Ohaneze tackles IPOB on Biafra anthem in school, warns military takeover of Igboland

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has faulted IPOB’s ban on Nigeria National Anthem across the southeast.

In its New Year message, the group banned Nigeria’s national anthem, replace it with Biafra’s in schools, and also ban consumption of Fulani beef.

But Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, secretary-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, cautioned that order would spell doom for the people of the region, and the efforts to secure IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

“This order is also nonetheless destructive to the campaign for the Igbo presidency in 2023 and will give birth to avoidable military raids on all public schools in Southeastern Nigeria, with the ongoing ‘Operation Golden Dawn’,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Ohaneze then ban reciting of the Biafra anthem in public schools remains prohibited, forbidden and proscribed, as the South-East is still an integral part of Nigeria.

“We cannot afford to mislead and misinform our pupils into trending into paths that will attract grave consequences for Ndigbo.

“Ndigbo should flout such despicable orders of absurdity, as it will be the rationale for future deployment of military Tucson fighter jets to South-eastern Nigeria.”

Isiguzoro stated that rather than the enforcement of Biafra anthems in public schools, “IPOB should join Ohanaeze in the promotion of Igbo language, cultural heritage, and values in all South-East public schools.

“This is the best way to get our youngsters to remain committed and imbibe the cultural values and heritage of Ndigbo.”

He, however, expressed support for the ban on the consumption of Fulani cows and the use of it in Igboland for ceremonies or during festival seasons.