Igbo social cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has finally replied the Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, over a statement he made back in June, saying "people who feel democracy is not good enough for them" and want to destroy the country if "they don’t have their wish," deserve death and not the Presidency they clamor.
Bulkachuwa who made the statement while featuring on CHANNELS TV, described the South East as home to criminals, arsonists, and rebels who deserve to be eliminated.
He said, “There are people who feel democracy is not good enough for them and they want to devise their own means of belonging to this entity called Nigeria and if they don’t have their wish, they’ll let Nigeria go to pieces.
“So is that anything that the constitution allows or encourages? So they’re absolutely outside the realm of the constitution.
“They’re just rebels, arsonists and criminals in short. So, what are we going to consider to even give them a chance to come and say their wish and let Nigeria tremble and bow before them and say ‘okay, we’ve granted you your wish.
“Those insurgency in the Southeast, they’re all claiming that they want their own country called Biafra right? If that is the case, is it by killing people that they’ll get their country?
“They’ve tried it before; do they want us to go back to the same route? I don’t think so. But if they do, if that’s what they choose, has Nigeria got any choice?
“Will we just allow them, bow and say, ‘we’ll grant you your own wish?’ No. Nigerian government has to stand out, fight them and give them what they want.”
However, it's it's reply to the Bauchi State senator, Ohanaeze said it is "shocking and unbelievable that a Senator and Chairman of a strategic Committee in the Senate, Foreign Affairs," would make such horrible remark against Igbo people in the country.
The group's respond was contained in a statement by its spokesman, Chdozie Alex Ogbonnia.
It reads: “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to caustic and inflammatory attacks made by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa against the entire people of the South East, while appearing on a national television.
“Bulkachuwa, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and husband of the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, was quoted as saying that Ndigbo in Nigeria deserve deaths and elimination because in his words, the South East habours criminals, rebels and arsonists.
”He said, rather than the Igbo getting the Presidency being agitated for by their people, what they deserve is elimination from Nigeria.
“It is shocking and unbelievable that a Senator and Chairman of a strategic Committee in the Senate, Foreign Affairs, could make such an incendiary attack against the Igbo people without any provocation whatsoever.
“The Igbo demand for the Presidency of Nigeria is within their rights under the laws of the land. They have not breached any section of the Constitution by making such demands.
“It is therefore gross gratuitous insult for Senator Bulkachuwa to rain such unguarded invectives against a major region in the country.
“I have tried to obtain some internet facts on Bulkachuwa, the only significant information on him is that on June 10, 2020, his constituents in Bauchi commenced a recall process on him; and no more.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemns Bulkachuwa unreservedly for spewing such hate speech on a major Nigerian ethnic group. It is highly inconceivable that a Senator and a husband of a former highly-placed judicial officer, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, would habour such evil wish for a significant section of Nigeria.
“This goes to show clearly the wicked mindset of some people in power who have no other objective but to turn the country into killing fields in the pursuit of hidden ethno-religious agenda.
“While Nigerians are united against the bandits that physically abduct, torture, maim and kill; worse harm is caused by incendiary rhetoric as espoused by the Bulkachuwas in high places. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide demands an unreserved apology and restitution from Bulkachuwa for this unwarranted assault.
“We also call on the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan to reprimand Bulkachuwa publicly as a deterrence to some others who do not understand their oath of office and allegiance to the constitution of Nigeria.
“For purpose of clarity, a Nigerian Senator must be seen at all times to protect the interest and corporate existence of Nigeria. I doubt if we can build a truly united country with such irresponsible conduct and legislative rascality by the likes of Bulkachuwa.”