people and driving development in Ebonyi State has been widely recognised, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands behind his integrity and leadership,โ he said.