Tag: Ohanaeze

A former national vice chairman (South East) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, has emerged as the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Chukwu replaces Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu who died on Thursday, July 25, 2024, after a brief illness.

He emerged during the Ime-Obi meeting held in Enugu yesterday.

The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Enugu at the weekend.

The statement reads:”Nze Ozichukwu is to exhaust the Imo State balance of 27 days which ends on January 10, 2025. The emergence of Chukwu is as a result of a chain of catastrophe, which has visited Ohanaeze with the demise of Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, CON in 2022.

“In order to complete the tenure of Imo State, the people of Imo State presented Chief Engr. Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to Imeobi Ohanaeze for the replacement of the Late Obiozor. By the application of a doctrine of necessity, Iwuanyanwu was sworn-in on April 30, 2023. Unfortunately, Chief Iwuanyanwu died on July 25, 2024 and was buried on November 1, 2024.

“It is in line with the doctrine of necessity that the Imo State Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by Barrister C.J Ihemedu presented Nze Ozichukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of four year tenure allotted to Imo State. The motion for the adoption of Nze Ozichukwu was moved by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman Imo Council of Elders and seconded by Chief Simon Okeke (Ochendo).

“In moving the motion, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya stated that Ozichukwu is a cerebral thinker with sterling qualities. He informed the Imeobi that Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu, KSM, KSS is a Nigerian management executive and entrepreneurship development consultant.

Many Imeobi dignitaries welcomed the emergence of Nze Chukwu. Some of them include His Excellency , Barr. Dr. Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of Enugu State, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke, GCON, Prince Garry Igariwey, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, Chief Ejiofor Onyima, Dr. Mrs Kate Ezeofor, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Engr Chike Madueke, Archbishop Prof. E O Chukwuma, Chief Emeka Diwe, Eze Ibe Nwosu, Chief Mike Okiro, Prof Chinedu Nebo, Dr. Uche Uzochukwu, Dr. Pat Onukwuli, Chief Okechukwu Ujah, Ambassador Eddy Onuoha, Dr. Eme Okoro, Dr Ngozi Olejeme, Eze Uche Dimgba, Eze Christopher Offia, Chief Tony Ukasanya etc.

Read Also: Ohanaeze youths unveil plans to boost southeast security, beautify highways

Others include the Presidents of Ohanaeze, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Rivers State.

The President of the Rivers State Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Rivers State, Dr Lucky Ekeji couldn’t withhold his joy that the next President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will come from the Rivers State.

Elated by the development, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuchay MFR, said  “today is phenomenal in the annals of Igbo history,” and thanked the Igbo nation for an unalloyed support throughout the turbulent times.

Most Imeobi members inferred that Ozichukwu is a man of courage, integrity and principles whose stand on any matter is predictable. That he is a moral edifice who detests the mundane hubris in power. The most cherished of the Ozichukwu pedigree is his unassailable astute organisational ability whose records in public service is beyond tarnish even by the most uncharitable.

It is expected that with Ozichukwu, a smooth and credible transition of power to a president general from the Rivers State is guaranteed.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Youth Wing has paid a courtesy visit to the southeast council of traditional rulers, outlining plans to improve security and aesthetics in the region.

During the meeting at the Eze Imo Palace in Owerri, Imo State, the group’s national leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, praised the traditional rulers for their role in uniting Igbos and ensuring security within their domains.

“We count it a great honour to stand before this hallowed chamber and propose our solidarity and loyalty to the Council of Ndi Eze,” Okpalaezeukwu remarked.

He highlighted the challenges of instability, restiveness, and crime in the Southeast, largely driven by youth involvement. 

As a solution, he proposed a “youth to youth” approach to engage young people and steer them away from unlawful activities.

To bolster security during the Yuletide season, the group plans to use its indigenous structure to gather intelligence and clear bushes along key highways. 

Read Also: Ohanaeze Ndigbo: Fresh intrigues over Iwuanyanwu’s successor

Additionally, they proposed an Igbo Youth Peace and Economic Summit to promote peace and economic development within the region.

HRM Eze Dr. Emmanuel C. Okeke, Chairman of the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, expressed gratitude for the group’s consultation and assured them of his support.

Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, encouraged the youths to remain law-abiding and reassured them of the traditional institution’s backing.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed optimism that the National Youth Conference announced by President Bola Tinubu will set the country on a strong path forward.

The sentiment was shared by the group’s Youth Wing Worldwide, led by Acting President General, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 2, in Awka by the national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Youth, Mazi Chika Adiele, the group affirmed its readiness to participate actively in the proposed 30-day conference.

As the top Igbo youth leadership organization in Nigeria and the diaspora, they highlighted that convening a Youth Conference to address key issues affecting Nigerian youths aligns with their ongoing efforts to engage governments and organizations at various levels.

They also expressed satisfaction with the prompt attention given to the proposal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Read Also: Ohanaeze hails security architecture of Southeast governors

“We are also in agreement with the President’s stated modality for nomination of delegates to the conference which leaves it to the representatives of the youths to make such nominations.

“This modality, if strictly adhered to, would ensure that only qualified and experienced youth leaders and stakeholders would participate in this historic conference.

“It is our belief that this conference shall go a long way in resolving various contentions in our national life and put Nigeria on a solid and irreversible path to progress and prosperity.

“Our organisation under the leadership of Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, is therefore committed to cooperating with all relevant organs of government in the Southeast and relevant youth bodies to ensure that Igbo youths are effectively represented at the conference,” Ohanaeze youth said.

…tells Soludo to look into minimum wage of workers

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has commended the security strategies implemented by the governors of Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states, expressing optimism that the insecurity in the southeast will soon be addressed.

The acting national youth leader of Ohanaeze, Nazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, shared this on Monday following an inspection tour of projects by Anambra state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Okpalaezeukwu emphasized that the Ohanaeze youth leadership is working diligently to curb the insecurity plaguing the region.

Speaking in Awka, Anambra State, after a five-day project review, he also urged Governor Soludo to address the state’s minimum wage in line with federal guidelines.

He praised Soludo and other Southeast governors for creating programs that have engaged many youths, contributing to a reduction in unemployment in the region.

The project monitoring by Ohanaeze, according to Okpalaezeukwu, was part of their strategies towards holding political office holders in all Igbo speaking States accountable.

Read Also: Ohanaeze youths commend Tinubu, Kalu on SEDC

“As the apex youth leadership organisation in Igbo land, we consider it a crucial responsibility of ours to regularly monitor developmental programs across Igbo land to have firsthand information on how our elected representatives deploy public resources at their disposal for the benefit or otherwise of Ala Igbo and Ndigbo.

“This exercise is important in helping us design our public enlightenment and mobilisation programs for Igbo youths worldwide.

“We are impressed with the administration’s passion for youth development, as demonstrated through its targeted programs for the youths of Anambra State. Some of these programs include the One Youth, Two Skills programme Phase 1&2 of the administration, which aims to empower our teeming youths with relevant and life-changing skills that could turn them from job applicants to job creators, and from poor, struggling youths, to powerful wealth creators.

“We are happy to confirm that more than 5000 Anambra youths, both indigenes and residents have so far benefited from this program. We are also delighted to learn through our interaction with our brother, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, that the Governor is not resting on his oars in his determination to empower our youths, as he shared other forthcoming youth empowerment programs being designed by this administration, among others,” Ohanaeze said.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has praised former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, for his recent comments addressing the “Igbo-Must-Go” hashtag propagated by some individuals in Lagos State.

In his statement, Obasanjo asserted that “those calling for the Igbo to leave Lagos will be the ones to go,” emphasizing that no one in Nigeria should be expelled from any part of the country, as “we all own this country together.”

Ohanaeze also expressed appreciation for the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, for condemning the divisive rhetoric, noting that their statements offered reassurance to the Igbo community.

In a statement released by its national publicity secretary, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, on Sunday, Ohanaeze expressed deep concern over the “orchestrated ethnic profiling, hate speech, incendiary rhetoric, and the demolition of Igbo properties and livelihoods in Lagos State in recent years.”

“The most recent recrudescence is that the “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholder should prepare for the massive protest of #IgboMustGo on the 20th – 30th of August, 2024. An X handle named ‘LagosPedia’ had recently demanded: “the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other South West states within one month”. The hashtag #Igbomustgo also called on all “the Yoruba living in the Southeast to return to the South West”.

The statement also recalled past events, especially during elections, where some high-profile individuals made inciting remarks that led to Igbos being violently manhandled on the streets of Lagos, while political thugs set their businesses ablaze.

Read Also; Acquiescent National Assembly not helping democracy

It however stated that it is joining millions of patriotic Nigerians and all the members of the civilized community to commend Obasanjo, over his stance on the matter.

It noted that the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, was highly elated by the intervention made by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, describing the Obasanjo dispositions to equity and fairness in all matters affecting Nigeria as very legendary.

“It was Obasanjo who insisted that the presidency of Nigeria should move to the North after his tenure, as a southerner. It was again, Chief Obasanjo who insisted that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan from the Southsouth of Nigeria should become the President of Nigeria.

“When it mattered most, it was Obasanjo who lent full weight that the presidency of Nigeria should go to the Southeast of Nigeria in 2023.

“It was Obasanjo who handed over power to Alh. Shehu Shagari with Dr Alex Ekwueme, an Igbo as a Vice President, nine years after the Nigerian civil war. It was Obasanjo who condemned the persistent aversion to the Igbo, which he described as Igbophobia.

“It was Obasanjo who posited that unless “Nigeria throws its doors open to merit, competence and full inclusion of the Igbo in national affairs, the country will continue to flounder and grope in the dark”.

“The Obasanjo presidency was very blind to ethnicity. The Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Federal Government under Obasanjo were presided by qualified eminent technocrats with track records of accomplishments. All the federal boards were brought to the table and maximum prudence and equity were applied in the distribution to the six geo-political zones of the country. The above qualities and more stand Chief Olusegun Obasanjo out as the conscience of the nation.”

Ohanaeze also commended the Afenifere for living up to expectations by calling on “all Nigerians living legitimately in any part of Yorubaland to entertain no fear about their safety or be afraid of being forced out of the area.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo further commended the press release by the government of Lagos State.

“It is indeed very reassuring. However, it is certain that such reckless, provocative, divisive, investigative, and inflammatory dispositions towards the Igbo in Lagos State, will remain unabated, except of course, there are manifest consequences for such vexatious, unscrupulous loose–cannons and hate-mongers”, it added.

A leadership crisis has hit the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, following the death of its President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

The Secretary-General of the group, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, who hails from Abia State, and the Chairman of the Elders’ Council in Rivers State, Chief Jackson Omenazu, are locked in succession battle.

In the last two weeks, Emuchay has acted as leader of the group and convened its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

However, Omenazu has also  declared himself “Acting  President general,” claiming that he has the right to direct the affairs of the organisation, pending the election of a new leader in January next year.

The late Iwuanyanwu and his predecessor, Ambassador George Obiozor, hailedd from Imo State. According to the group’s laid down rules, Iwuanyanwu’s successor, who will steer the affairs of the group till January next year,  will be picked from Imo.

However, it will be the turn of Rivers State to produce the next president after Imo’s tenure must have expired.

Sources said Omenazu declared his intention to succeed Iwunanyawu, following his nomination by the Rivers State branch and presentation to the National Executive Council (NEC) last year as the Deputy President General.

He was nominated for Deputy President General a year after the death of his predecessor, Rivers State-born Joel Kroham, in 2022.

Read Also; The Message in Retrospect

But, the nomination at the the NEC meeting presided over by Iwunanyawu.last year was not approved because it was not discussed at Ime-Obi due to time constraints.

Omenazu, who spoke with reporters on his ambition, said that it has a legal backing.

He said: “I will take over. By the constitution of Ohanaeze and all organograms of Ohanaeze, I will take over. I am the de facto President General and Acting President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo after the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

“There is no provision for the Secretary-General to takeover.  I am coming to take over so that we can plan the burial of Iwuanyanwu and midwife the procession of our transition next year”.

Omenazu insisted that he was nominated by the Rivers State branch to serve out their turn last year when Kroham passed on.

He the letter of September 21, 2023 which approved his nomination was signed by 17 leaders of the various chapters in Rivers state, including the State President, Chief Lucky Ekeji, adding that it was presented to the NE Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

The letter reads in part: “In a meeting held on 20th September, 2023, we unanimously nominated Chief Jackson N.E Omenazu as our Deputy President General to occupy the Rivers state slot. “We also affirm that this resolution of the said meeting reflects the overall interest, commitment and dedication of all Ohanaeze members in Rivers State to the course of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

“Chief Omenazu Jackson is the Chairman; Elders Council of Ohanaeze Rivers State is hereby nominated to replace our late Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide which is zoned to Rivers state in accordance to the rules and ordinances of our great Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide”.

In the letter, the Rivers chapter urged the NEC to accept his nomination in good faith “believing solemnly that Chief Omenazu Jackson possesses the requisite sine qua non to effectively function in that capacity”.

Emuchay, who spoke on the leadership squabble during the opening of the condolence register for Iwuanyanwu, said “consultations are still ongoing”.

Igbo coming to equity with dirty hands

Omenazu said there was no cogent and verifiable justification for denying Rivers State its pride of place in the organisation other than selfishness, greed and the quest to subdue the chapter by some members.

He said there is a plot to manipulate the organization and instal persons who lack capacity for leadership.

Omenazu wondered why Ohanaeze had to embark on an endless consultation on a matter that solely has to do with Rivers State.

He said: “If you look at the organigram of Ohanaeze, the deputy president general, Chief Kroham, died before the then president general, Prof. Obiozor. We gave time and respect as humans in line with Igbo culture.

“The deputy president general was buried and Obiozor was buried. There was an Ime-Obi meeting. Imo State, on their own, selected who should replace Obiozor without any interference and consultation outside Imo State. And they presented Iwuanyanwu. It was solely an Imo State affair.

“Ime-Obi accepted because it was their turn and it was zoned to them in accordance with the constitution of Ohanaeze.

“In the same vein, the Rivers State chapter met and presented myself to replace the late Deputy President General, Chief Kroham.

“I was in Ime-Obi meeting in Enugu when the Rivers State president of the Ohanaeze went into the President General’s office and presented our nomination. It appeared on Ime-Obi minutes.

“From then on, they blanked out. We never had a meeting. I put a call across the secretary general, whose office it is to have the correspondence and raise it. He said they would look into it”.

Omenazu lamented that Ohanaeze, which has been  decrying marginalization, has become a champion of marginalization.

He stressed: “How can a people come to equity with dirty hands? The reason why our people here from Rivers State are skeptical about our identity is because of this level of domination, which has reared its head in Ohanaeze. 

“I watched them all through since last year, till today, they are happy to run the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo without a deputy president general. So, it is a very sorry situation. I kept quiet because I didn’t want to heat up the system. But it is shame

“I have been the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in both Rivers and Bayelsa states for 10 years. I was instrumental in the land that was used in building the Ohanaeze Ndigbo secretariat in Yenegoa. We tried to encourage our brothers out there. I attend the Imeobi, I attend the General Assembly and I make my contributions.

“The conduct of our elder brothers is shameful and immoral and unacceptable. This are people that are supposed to beckon to their younger ones and say, sit down with us, whatever we see, we take. Their grouse with me is that they say they cannot control me. The Igbo blood does not encourage slavery.”

Omenazu described Iwuanyanwu as mentally alert person who steer the affairs of Ohanaeze with patriotism.

He said because he was physically frail, some members of the group took advantage of his situation to engage in shoddy dealings.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Spokesman Dr Alex Ogbonnia could not be reached on phone as of the time of filing this report while text messages sent via SMS and WhatsApp to him were not responded to.

The Youth Wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo has called on Nigerians participating in the ongoing nationwide protests over the high cost of living to move beyond reactive demonstrations and adopt a more constructive approach to engaging with the government.

In a broadcast on Sunday, August 4, President Bola Tinubu appealed to the protesters to halt their demonstrations, assuring them that his administration was already taking steps to address their concerns and expressing his willingness to engage in dialogue. Despite this, the protests have continued since Monday.

Responding to the situation, acting national youth leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, acknowledged that the protests were driven by the accumulated effects of long-standing maladministration in the country.

However, he urged the people to re-strategise and pursue a more constructive path to secure their demands.

Read Also: Refrain from your protests now, Ohanaeze begs protesters

He emphasised that the blame should not rest solely on the Federal Government, insisting that state governors must also be held accountable.

He said: “After the Civil War, Ndigbo were made the promise of the three ‘R’ which were anticipated to help put the Civil War behind all of us.

“However, that promise was not fulfilled but the Igbos, having reacted through the war, decided to respond with their talents and capacity. 

“Today, the Southeast region and her people are known for their commerce, industry, and enterprise, because the people chose to be more responsive than reactive.

“The protest today is in reaction to the effects of the accumulated maladministration in Nigeria.

“Food insecurity was begotten by insecurity. For years now, our farmers do not go to farms, they do not produce food as usual and it is reflecting in the widespread hunger.

“But I am expecting Nigerians, especially the youths, having reacted through protests for these past days, and the president has come out to address the country, to now converge from reaction to response. Let us respond to our challenges and proffer solutions.

“Imagine the teeming youths that came out for this protest, being channeled to Agriculture and what can be achieved, just like what Gov Umaru Bago is doing in Niger State. It will turn things around, producing more food and addressing the challenge of food insecurity.

“Also, when we all come to blame the Federal Government while nobody is giving attention to the State and Local Governments, then we are not being fair.

“The government in Nigeria has three tiers and we must hold them to account across the tiers. That is why we commend the Federal Government and the State Governors for the LG autonomy which will go a long way to address so many issues ta the grassroots.”

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has commended Ndigbo for shunning the ongoing nationwide protest, describing Nigeria as an “Ogbanje child” that has refused to live with all love around her.

In a statement on Saturday by the National President General, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, the OYC said Ndigbo has become wise with a deep sense of history and will no longer be part of rescuing a country that refused to develop with all natural resources available.

“Nigeria is like an Ogbanje child who keeps dying and coming again, yet still keeps the poor mother childless. It’s meaningless crying for an Ogbanje child who has already chosen to die from the moment of conception,” Igboayaka said.

Read Also: Ohanaeze President-General Iwuanyanwu dies at 82

He described the nationwide protest as a “conspiracy to lure Ndigbo to a field of bloodbath”, and advised any Igbo person living outside Southeast to have a rethink before joining the protest.

Igboayaka also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the adequate protection of lives and properties of Ndigbo living outside Igboland and warned protesters against looting Igbo shops or properties.

The OYC leader said Ndigbo will focus on their political freedom and survival.