The South East Media Professionals Group (SEMPG), has frowned at the recognition giving to some sets of persons/groups impersonating the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo Socio-cultural group by some media houses.
The SEMPG in a press release issued by the president, Mr Emenike Jason Iroegbu, cautioned media houses to desist from weakening the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and causing confusion by recognising and giving publicity to non-existing factions, warning that any media house or practitioner who does not recognise the newly elected president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the person of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, would be sanctioned properly.
“All media houses should stop disrespecting Ohanaeze Ndigbo by giving undue media coverage to non-existing factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and impersonators” the release read in part.
The SEMPG cited other socio-cultural groups like the Afenifere (Yoruba) and Arewa Consultative Forum (Hausa) who do not have any existing factions and impersonators and queried why the Igbos should be different.
“This penchant of Nigerian media houses giving voice to impersonators in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo seems to be a calculated plan to make sure that the voice of Igbos are destroyed” Iroegbu said.
He noted that the only leader legally recognised by the Igbos and the government is Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and all the media houses are aware of it. It baffles SEMPG why some media houses will keep on taming and encouraging impersonators when they know the true leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“We are calling on all media practitioners in the South East to stop recognizing groups that do not represent the interest of Ndigbo or SEMPG will take legal means seek redress”.
