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Tag: Nwodo

  • Atiku: Ohaneze youths berate Nwodo, others

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has condemned the recent endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by the Ohaneze Ndigbo led Chief Nnia Nwodo. The Igbo youth council also said that it is dissociating itself from the said endorsement, describing it as being the position of the few people who make up the Ime Obi of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    The group’s position was contained in a communiqué issued by its executive members in Umuahia, the Abia state capital over the weekend. It condemned the action and called on the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to withdraw the endorsement. The communiqué which was jointly singed by the group’s national secretary, Madukibe Uchenna, Chief Osmond Nkoma, the national publicity secretary, Barr.  Ibegbulam Odom, the national Legal adviser and seven others, said Ohanaeze did not speak the mind of Ndigbo.

    The council described the decision of Nwodo and Arthur Obiora to endorse Atiku as a divide and rule tactic, which will not better the lots of Ndigbo. The group added that Igbo youths see the action as provocative, as they were not consulted before the decision was taken. It stressed that there is every need for the said decision to be reversed without delay.

    “The endorsement of Atiku Abubarkar is provocative, repressive and uncharitable to the position of the majority of Ndigbo’s, particularly the youths at home and in the Diaspora and the decision will not stand. We shall mobilize the youths for the upcoming election and we shall in the coming days make a public statement on the direction the Igbo youths shall follow.

    The Ohaneze Ndigbo youth council also used the opportunity to call on President Muhammadi Buhari to award more developmental projects to the South-East and ensure that an Igbo man succeeds him in office come 2023. We want to used this opportunity to call on President Buhari as a matter of urgency to commence the development of more projects in the South-Eat zone to ameliorate the suffering of Ndigbo,” the group said.

  • Nwodo under fire over Atiku’s endorsement

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General John Nnia Nwodo (Jnr) has been accused of “rigging” the group’s constitution to support Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi.

    The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, who made the allegation, said Nwodo, deliberately sidelined the Ohaneze’s General Assembly to pave the way for the purported endorsement, which has continued to generate controversy.

    According to the VON boss, the General Assembly is the supreme organ of the apex Igbo socio-political organisation, going by Article 10, sub-Section VI of the Ohaneze Constitution.

    He was reacting to the controversial endorsement of Atiku/Obi ticket of PDP last Thursday, on a day President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the late Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Mausoleum in Onitsha and campaigned in Anambra and Enugu states.

    The endorsement contained in a statement signed by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s leader continued to draw fury and outrage from notable leading lights of the region, including, Anambra State governor Wily Obiano, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Labour & Productivity Minister Chris Ngige and Foreign Affairs Minister Geofrey Onyeama, among others.

    Fielding reporters’ questions in Enugu, Okechukwu justified the outrage of Igbo leaders over the endorsement, saying the collective interest of Ndigbo nationwide was atrophied by Nwodo’s action.

    He alleged that Nwodo acted arbitrarily in “Rambo” style and utterly circumvented Ohanaeze’s constitution in endorsing the Atiku/Obi PDP ticket.

    He said: “Ime Obi could have first drawn a checklist of Igbo Charter of demands and hand over to the two leading contenders -Buhari and Atiku, thereafter, convene a General Assembly meeting to decide, but this was not done.

    “The tremendous respect one has for our elder brother, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, perished when reports crept in on Thursday 24 January, 2019, on how he regrettably rigged the Constitution of Ohaneze and by extension Ndigbo worldwide by recklessly endorsing Atiku/Obi ticket.

    ”Going through his communiqué the first question is, where is the collective search, the critical and dispassionate appraisal in Nwodo’s endorsement, when in Rambo style he deliberately sidelined the General Assembly, which going by Article 10, subsection VI of the Ohaneze Constitution is the Supreme Organ of Ohaneze Ndigbo?”

    On if there was anything wrong in endorsing a party that picked Peter Obi, a southeasterner as a presidential running mate, Okechukwu said: “Yes it was wrong and near idiotic as Governor Obiano alluded to hurriedly endorse Atiku/Obi when main variables and indicators are not critically and dispassionately considered?

    “One Ime Obi could had first drawn a checklist of Igbo Charter of demands and hand over to the two leading contenders -Buhari and Atiku – and secondly convene General Assembly meeting to decide. This was not done, so why the hurry?”

    Reminded that Ime Obi shall be responsible for rapid response in Ohaneze matters, Okechukwu, an All Progressives Chieftain said: “Is there emergency in 2019 presidential election which was fixed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially when Nwodo mischievously fixed the Ime Obi in a very important date when our foremost elder statesman, the great Zik was being immortalized by Mr. President?”

    On the excuse that Nwodo was not privy to APC’s programme and therefore should be excused, Okechukwu said it was the idiotic angle Obiano alluded to, as the governors and other eminent Igbos  like Chris Ngige pleaded with him to shift the date of Ime Obi, but he refused.

    He said: “Methinks it is sheer mischief for Nwodo not only to refuse to shift the date, but when he agreed to shift time from 4pm to 7pm, only for his Kangaroo Ime Obi to hurriedly finish the meeting before 7pm. This is what angered many who arrived for the meeting shortly before 7pm.

    Confronted with the second point Ohaneze raised that Atiku had promised to restructure the country, Okechukwu retorted: “Atiku’s position on restructuring is at best opaque and candidly is not as robust as Nwodo’s Ohaneze is propagating. No person or group of persons can amend or alter the 1999 Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria without 2/3 of the members of the National Assembly and 2/3 of the State Houses of Assembly. What we have is a rigid constitution.

    “In summary, my position is that it is more politically correct to endorse Buhari if a non-partisan Ohaneze is to endorse any candidate. I therefore commend Southeast governors for their collective resolve to support President Buhari, for his re-election is the surest and quickest route to Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023. Ndigbo’s vote in 2019 for Buhari will simulate a concrete alliance with Buhari’s 10-12 million vote bank in the North”, he added.

    Also speaking yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital in a telephone chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ngige describes Ohaneze’s endorsement of Atiku as partisan.

    According to the minster, what played out was mere congregation of party men that hurriedly took a decision without due consultation of the real Ime-Obi Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    He said the meeting was constituted by the President-General of the union with members of the PDP and passed the resolution in favour of Atiku.

    Ngige said: “The purported decision of Ohaneze endorsing Atiku Abubakar of the PDP as the Ndigbo choice was a distraction and should be disregarded by well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters.

    ”The decision was ill-conceived and should be ignored by Ndigbo as it’s a decision propelled by PDP members in Ohaneze Ndigbo, hurriedly taken to drum support for their party members in the coming election.”

    Ngige expressed disappointment that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation would degenerate into meddling in partisan politics.

    He said that the people of the Southeast have spoken in the rallies attended by hundreds of thousands of Igbo citizens in Enugu and Onitsha as to their political choice.

  • Atiku’s endorsement: Nwodo rigged Ohaneze constitution – VON DG

    The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday accused the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Nnia Nwodo (jnr.) of rigging the constitution of Ohaneze in his purported endorsement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Mr. Peter Obi.

    Okechukwu who is an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, said Nwodo deliberately sidelined the General Assembly, which is the Supreme Organ of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, going by Article 10, subsection VI of Ohaneze’s constitution.

    The VON DG was reacting to the controversial endorsement of Atiku/Obi ticket of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week and the attendant fury and outrage of Governor Wily Obiano, Ken Nnamani, Chris Ngige, Geofrey Onyeama and a host of other prominent Igbo leaders.

    Fielding questions with journalists in Enugu, Okechukwu said the outrage of Igbo leaders over the endorsement, was justified, as the collective interest of Ndigbo nationwide was atrophied.

    He maintained that Nwodo acted arbitrarily in “Rambo” style and utterly circumvented Ohanaeze constitution in endorsing Atiku/Obi PDP ticket.

    According to him, Ime Obi could have first drawn a checklist of Igbo Charter of demands and hand over to the two leading contenders -Buhari and Atiku. Thrreafter convene General Assembly meeting to decide, but this was not done.

    “The tremendous respect one has for our elder brother, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide perished when reports crept in on Thursday 24 January, 2019, on how he regrettably rigged the Constitution of Ohaneze and by extension Ndigbo worldwide by recklessly endorsing Atiku/Obi ticket.

    “Going through his communiqué the first question is where is the collective search, the critical and dispassionate appraisal in Nwodo’s endorsement, when in Rambo Style he deliberately sidelined the General Assembly, which going by Article 10, subsection vi of the Ohaneze Constitution is the Supreme Organ of Ohaneze Ndigbo?”

    Whether there is anything wrong in endorsing Atiku/Obi especially when Ohaneze particularly noted in its communiqué that Ndigbo must seize the opportunity that a major political party (PDP) nominated their son Peter Obi as Vice Presidential candidate, which has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity, Okechukwu said:

    “Yes it was wrong and near idiotic as Governor Obiano alluded to hurriedly endorse Atiku/Obi when main variables and indicators are not critically and dispassionately considered? One Ime Obi could had first drawn a checklist of Igbo Charter of demands and hand over to the two leading contenders -Buhari and Atiku – and secondly convene General Assembly meeting to decide. This was not done, so why the hurry?”

    Reminded that Ime Obi shall be responsible for rapid response in Ohaneze matters, the APC chieftain questioned: “is there emergency in 2019 presidential election which was fixed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially when Nwodo mischievously fixed the Ime Obi in a very important date when our foremost elder statesman, the great Zik was being immortalized by Mr President?”

    On the excuse that Nwodo was not privy to APC’s program and therefore should be excused, Okechukwu said it was the idiotic angle Governor Wily Obiano alluded to, as the governors and other eminent Igbos  like Chris Ngige pleaded with him to shift the date of Imeobi, but he refused.

    “Methinks it is sheer mischief for Nwodo not only to refuse to shift the date, but when he agreed to shift time from 4pm to 7pm, only for his Kangaroo Ime Obi to hurriedly finish the meeting before 7pm. This is what angered many who arrived for the meeting shortly before 7pm.

    “Confronted with the second point Ohaneze raised why Atiku/Obi ticket was endorsed, which is, “That the presidential candidate of PDP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has made an avowed commitment to restructuring of the federation and reconfirmed same during his recent visit to the United States in his meetings with high level US officials”, Okechukwu retorted,

    “Atiku’s position on restructuring is at best opaque and candidly is not as robust as Nwodo’s Ohaneze is propagating. No person or group of persons can amend or alter the 1999 Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria without 2/3 of the members of the National Assembly and 2/3 of the State Houses of Assembly. What we have is a rigid Constitution.

    “In sum my position is that it is more politically correct to endorse Buhari if a non-partisan Ohaneze is to endorse any candidate. I therefore commend South East Governors for their collective resolve to support President Buhari, for his re-election is the surest and quickest route to Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023. Ndigbo’s vote in 2019 for Buhari will simulate a concrete alliance with Buhari’s 10-12 million Vote Bank in the North,” he added.

  • A stronger, more focused Ohanaeze Ndigbo emerging – Nwodo

    The President-General of Oha Na Eze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nwodo, said on Friday that it has been able to positively and vigorously discharge its responsibilities in the last two years.

    “Within these two years, we have, to the glory of God, made moderate contributions to the re-jigging of Igbo leadership and the leveraging of Igbo issues in Nigeria,” Nwodo told the News Agency of Nigeria.

    He listed some of the achievements as restoration of the dignity of the Igbo across the world.

    He added: “We have injected a new impetus into the promotion of Igbo language, culture and heritage.

    “We have also embarked on the establishment and promotion of Oha Na Eze Ndigbo activities at local, national and diaspora levels.”

    The president-general also said that the body had built synergy with affiliate groups such as the Igbo Delegates Assembly, the Igbo World Assembly, the World Igbo Congress,Aka Ikenga, Izu Umunna, Njiko Umunna, Igbo Media Forum, among others.

    He said that the group has engaged in building of bridges with other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

    “The deft and diplomatic handling of potentially explosive issues that could have snowballed into national conflagrations is also testimony to our service to Igboland.

    “These include the Quit Notice to Ndigbo by Northern Youths, the Pro-Biafra agitation, the Herdsmen/Farmers crisis in Igboland, the Python Dance issue and others.

    “This leadership has also encouraged unity and synergy among Igbo governors and leading political actors in the overall interest of Ndigbo.

    Read Also: Atiku not our candidate, says Ohanaeze Ndigbo

    “We have also put in place formidable Youth and Women’s Wings for the organization.”

    According to him, “our intervention led to the military dismantling the proliferation of checkpoints in the South-East.

    “This allowed for smooth vehicular movement in the region, especially during the recent festive season.

    “We have also lent our voice to the call for the restructuring of Nigeria – a drive which has gathered momentum apace, and is almost becoming a national mantra,” he said.

    Nwodo, therefore, encouraged Ndigbo to identify with candidates that support restructuring, noting that soon the group would take a holistic position on the forthcoming elections.

  • Nwodo, Adebanjo, Ganduje, others win Imo award

    Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, Nnia Nwodo and Ayo Adebanjo, were Monday night decorated with the Imo Merit Award.

    They were also inducted into the Imo Hall of Fame. The awards were Grand Commander of the Order of Imo (GCOI) and Grand Chancellor of the State of Imo (GCSI).

    Other recipients included elder statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Arthur Nzeribe; ex-Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe, the late Odimegwu Ojukwu (GCSI), Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje (GCSI), the late Alhaji Maitama Sule (GCOI); Dr. Paul Unogo (GCOI), and Chief Nwodo (GCOI).

    Also honoured were Chief Gary Igariwey (GCOI), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) (GCOI), the late Dick Tiger Ihetu (GCOI), the late Chief C.C. Onoh (GCSI), the late Dr. Akanu Ibiam (GCOI), Chief Jim Nwobodo (GCOI), Chief Ndubuisi Kanu (GCOI) and Adebanjo (GCOI).

    Govenror Rochas Okorocha said: “This night is a night specially mapped out to honour our great leaders, who have distinguished themselves both in conduct and in service, and in the development of our state and country.

    “We have discovered that the problem with our people is that we are not good with history, and the fact that we don’t easily remember the development initiatives of our heroes past; we are at a loss in the shortest possible time and tend to forget these great nationals that have brought about our greatness.

    “Because of the foregoing, therefore, the Imo State government, under law No. 18 of the Imo State House of Assembly, had passed a law to honour our own and those who have impacted on the lives of the people of this state and beyond.

    “The Committee on the Merit Award nomination had carefully selected and eventually came up with the list of awardees which we have decided to honour tonight.”

    Iwuanyanwu, who was happy with the award, confessed his indifference to the Rescue Mission Government despite the kind overtures of the administration to him. He noted that he had received accolades from local and international quarters but cherished the Imo Merit Award most.

    Chief Nwodo poured encomiums on Okorocha, saying the award would prompt him to continue to push further Igbo development. agenda

    He added: “I know that someday, someone somewhere will recognise these efforts just like Owelle has done tonight.

    ‘’I pray for the coming together of all Igbo so that we will come to the drawing board to see and correct where we have missed it, and take our rightful place in Nigeria and the world

    ‘’I hail Owelle Rochas Okorocha for this award, and for single-handedly building a befitting headquarters for Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu”.

    Ganduje said: “I hold this award very precious to my heart. I am not surprised at the award knowing that Owelle is one of the best detribalised Nigerians who means good for this country.”

  • Agbakoba, Nwodo, others to speak at VOR colloquium

    FORMER president of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, President- General Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mr. John Nwodo and Niger/Delta activist, Anko Briggs will on Thursday, June 28, 2018, speak at think-thank group, Voice of Reason (VOR) Leadership Series and 1st Colloquium with the theme: Restructuring: A Panacea For Justice and Peace of Nigeria: The Imperative for a People’s Constitution.

    According to a statement jointly signed by the convener of the group, Dr. Goke Omisore and the Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the event, Otunba ‘Deji Osibogun, the programme will be chaired by Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist and cofounder, Eko Hospitals, Olorogun (Dr.) Sunny Folorunso Kuku, OFR. Other speakers expected at the event scheduled to hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, are publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, social entrepreneur, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji and Col. Tony Nyiam (Rtd). Also to speak at the event is the son of former Nigeria Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Abdul Tafawa Balewa, International Trade and Investment Lawyer and Activist, Nathasha Akpoti and Secretary- General of Lower Niger Congress (LNC), Comrade Tony Nnadi.

  • Ugwuanyi best performing governor, says Nwodo

    Former Governor of old Enugu State and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Okwesilieze Nwodo has declared Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “the best performing governor in Nigeria”.

    Nwodo also described Ugwuanyi as “a humble, indefatigable, humane and outstanding manager of men and resources, for the development of Enugu State”.

    He spoke at a thanksgiving mass and endorsement rally for Ugwuanyi by his kinsmen from Orba Udulekenyi, Udenu Local Government Area.

    The former governor thanked the people for endorsing Ugwuanyi for a second term because of his performance and uncommon leadership style, describing it as a good omen for the state.

    He said: “We will not be tired of hailing your performance, praying for you and eulogising your uncommon leadership style”.

    Nwodo also urged the people to ensure they obtain their voters’ card and “join the PDP’s winning train to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Rev. Fr. Emeka Ngwoke thanked God for using Ugwuanyi, saying “good leadership is truly manifesting in Enugu State”.

    The cleric thanked the governor’s humble and peaceful disposition, as well as his close relationship with the lowly and neglected, saying: “For once, our state now speaks and thinks as brothers and sisters”.

    The people of Orba, in an address delivered by the President-General, Orba Udu General Assembly, Chief Charles Mbah, said they are proud of their “illustrious son and a worthy ambassador”.

    They maintained that the governor “with his usual characteristics as a prudent, accountable and judicious manager of resources”, has entrenched peace and good governance in Enugu despite of the country’s challenges.

    Ugwuanyi’s kinsmen added that the governor, when other states could not pay workers’ salaries and were consequently downsizing the workforce, he was “recruiting additional workers, paying salaries promptly including the peculiar 13th month salary, which was paid across the entire state, including Primary School Teachers and Local Government Staff”.

    “It is against this background that Orba Udelekenyi is today giving her unalloyed endorsement/blessing to her illustrious son, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Nwa Orba Udu), to return to the Lion Building in 2019 and finish the good work he started,” they said.

  • Restructure Nigeria now, say Nwodo, Clark, Adebanjo others

    Some of the leaders of the Southern regions and the Middle Belt yesterday took their demand for restructuring of the country to the National Assembly.

    They made the same call at the 10th Abraham Adesanya lecure in Lagos on Wednesday.

    During a meeting with Senate President Bukola Saraki, they warned that failure to restructure the country could be a recipe for its disintegration.

    On the team were: Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum Chief Edwin Clark, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Chief John Nwodo, Afenifere’s Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, President Middle Belt Forum.

    Apart from the demand to restructure the country, the leaders criticized what they described as the fragrant disregard of the legislative arm of government.

    Chief Clark who led the delegation asked Nwodo to present the case of the group.

    Nwodo said: “We have come to you at a very difficult time in the history of our country. We are visiting the National Assembly because of its unique position in our constitution. The democratic system we run in our country rests on the three organs of government.

    “For these three arms, the other two function in accordance with laws made by this arm. This arm characterises democracy because in a military government you will have both the judiciary and the executive.

    “But it is only in a democratic government that you have the parliament. The parliament is a microcosm of the people because every section of the country has by adult suffrage delegated its voice to this parliament.

    “We have watched the helplessness of the National Assembly where members of the executive even refuse your invitations to come and make explanations contrary to provisions of the constitution.

    “We have found the helplessness of the Senate when you can be invaded in spite of the security adornment in this place controlled by the executive and the seat of the Senate President is almost invaded but for the personal security of the aides of its leadership.

    “This is because our system makes the tail wag the dog rather than the dog waging the tail. This cannot be in a fountain of legislative authority for executive implementation, and yet they toy with the system.

    “We have come to tell you that it is in our view that it is because we have this over-concentration of Powers in the Federal Government contrary to the agreement that our forefathers entered into for the nation called Nigeria. That governance has failed in our country. That economic development has failed,” he said.

    Nwodo noted that the way out of the problems bedeviling the country is a revisit of the power devolution clause that was rejected by the parliament in ongoing constitution alteration process as promised by the National Assembly.

    “Our youth despair is gargantuan. The federating unit in the unitary system that we call a federal system” Nwodo said.

    Chief Ayo Adebanjo who led South West delegates to the meeting said that they concurred fully with what Nwodo said because “what concerns one concerns all.”

    Adebanjo noted that the way the country is going any interest outside immediate restructuring of the country would amount to playing with fire.

    Adebanjo who prayed the National Assembly to revisit the 2014 National Conference report passionately said “Take your time and read the 2014 conference report because all the problems of the country have been solved by the report.”

    President Middle Belt Forum, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd) said that the Middle Belt region had always stood for the unity of the country.

    The Middle belt leader who noted that the people of his region refer to themselves as “the belt of Nigeria” added that “we should always go for what is best for Nigeria.”

    The Senate President reiterated that to strengthen democracy, the number one institution Nigerians must defend is the parliament.

    He said the 8th National Assembly has been working hard to create enabling environment that will attract investors and that the parliament would continue along that line.

    On the call to revisit clauses that were rejected during the ongoing constitution review process, Saraki said the National Assembly is ready to reconsider the clauses and that it would do so after the passage of the 2018 budget.

    He assured that the National Assembly was prepared to address issues raised by the group “because there is no alternative.”

    He said, “if we want to defend our democracy, it is not about me. We will come and go. It is about the institution. We must work to grow the institution and strengthen the institution. You have raised a number of issues on the economy. There are opportunities ahead but it is difficult for people to invest where there is no rule of law.”

    Other members of the delegation are Chief Olu Falae, Air Vice Marshall, Irangate Idongesit, Obong Victor Attah, Sen. Stella Omu, Prof. Banjo Akintoye, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, Prof. Ihechukwuma Maduke, Sen. Basset Henshaw, Air Comm. Dan Suleiman (rtd), Mr. Alfred Mulade, His Highness Anaba Saraigbe and Lady Maryam Yunusa

  • Police confirm explosion at residence of Ohaneze President-General

    The Police Command in Enugu State has confirmed minor explosion at the Ukehe country home of Chief Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo at early hours of Sunday.

     

    A statement issued in Enugu on Sunday by the police spokesperson, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, said the Commissioner of Police in the state had already visited Ukehe in Igboetiti Local Government area of Enugu State.

     

    Amaraizu said that the command had vowed to unmask those behind the dastardly act.

     

    “Commissioner of Police, Mr Danmallam Mohammed has vowed to unmask those behind the minor explosion at the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo residence.

     

    “The Commissioner led some of his key officers to the scene of the minor explosion that happened early hours of Sunday,’’ he said.

     

    The spokesperson said that no life was lost and there was no major destruction.

     

    “We thank God that there is no loss of life or major destruction, The explosion caused damage on two windows of one of the buildings, ceiling and air conditioner in the house.

     

    “The operatives of the Explosive Ordinance Department (E.OD) of the state command has already moved into the scene and collected some of the samples from the debris of the explosion for proper analysis,’’ he said.

     

    The PPRO said the police commissioner during the visit urged residents of the area to go about their normal business as the police had put adequate measures to protect lives and property.

     

    He said that security had been beefed up in the town to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

     

    The commissioner also directed the Area Commander of Udenu to beef up security and surveillance within the axis.

     

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu has condemned the bombing of Nwodo’s country home in Ukehe describing it as a `dastardly act’.

     

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Uche Anichukwu in Enugu, Ekweremadu said it was `certainly ugly, evil and outrageous’.

     

    “This is quite an unusual development in the South East and we will not accept it.

     

    “I call on the security agencies to get to the root of this devilish act and ensure that the culprits are brought to book immediately,’’ he said. (NAN)

     

    HOA/MNA

  • Youths ‘sack’ Ohanaeze’s president Nwodo

    The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said yesterday that it has replaced the President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, with Prince Richard Ozobu.

    They also said it had left the parent body.

    But Prince Ozobu dissociated himself from the appointment. Nwodo declined to speak on the development.

    His media assistant Chief Emeka Attamah said yesterday: “We are not ready to join issues with an irresponsible group.”

    According to him, replying them means giving credence to them.

    He insisted that election into the Youth Wing would hold on Saturday.

    The statement sacking Nwodo, which was issued by President of the Youth Wing Okechukwu Isiguzoro; Vice President Achuonye Obinna and Secretary-General Okwu Nnabuike, said: “We, the leadership of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing (OYW), after consultations and meetings, unanimously sacked the self-estranged and suspended President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, for playing games with the Igbo Nation and being antisocial with its socio-political and economic interests.

    “It is open to the public and mindful Igbo nationals that, with Nwodo’s leadership, Igbo has been missing in the political radar of Nigeria and losing grips of its citizens. It has also plummeted to the lowest ebb seeing Ohanaeze Ndigbo becoming an appendage political platform to politicians.”