The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ohanaeze Ndigbo

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo: election is war to change Southeast’s fortune

    APEX Igbo socio-political organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo said yesterday that it was emboldened by the fact that Ndigbo were completely down in taking the decision to endorse the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku.

    The group’s President-General, John Nnia Nwodo, who during a Solid FM radio programme, explained what informed the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s position.

    He said: “He who is on the ground fears no fall, hence the decision. We are completely down; they cannot treat us worse than they are treating us now. Ohanaeze cannot be on the sideline.”

    According to Nwodo, the forthcoming election is a “war to change the status of Ndigbo in Nigeria, banish unemployment among youths in Igboland. It is a war to have sovereignty on our natural resources; it is a war to be recognised as equal partners.”

    Reacting to insinuations that the organisation should have applied diplomacy in endorsing a candidate, Nwodo said the group was left with no option, hence the decision.

    Besides, he said the organisation took the action because the PDP has given an avowed commitment to restructuring not only in its manifesto but by its presidential candidate.

    The Ohanaeze leader said the PDP Presidential candidate has given his commitment to restructuring not just in his campaigns but also in his speeches in Nigeria and abroad.

    Nwodo pointed out that Atiku also chose one of their sons in the person of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, whom he said is not a bench warmer as his running mate.

    Recalling Obi’s achievement as governor, Nwodo said: “He has husbanded the resources of Anambra State so creditably that no governor in Nigeria left the amount of savings he left for his state.”

    According to him, Obi, as the National Economic Council (NEC) chairman, will not be quiet on the economic neglect of the Southeast.

    On the allegation that some people were excluded when the decision to endorse Atiku was taken, Nwodo said they sent out circulars to everybody, adding that out of the 24 members of NEC, 22 attended while 21 voted in favour of the decision.

  • Ohanaeze goofs by endorsing Atiku, says Kalu

    Former Abia governor, Chief Orji Kalu, has berated the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for endorsing the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Abubakar Atiku.

    Kalu expressed his disappointment with the group on Sunday in an interview with newsmen in his Camp Neya country home in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that the John Nwodo-led executive of the organisation betrayed the people’s trust and exposed the body as being partisan.

    “Ohanaeze is a socio-cultural organisation and so should not be seen to be partisan. What the leadership did by endorsing Atiku was not in the interest of the Igbo nation.

    “The endorsement also did not enjoy the support of the majority of members but may be a committee’s decision,” he said.

    Kalu described the endorsement as wrong and capable of decimating the organisation into two factions, if not rescinded.

    He said: “I was very surprised that Nwodo, whom I have a lot of respect for, could do such a thing because that is not the right thing to do.

    “What they just did implies that we have two Ohanaezes, or we are going to have another organisation in a different name.

    “I will be in consultation with Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra and other people of goodwill to decide what we will do next, we are not going to accept it.

    “These are card-carrying members of PDP, they cannot use Ohanaeze platform to endorse any candidate, it’s not acceptable to us.

    “We want a level playing ground. I expected Ohaneze to be neutral, whoever wins, they should support.

    “I’m not even expecting them to endorse Buhari, we want them to be neutral because neutrality is the hallmark of every independent cultural association,” Kalu said.

    The former governor dismissed the fear that the endorsement would sway the voting pattern in the South-East against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said that South-East APC had begun intensive campaign in churches and communities to showcase the president’s performance in the zone in just barely four years of his administration.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze tarred with the same Afenifere brush

    He further dispelled the speculation that the president hated Ndigbo, saying that Buhari had done for the area what PDP government could not do in their 16 years.

    He cited the ongoing rehabilitation of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and the construction of the second Niger Bridge as some of Buhari’s major projects in the area, to buttress his point.

    He said: “I don’t know why people always say that Buhari hates the Igbos because I know Buhari very well. He is a friend to Ndigbo. Am I not a friend to President Buhari?

    “I know that on February 16, Abia will give him more than 85 per cent of their votes.”

    Kalu, who is the APC candidate in Abia North Senatorial District, expressed great confidence that the party would have landslide victory in all the elections.

    “The party has the antidote against rigging,” he said, adding that the party also had what it would take to win the polls at all levels in 2019.

    “We will never allow anybody to rig us out in Abia again. We shall match them force by force and money for money,” he said.

    He gave assurance that he would pursue the enactment of bills that would help to transform the nation’s economy, create jobs and ensure agricultural revolution in all the states of the federation if elected.

  • Forum hails Ohanaeze Ndigbo for refuting Atiku’s endorsement

    The Zikist-Buharists-Movement (ZBM) has lauded Ohanaeze Ndigbo for refuting the endorsement of the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar.

    A statement yesterday by its Acting Zonal Secretary, Godwin Onwusi, said: “We are happy that Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s leadership has come to terms with realpolitik; unlike in 2015, when they placed all Igbo eggs in one basket.

    “Buhari’s remaining four years is cast on constitutional stone. To the best of our knowledge, Atiku has not pledged to anybody that he will run for only four years.”

    The ZBM maintained that Buhari’s victory would be a win-win-scenario, among which is the golden opportunity his victory provides in the actualisation of Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

    “We regard this index as vital for it shall end the vexatious issue of marginalisation of Ndigbo since the civil war and create a sense of belonging. We are happy with Ohanaeze’s clarification because it is necessary following misconceptions on the November 14, 2018, event, where some spin doctors spread the news that Igbo leadership had endorsed Atiku for 2019 presidential election.

    “Accordingly, we salute Ohanaeze’s leadership for putting the collective interest of Ndigbo to produce Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023, above narrow pecuniary interest. We pray that Ohanaeze should remain steadfast and bear in mind that our voting for Buhari will better enhance Ndigbo alliance with the North. We need the North where Mr. President has a Vote-Bank of 10-12 million voters, as reflected in the 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections. This is the pattern of grand alliance the great Zik of Africa had designed for Ndigbo.”

  • Stronger, more focused Ohanaeze Ndigbo emerging, says Nwodo

    The President-General of Oha Na Eze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nwodo, sad yesterday that the organisation  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 (NAN).

    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.

  • 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.

  • Atiku not our candidate, says Ohanaeze Ndigbo

    A major disagreement has broken out among Igbo leaders on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition.

    Some Igbo leaders met on November 14, last year to “adopt” Atiku, who is running on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

    But the apex Igbo socio-political organisation,  Ohanaeze Ndigbo,  has distanced itself from the alleged endorsement of Atiku for the February 16 election.

    The one-day summit on November 14, last year, in Enugu, endorsed Atiku because of what it called his disposition to restructuring the country if voted into office.

    At the one-day summit, elder statesman Prof. Ben Nwabueze, 86, called on them to “do me the honour of achieving the success of the (Atiku/Peter Obi) ticket before I am gone”.

    “We must ensure the survival of the Igbo race in Nigeria and it is only through the success of that ticket that we can get it”, the law professor said.

    Nwabueze, who chaired the meeting, explained that the ticket would “ensure our survival”.

    At the meeting were: Ambassador George Obiozor, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Ohanaeze President Chief Nnia Nwodo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Prof ABC Nwosu, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Theodore Orji, Senator Ben Obi and Chief Achike Udenwa.

    Also there were Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Chief Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Chief Garry Igariwey, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, Prof Osita Ogbu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku, Prof Walter Ofonagoro and Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa.

    There were also Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Commodore James Aneke (retd), Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, Prof Uzodinma Nwala, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Air Comdr Allison Madueke (retd), Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Prof. Anya O. Anya and Prof Chudi Uwazurike, among others.

    In a five-point resolution issued at the end of the summit, with the theme “Ndigbo 2019 and Beyond”, read by Agbakoba, the leaders said the position was based on the restructuring agenda put on the table by Atiku/Obi, which four zones of the country had agreed on.

    The resolution states in part:  “We identify with the Atiku/Peter Obi ticket on the restructuring agenda as has been reiterated by four zones of the country, namely: Southsouth, Southwest, Northcentral and Southeast. We believe that as long as the federating units remain weak the centre will continue to be weak. We equally move to appreciate the position of the Atiku/Obi ticket in promoting national unity.”

    In its reaction to the purported endorsement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Atiku and his co-travellers in the PDP have become shameless by trying to fool an entire nation to support her in spite of her several years of misrule.

    National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said the ruling party remained confident that a discredited party like the PDP would be confined to the dustbin of history by the Igbo’s.

    “The APC considers Atiku and his PDP co-travellers as people who have lost any sense of shame. The purported endorsement of Atiku and PDP by some leaders of the South East for the 2019 general elections is an affront on the Igbo people who were frontline victims of the 16 years of the PDP misrule.

    “It will be interesting to know what the PDP will be telling the Igbo people during the campaign. The South East people have three and half years of visible progress in terms of massive infrastructure and the thousands of common people who are benefiting from the social investment programmes under APC to compare to the PDP’s 16 years of retrogression.

    “We in APC are confident that the Igbo won’t be fooled by any group, by whatever name, to sell a thoroughly discredited party like the PDP to the very discerning Igbo people”, he said.

    The meeting was attended by the PDP leadership, including Atiku, his running mate Peter Obi, Senate President Bukola Saraki and others.

    But the group clarified its position yesterday through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary Chuks Ibegbu at a news conference in Enugu.

    It was at the second anniversary of the incumbent Ohanaeze executive led by Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

    Ibegbu said the clarification became necessary following misconceptions of the event, adding that the said endorsement was done by the friends of Atiku, insisting that the organisation had not endorsed any particular candidate.

    He said that Ohanaeze needed to be circumspect, “as our children are in all the political parties”.

    Ibegbu said: “It is erroneous to say that we endorsed Atiku. Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not endorse anybody. That meeting at Nike Lake Resort was organised by friends of Atiku.

    The group’s spokesman said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been canvassing for our people to identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power.

    “We still stand on that and in the next few days, we shall meet to take a holistic position on the elections. However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power.”

    On the achievements of the group in office, he said: “Within these two years, we have given our modest contribution to the re-jigging of Igbo leadership and leveraging of Igbo issues in Nigeria.

    “Some of our modest achievements serially include: The restoration of the dignity of the Igbo race in Nigeria and across the globe, the building of bridges with other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

    “The initiation and pursuit of the restructuring of Nigeria, a position that has now become a national mantra; the promotion of Igbo language culture and heritage

    “The establishment and promotion of Ohanaeze Ndigbo activities at local, state, national and diaspora levels.

    “The diplomatic and deft handling of such explosive issues as ‘Quit Notice’ to Ndigbo by Northern Youths, the pro-Biafra agitation, the Fulani Herdsmen/Farmers crisis in Igbo land, the Operation Python Dance issue and many other threatening issues that would have snowballed to a national disaster.

    “This leadership was able to build synergy with its affiliate groups like IDA, IWA, WIC, Aka Ikenga, Izu-Umunna, Njiko Umunna, Igbo Media Forum and other Igbo organisations to leverage Igbo Unity and development.

    “This leadership encouraged unity and synergy among Igbo Governors and political actors for the overall interest of Ndigbo.

    “This regime has put in place a formidable Youth and Women Wings for the organisation.

    “We want to thank the media for your support and assure Ndigbo that we shall in the rest of our remaining two years, do our best to give Ndigbo a committed leadership.

    “The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Barr. John Nnia Nwodo, thank the media, our fraternal brothers, associations and organisations, our affiliate bodies, youths, women, students, governors, political leaders and all Nigerians and wish all a happy New Year and hitch-free election 2019.”

    Ibegbu noted that within the two years in office of the Nwodo led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, “we have given our modest contribution by re-jigging Igbo leadership and issues concerning our people”

    He said the leadership of the organisation had built synergy with its affiliate groups with a view to achieving unity in among the neighbours.

  • Ndigbo to negotiate with other nationalities

    Ndigbo have said there seems to be a scheme to exclude them from the Nigeria political equation, but they also stressed the need to negotiate with other interest groups, ethnic nationalities to create an enabling political structure, if they will remain relevant in the country.

    The group made the submission at the Igbo National Stakeholders Assembly (INSA) Summit and Prestigious Awards 2018 in Lagos with the theme, “Ositadinma”.

    Chief John Uche, INSA Convener and first president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos, said the time had come for Ndigbo to make conscious effort to ensure that they are not undermined politically.

    He said, “Election is around the corner, a lot of people are jostling for political offices, making coalitions for political relevance. But Ndigbo appear to be complacent about the issue of the moment.

    “We are here to tell them that we have suffered in the last four years and the next four years, we do not want to suffer again. Our businesses collapsed, we were excluded from the scheme of things, no key appointments by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Uche maintained that there would be need for Ndigbo to negotiate their votes, adding that any political party that would ask for the Igbo votes must negotiate with them appropriately, pointing out that the condition would also include assent to call for restructuring Nigeria, even as he agreed that they had not entered into any agreement yet with any political party.

    The keynote speaker Mr James Ezike, a lawyer, who was represented by Okey Onuakalusi, lamented that it was 40 years ago that an Igbo man, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, attained the highest political office of vice president, while further attempt by him (Ekwueme) in 1999 at the Presidency failed because of political conspiracy.

    He said there seemed to be a political conspiracy to exclude an Igbo man in the nation’s political equation, stressing that power is never donated or given, but asserted, adding that if Ndigbo want any political position, they must prepare for it.

    He maintained that the task before Ndigbo would be to raise their political consciousness, where the interest of the people would be promoted above personal and egoistic interest.

    Speaking through the vice president of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Lagos, Vitus Uzoh, the socio-cultural organisation made its position on 2019 election clear, saying that candidates that were not credible should withdraw from the elections.

    It pointed out that the body had been able to sensitise its members adequately on the need for full participation in the elections by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote for only credible candidates of their choice, even as it appealed for a peaceful general elections.

  • Ohaneze, Afenifere leaders parley in Owerri

    Leaders of apex Igbo and Yoruba socio-cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere on Monday night met in Owerri, the Imo State capital to forge national unity and peaceful coexistence.

    The groups were led by the respective National Presidents, Chiefs Nnia Nwodo and Ayo Adebanjo.

    Other prominent Igbo sons and daughters were also in attendance.

    Receiving the entourage at the Government House, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha charged the Ohaneze leaders to “take the needed steps to ensure that the rest of Nigerians see Ndigbo as part and parcel of them”.

    He added that “until other Nigerians begin to come to Igboland to invest like the Igbo do in other parts of Nigeria, the gap will continue to exist”.

    According to him, “Ohanaeze is a socio-cultural organisation like Afenifere and Arewa. Ohanaeze could relate and marry these organisations and use them to launch the campaign that would truly make other parts of Nigeria to see Igbos as fellow Nigerians in whom they should be well pleased.

    “We are highly misunderstood and until you come to an Igboman’s house you will not know how hospitable he is.”

    Nwodo said: “Ohanaeze is interested in seeing how our people who are in government have fared. We owe it to our people to tell them who has done well and who has not.

    “We can rightfully say that Owelle Rochas Okorocha has done very well in the area of infrastructural transformation of Imo State as Imo has changed greatly and is now appealing to foreign investors.

    “Rochas Foundation during the government of Chief Igariwe promised to build headquarters for Ohanaeze.

    “One would have thought it was a political statement, and sometimes such promises are not fulfilled but not for a man like Governor Okorocha.

    “As I speak to you now, that headquarters is already roofed, tiles have been erected, doors are been fitted.

    “Only three weeks, he removed the roofs of our hall and redesigned the hall. Right now he is giving us a fence better than that of Government House of Imo.

    “Governor Rochas has a very large heart. It will go on record that no Igbo leader has been as generous to Ohanaeze as Rochas Okorocha. I seize this moment to thank him.”

     

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo rejects Anozie as Oyo Ezeigbo

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has urged Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, security agencies and the public not to accord Chief Alex Anozie the position of Ezeigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State.

    The organisation sent a letter, dated December 3, on its position to the governor.

    It copied the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Commissioner of Police, the State Director of Directorate of State Services (DSS), the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, among others.

    The letter, titled: Affirmation of a new executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oyo State Branch, was signed by its Secretary-General Uche Okwukwu.

    Ohanaeze said it took the decision at its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Enugu.

    The organisation said it was displeased with what it called the purported claim and misrepresentation by Anozie as the head of the Igbo in Oyo State.

    It stated that it only recognised the executive of the state branch of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ndubuisi Okorie.

  • Group seeks presidential pardon for Kanu, IPOB

    Following reports on Friday claiming that Nnamddi Kanu was sighted in far away Israel, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide led by Mr Okechukwu Isiguzoron has expressed happiness over news of the sighting.

    A statement by the Deputy President General of the group, Comrade Obinna Achionye also urged the Federal Government to grant  Kanu pardon to enable him return home.

    “We Urge President Buhari to grant him Presidential pardon and squash all legal proceedings against in the spirit of National reconciliation and forgiveness”, said the group.

    Ohaneze youths noted that if the Federal government can release boko haram detainees in Kano and planning to give Amnesty to Boko Haram, the same gesture should be extended to IPOB and Mr Kanu.

    “They should reverse the tag of IPOB as a terrorist organization and allow peace to reign”

    The group also urged IPOB followers not to go to the street now in the spirit of jubilation in other not to create political tension in the South East and South/south.

    Read Also: Atiku’s campaign council: Umahi denies rejecting appointment

    “We Urge the South East Governors to close ranks and rebuild the palace of Nnamdi Kanu’s father, HRH Eze I. Kanu which was destroyed during the Python dance.

    “We also ask the leader , Nnamdi Kanu to change strategy and embrace the hands of genuine Igbo brothers and leaders. We still ask IPOB to have rethink on its decision of proscribing the parent body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and disruption of Ohanaeze events and gathering”

    The group promised to lead any struggle to ensure self determination is not tagged terrorism, and ensure there is peaceful co-existence between all stakeholders in Southeast.