Igbo Delegates Assembly, the umbrella organisation of Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory on Monday denounced the first national summit of Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria, saying they were not part of it.
The event is purportedly being organised by the South-East Peoples Assembly, led by a former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and another Igbo group, Izu Umunna.
This is the second time IDA would be distancing itself from a public event organised by Igbo socio-political organisations.
The IDA had last week, distanced itself from the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term by the Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze-Ndigbo.
It is not however clear if the summit is to endorse any candidate of a particular party in the March 28 presidential election.
The President-General of IDA, Chief S.N. Iyamah, and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Auston Ifedinezi, in a statement, said the IDA remained the umbrella body of Ndigbo in the 19 states of the North and FCT, Abuja, and the only authorised group that speaks for Ndigbo in northern states for the past three decades.
He said, “The so-called summit has no title, while the invitation was not signed by anybody, thereby making it very fake. IDA hereby dissociates itself from the summit and the outcome shall be of no effect on IDA.
“Finally, IDA warns that whoever is attending the purported summit is doing so at his or her peril.
“All the Igbo leaderships in northern Nigeria are affiliated to IDA, which remains the umbrella body of Ndigbo in the 19 states of Northern Nigeria and FCT, Abuja, and the only authorised organisation of Ndigbo in northern Nigeria for over three decades now.
“No such summit can take place without the knowledge of both IDA and the state excos of Ndigbo in the North. The invitation to the purported summit is criminal, a ploy to derail the main issue at the moment and should be disregarded. The so-called organisers should desist from name-dropping and trying to desecrate the sanctity and unity of Ndigbo.
“His Excellency, Dr. Ekwueme, is an elder statesman and well respected round the globe and should not be ridiculed by using his name in vain. He recognises IDA as the leadership body of Ndigbo in the north. The Secretary-General of Izu Umunna, Elvis Chukwu, has denied knowledge of the said summit via a circular.”
