The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has restated its commitment to building a virile, united and visionary youth wing with integrity and humility.
National Vice President, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said this yesterday while hosting the youth wing of the body led by its Acting National Youth Leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, at Nanka in Orumba North Local Government of Anambra State.
He said youths should reciprocate by joining hands to salvage the Southeast, and appealed to the aggrieved ones to resolve their differences for the sake of peace in the zone.
Okeke-Ogene said: “Our youths must be humble before they can serve. It’s greed that drags them to pecuniary gains than delivering selfless service. You can’t afford to be using the name of Ohanaeze for politics because we’re not a political party.
“Your actions should not contradict those of your fathers. It should rather be true reflection of what they stood and fought for and still fighting for.
“You can’t have someone like Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, past president generals, Obi of Onitsha and other elders in Ohanaeze and your characters are not reflecting theirs. It’s only in Ohanaeze that you see youths insulting their elders. You can’t see such among other tribes.”
He said the current leadership under Chief Iwuanyanwu was making efforts to ensure Ndigbo across the country were carried along in the scheme of things.
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“Ohanaeze is virtually in all states in Nigeria. Iwuanyanwu has established three zones, one to take care of the Igbo living in the 19 northern states and FCT, another for those in the West, with head office in Lagos, while those in the Southeast and Southsouth have their head office in Enugu.
“We’ll now be having three zonal meetings with the NEC at the centre. This arrangement is to ensure our activities get to the grassroots. We’ll embrace as many as are willing to join us.”
Okpalaezeukwu thanked Okeke-Ogene for his advice borne out of love for the youth. He assured him of his members’ readiness to contribute their quota towards a united Ohanaeze.
The Grand Patron of Ohanaeze youths, Johnbosco Onunkwo, an engineer; described Okeke-Ogene as the engine room and encyclopaedia of Igbo culture and tradition, who had contributed to developmental strides in Nigeria.
He announced donation of N5million to Ohanaeze youths in Anambra State by his foundation for environmental friendly research aimed at protecting the state from natural disaster.
He said 500 youths were to benefit from skill acquisition scheme of the foundation targeted at pulling youths in the area out of crime.
He vowed to do everything to ensure youths were positioned to contribute to national development.