- Safiu Kehinde
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described as a means of humiliating the Igbos the recent allegation against the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla over connivance with oil thieves.
The group made this known in a statement signed and issued on Monday by the Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
The statement requested for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the alleged multi-million Naira oil numbering and contract splitting fraud.
While frowning against what the group called “systemic humiliation of the Igbo people,” the group stated that every political office holder must face prosecution.
The statement read in part; “In the face of serious allegations surrounding Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, we urgently request a thorough and unbiased investigation into the alleged multi-billion Naira oil numbering and contract splitting fraud. Ndigbo and all Nigerians are closely observing the processes, amidst rumours that the Naval chief’s efforts to combat the activities of oil thieves are yielding positive results.
“The authorities must acknowledge the possibility of organized oil thieves, who previously controlled oil security and pipeline protection contracts, orchestrating this absurd petition. We adamantly refuse to be drawn into these theatrical distractions.
“Our sole objective is to ensure an impartial, fair, and comprehensive investigation into the actions of Nigeria’s Naval Chief during his six months in office.
“Every political officeholder must face prosecution. We vehemently oppose any selective approach to the war against corruption and stress the need for a holistic strategy. There should be no systematic humiliation of the IGBO people. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is fully aware that “corruption fights back when confronted with superior operations.”
“We firmly believe that the outcome of this investigation will provide an excellent opportunity to uncover the truth about the alleged oil theft syndicate and identify the sponsors alleged to have connections to vested interests in high places and certain sacred cows within the APC-led federal government.”