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Tag: Ohanaeze

  • Ohanaeze calls on South Africans stop mindless killing of Nigerians

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chuks Ibegbu has called on the people of South Africa to stop the mindless killing of Nigerians in their country.

    The group expressed alarm at the rate Nigerians in that land are being felled by Xenophobics and wondered why South Africans have easily forgotten the role Nigerians played in their Independence.

    The deputy publicity secretary, Chuks Ibegbu in a statement said besside, several South African citizens and companies are doing their business unmolested in Nigeria.

    Ibegbu called on South African government to do something urgently about it .

    He also called on Nigerian government to engage its South African counterpart on this very serious matter. “No single South African has lost his or her life in Nigeria.”

    He called on elders of South African to teach their youths history of their country and the role of Nigeria in their independence struggle.

    He appealed to Nigeiran government to make life worthy of living here so that our men and women would not be dying like chicken in foreign lands.

    The Ohanaeze spokesman lambasted politicians for stealing our commonwealth and our legislators for alloting huge salaries to themselves without doing any commensurate work thus arrogating to themselves monies that would be used to develop our  country and make life better for our people.

    Ibegbu called for the  abrogation of security votes to political office holders and immunity clause covering them.

    Finally Ibegbu appealed to youths of South Africa to see all Africans as their brothers while calling on Nigerians and other Africans that commit crime in the country to stop it.

     

     

  • Ohanaeze to investigate ownership of oil blocks in Niger Delta

    Apex pan Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it would investigate the ownership of all Oil blocks in Niger Delta with a view to ensuring that no part of the country dominates the sector.

    It said it would also collect data on all positions and their distributions in all federal ministries, agencies and parastatals with a view to ensuring fair distribution to all parts of the country.

    The deputy publicity secretary of the group, Chuks Ibegbu who signed a statement on behalf of the group advised the Federal Character Commission to ensure fair representation of all sections of the country in the country’s commonwealth without sacrificing merit.

    The group lauded the recent court ruling for a uniform cut off point in tertiary schools and federal government colleges admission.

    Ohaneaze regretted that the unjust disparity hitherto has wrought unfair hardship on students seeking admission to federal institutions from the South East in particular and the South in general.

    On the issue of Senate Presidency or Speakership of the Federal House now raging on, Ohanaeze noted that what Ndigbo needed most is restructuring of Nigeria and not who occupies what position which only benefits the occupant as in the past.

    “We are not much interested in positions now but what our people, the common Igbo masses will benefit from the country in its entirety,” the group insisted.

    It noted that Ohanaeze leadership will meet very soon to take stock of the last elections and react appropriately, warning anybody purporting to speak on the issue on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to desist from doing so.

  • Ohanaeze Southwest greets Ikpeazu on victory

    Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Southwest Prince Erondu Uche has congratulated Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on his victory at the election.

    Uche, in a statement, said: “I greet Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on his victory at the polls. Your victory is an indication that the people love you and are happy with your administration.

    “I encourage you to continue with the ongoing projects, and ensure their completion before the end of your tenure. I thank all Abians who participated in the election, either as candidates or electorate, and I advice all to do away with individual and party differences to support the present administration for the betterment of the state.

    “Your Excellency sir, the end of a journey is better than its beginning, you would have written your name in gold when you end well. Identify the little foxes that spoil the vine and keep sycophants at arm’s length.”

  • Ohanaeze youths to governors: don’t renege on your promises

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing has congratulated governors-elect in the Southeast on their victory.

    The group, in a statement by the president, Arthur Uchenna-Obiorah, urged the governors-elect to fulfil their campaign promises, particularly in accommodating the youths in governance.

    It also called on losers to accept the outcome in good faith and avoid unnecessary litigations.

    The statement reads: “We congratulate governors of the Southeast states – Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Okowa (Okowa) and David Umahi (Ebonyi) on their victory. The governors-elect should give more political appointments to the youths because they are the bedrock of meaningful development in any promising society.

    “Those who lost should not to go into unnecessary litigations, but see the outcome as a true reflection of the people’s political decision.”

    Uchenna-Obiorah was however worried about the declaration of governorship election in six states as inconclusive. He was particularly concerned about Rivers State, and called for proper investigation of the roles of some security agents in the election.

    He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to follow due process in concluding all inconclusive elections.

  • Let’s accept results, Ohaneze Ndigbo urges Nigerians

    The Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the Presidential Election of Feb. 23 and also urged politicians and international community to accept the result.

    President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared re-elected by INEC on Wednesday, having polled 15,191,847 votes, winning in 19 states.

    Buhari defeated 72 other candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 11,255,978 votes and won 17 states and the FCT, to occupy the second position.

    The Secretary General of the group, Chief Uche Okwukwu, gave the congratulatory message while briefing newsmen in Enugu.

    “The Ohaneze Ndigbo heartily rejoices and congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential polls on Feb. 23.

    “His victory as exposed by the majority of votes cast has clearly shown that the President has been on the right course in the last four years.

    “Ndigbo are deeply happy that Mr President secured more votes in Igbo land than he got in 2015.

    “We urge all Nigerians and the international community to accept the verdict as the election was adjudged free, credible, transparent and peaceful.

    “Ohanaze is calling on all not to heat up the polity through unguarded utterances and actions,’’ he said.

    Okwukwu added that the leadership of the group would be meeting with President Buhari next week to present to him official congratulatory message on his well-deserved victory at the poll.

    He, however, said that the group would use the occasion to present to Buhari the charter of their demands for infrastructure uplift of the entire Igbo speaking areas of the country.

    “Part of our demands will be the completion of ongoing infrastructure works such as the 2nd Niger Bridge, modern railway, completion of ongoing Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt roads, fixing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport among others,’’ he said.

    Ohaneze members are drawn from seven states, which include; Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States. (NAN)

  • Ohanaeze: no crisis between Igbo, Yoruba in Lagos

    The Igbo community has no issue with its Yoruba hosts in Lagos State, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze has said.

    The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Solomon Aguene, dismissed reports of tension between the two ethnic groups, describing them as the handiwork of mischief-makers.

    He said insinuation of a deep-seated acrimony and suspicion between the Igbo and the Yoruba on account of political affinities was untrue.

    Aguene told reporters yesterday in Lagos that the Igbo community remains grateful to its Yoruba hosts and will do nothing to alter the mutually beneficial relationship between the two.

    He said: “The Igbo in Lagos are active contributors to the thriving Lagos economy through their individual and collective enterprise and industry, helping to open up new economic and investment corridors in Lagos State.

    “The Yoruba on the other hand have warmly welcomed and received the Igbo, offering access to choice political and economic opportunities.

    “To cement this very cordial relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba, sons and daughters of Igboland over the years have been appointed or elected to enviable positions of leadership in Lagos.”

    Aguene said although there were pockets of skirmishes during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in some parts of the state, especially at Okota, they had nothing to do with the cordial relationship the Igbo had enjoyed over the years from their Yoruba host communities.

    Describing the Yoruba as the best friend of the Ndigbo in Lagos and beyond, he advised Ndigbo residents in Lagos and their host communities not to allow some mischievous elements to destroy the long standing friendship between them.

    Another chieftain of the group, Chief Ogbonna, said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, being the umbrella body of Ndigbo, has met constituted authorities in the state, and has received assurance that no such crisis exists.

    “We, therefore, call on citizens to remain law-abiding and respect constituted authorities. We urge them to go about their activities while we iron out the grey areas, including the immediate and remote causes of the alleged breach of public peace and possible solutions to prevent reoccurrence,” he said.

    Ogbonna implored politicians and government authorities to address noticeable gaps and trust deficits leading to ethnic disharmony in Lagos.

    “We call on the Lagos State Government, National Orientation Agency, politicians and other stakeholders to do more in terms of orientation, to help douse inter-ethnic rivalry, jealousy and mistrust,” he said.

    National leader of the People of South East Region (POSER) Obuesi Phillips said most often the people creating the crisis were not from the Southeast.

    He added that Ohanaeze and POSER have been advocating a peaceful co-existence between Igbo residents in Lagos and their Yoruba host communities.

    Obuesi thanked the Afenifere leadership for their fatherly role in nipping the challenge in the bud and praised the police for their swift response to prevent crisis in Lagos.

    He said the Igbo have pledged to work for the development of Lagos State.

  • Ohanaeze: no crisis between Igbos, Yorubas in Lagos

    The Igbo community has no issues whatever with its Yoruba hosts in Lagos State, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze has declared.

    President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, Chief Solomon Aguene, dismissed reports of tension between the two ethnic groups, describing them as handiworks of mischief-makers.

    He said insinuations of a deep-seated acrimony and suspicion between Igbos and Yorubas on the account of political affinities were untrue.

    Aguene told reporters on Wednesday in Lagos that the Igbo community remains grateful to its Yoruba hosts and will do nothing to alter the mutually beneficial relationship between the two.

    According to him: “The Igbos in Lagos are active contributors to the thriving Lagos economy through their individual and collective enterprise and industry helping to open up new economic and investment corridors in Lagos State.

    “The Yorubas on the other hand have warmly welcomed and received the Igbos offering access to choice political and economic opportunities.

    “To cement this very cordial relationship between the Igbos and the Yorubas, sons and daughters of Igboland over the years have been appointed or elected to enviable positions of leadership here in Lagos.”

    He said though there were pockets of skirmishes during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in some parts of the state, especially in Okota, they had nothing to do with the cordial relationship the Igbos have enjoyed over the years from their Yoruba host communities.

    While describing the Yoruba people as the best friend of the Ndigbo in Lagos and beyond, he advised Ndigbo residents in Lagos and their host communities not to allow some mischievous elements to destroy the long standing friendship between them.

    Chief Ogbona said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, being the umbrella body of Ndigbos, has met with constituted authorities in the state, and has received the assurance that no such crisis exist.

    Read Also; Ohanaeze warns against manipulating results in South East

    “We therefore call on all citizens to remain law abiding, and respecting constituted authorities, we urge them to go about their normal businesses while we iron out all the grey areas including the immediate and remote causes of the alleged breach of public peace and possible solutions to prevent reoccurrence,” he stressed.

    He also called on all political actors and government authorities in the state to begin to take steps to address noticeable gaps and trust deficits leading to regular ethnic disharmony in Lagos.

    “We call on the Lagos State Government, the National Orientation Agency, the political actors and other critical stakeholders to do more in terms of orientation to help douse inter-ethnic rivalry, jealousy and mistrust,” he added.

    National leader of the People of south East Region (POSER) Amb. Obuesi Phillips, said most often the people creating the crisis were not from the southeast.

    He added that Ohanaeze and POSER have been advocating for a peaceful co-existence between Igbo residents in Lagos and their Yoruba host communities.

    He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the AFENIFERE for their fatherly role in nipping the challenge in the bud and praised Police authorities for the swift response to the very ugly incident, he alleged was engineered to taint the already existing cordial relationship between the Igbos and the Yorubas in Lagos.
    He said the Igbos in Lagos have pledged to continue to work assiduously for the advancement of the Centre of Excellence.

  • Ohanaeze, Afenifere, Southsouth groups endorse Buhari

    LEADERS of ethnic socio-cultural groups yesterday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term, urging Nigerians to vote for him in the Saturday election.

    “We hereby endorse President Muhammadu Buhari as the consensus candidate of our coalition and without any fear of contradiction, we state that he will win the presidential election overwhelmingly on February 16,” the group said.

    The groups are Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Middle Belt Coalition of Progressives (MCOP), Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) and Niger Delta Alliance for Justice.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary Uche Okwukwu, a lawyer, who addressed reporters in Lagos on behalf of the coalition, called on the international community to respect the will of Nigerians as they exercise their freewill.

    He said the outcome of the poll is important to Nigeria and the rest of the world, adding that it has a particular implication for the stability of Africa.

    Okwukwu said the importance has made it compelling for the country to organise a peaceful, free, transparent, credible and violence-free election.

    Lamenting that the conservative People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ruined the economy through corrupt practices for 16 years, he said its legacies are the widening gap between the rich and the poor, frustration, social dislocation and unemployment.

    He said: “We must prevent the return of our country to the inglorious years of reckless corruption and unbridled rape of public resources. Nigeria should not return to the dark era of brigandage.”

    Okwukwu described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party of change, adding that its leaders, including President Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have exhibited courage in the face of political tribulations.

  • Ohanaeze Southwest supports Atiku/Obi endorsement

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Southwest has supported the group’s President-General, Nnia Nwodo, on the group’s endorsement of the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi presidential ticket.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Prince Erondu Uche, reads: “Nwodo is a byword of patriotism, and his likes in Igbo land are few. He has written his name in gold by speaking the mind of Ndigbo. The endorsement of Atiku/Obi by Ohanaeze has shown that there is hope for the Igbo nation.

    “Two years ago, when he took over the mantle of leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, many thought he would not overcome the intimidating challenges. The Nnia Nwodo-led administration came on board when Igbo needed an outspoken, fearless and transparent leader. With his performance so far, many who thought he would have failed the Igbo nation have seen that he is God-sent.

    “Those calling Nwodo names are sycophants who mortgage the future of our children for their selfish interest. The last time Igbo got close to power was in 1983, when the late Alex Ekwueme was the Vice President. It can only take a compromised Igbo fellow to vainly work against the candidature of Atiku/Obi. Igbo know what is good for them.

    “A time has come when all Igbo at home and abroad would come out and support our son Peter Obi. Those who thought Ohanaeze does not have the interest of Ndigbo at heart can now judge for themselves. This is the only chance we have to get to power. This is the easiest way to bring development to the neglected Southeast. “Restructuring remains the only way to restore Nigeria’s lost glory, end nepotism, misrule and corruption.”

  • Nwodo expressed personal views in adopting Atiku – Ohanaeze

    …. apologizes to Buhari

     

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Friday apologized to President Muhammadu Buhari for the announced endorsement of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 elections.

    The President General of Ohaneze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, whose tenure was said to have expired, had announced Atiku’s endorsement a fortnight ago.

    But leading the Ohaneze group to the Presidential Villa, the Secretary General, Barrister Uche Okuku, while apologizing to the President, said that Nwodo only expressed his personal views and not that of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze and the 2109 presidential election

    He said that a nine-man panel has already been set up over Nwodo’s pronouncement.

    “Our visit is to declare our stand,” he stated

    Other three groups that expressed support for the President during the visit include World Igbo Congress, World Igbo Union and Ndigbo Delegate covering the 19 Northern States.