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Tag: Ohaneze Ndigbo

  • We did not endorse Atiku, says Ohanaeze

    The apex Igbo socio- cultural organisation , Ohanaeze Ndigbo has distanced itself from the alleged endorsement of the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming election.

    Some Igbo leaders had during a meeting on November 4 last year in Enugu endorsed Atiku.

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

    The clarification came from the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the organisation , Mr Chuks Ibegbu yesterday in Enugu at a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of the current executive of the organisation

    Ibegbu said that 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.

    Read Also: Fayemi denies plot to frustrate Atiku’s campaign in Ekiti

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

    “ 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.

    “However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power, ” he said.

    He said that the organisation would soon meet to take a holistic position on the 2019 general elections.

    “ Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been canvassing for our people to identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria .

    “ We still stand on that and in the next few days we shall meet to take a holistic position on the elections , ” he said .

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

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

  • ‘Only Igbos can deny themselves 2023 Presidency’

    Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress  (APC) and Director General of the Voice of Nigeria,  Osita Okechukwu has said that on the Igbo nation can deprived themselves of the 2023 presidency as they will surely real what they sow if they Vote against President Muhammad Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

    Okechuku who was reacting to the statement of Ohaneze Ndigbo to the effect that 2023 Igbo presidency quest is a plot to hoodwink Ndigbo, said the leadership of the Igbo nation should rather put its house on order and organise themselves in preparation for a 2023 presidency rather than agonizing.

    He said “May I once more appeal to the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo to start organizing for Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023, instead of agonizing. It is surreal for the truism is that equity, natural justice and good conscience is on our side.

    “All we need do as the needful is for the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership to think out of the box, reflect deeply, and dust off ancient stereotypes and prejudices by voting for President Muhammadu Buhari. The realpolitik is that voting Buhari will better galvanize and strengthen our alliance with the North, more than voting for Atiku Abubakar. Buhari has a Vote-Bank of 10-12 million voters, mostly his core followership reflected in his bids in – 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections.

    “Is it not disheartening for the National Publicity Secretary, of Ohaneze Prince Uche Achi-Okpagha to agonize thus?  ”…….. Note that neither President Buhari nor any Northern political stalwart has made a prouncement on the 2023 presidency.  Instead they have allowed some cabinet members of Yoruba’s extraction, including Osinbajo and Fashola, to dissipate energy to the effect that South West would have presidency in 2023. It is an orchestrated plot to hoodwink the people of the two regions in order to elicit their votes”.

    Okechukwu reminded the Ohaneze leadership of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha’s statement that the quickest and easiest means to the presidency for the south east is to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

    He also reminded them that they can short circuit the period in terms of only having him there for another four years and whatever they do in 2019 will determine what will happen thereafter because politics is a game of numbers and it is like a cooperative society.

    He said “Whatever you bring as an investment when dividends are going to be shared, you will get proportionate with your investment and your investment in politics is what you bring to the table and I urge the Southeast to look at this matter seriously that every time we have a presidency in Nigeria, it is negotiated in several ways. Either negotiated by votes or what you bring to the table and you must negotiate from the position of strength”.

    While saying that the South East remain  the only geopolitical zone in the Southern Belt that has not presided over Nigeria from the Aso Villa, since the rotation of president between Northern and Southern Belts commenced in 1999. He said “2023 is our turn, unless we wittingly or unwittingly throw it away.

    “Hence, it is my candid view that with such immeasurable equity, natural justice and good conscience on our side, 2023 president is Ndigbo’s turn; unless Ohaneze continues to agonize instead of organizing. The present rotation convention we mustn’t forget was in the first place, constructed to engender equity, peace and harmony of our dear nation. Let’s harvest it.

    “One therefore appeals to Ohaneze leadership to place the core Igbo interest above partisanship and demagoguery; for the quickest and surest route to end the vexatious issue of marginalization and create a sense of belonging is 2023 president of Igbo extraction”.

  • 2018 Igbo Day: Ohaneze calls for unity

    The Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo has called for unity of purpose among socio-cultural organisations in the country.

    The organisation also said it had worked so hard to build bridges of unity with other cultural units with a view to fostering peaceful co-existence.

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr Chuks Ibegbu, said this on Friday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the activities marking the 2018 Igbo Day celebration.

    Ibegbu said the organisation had used previous editions of the event to raise the consciousness of the people of the region on the need to live in harmony with others.

    He also said the event had helped in improving the cultural heritage of the people.

    The deputy national publicity secretary, however, said it was sad that the 2017 edition could not hold due to certain exigencies that bordered on the security challenges in the region then.

    Read Also: Osinbajo to unveil Igbo Ancestry Museum in Anambra

    “The 2018 event is to be attended by Ndigbo all over the country and beyond as well as our friends.

    “We have also extended invitations to fraternal organisations and ethnic nationalities such as AFENIFERE, AREWA Consultative Forum, PANDEF, Middle-Belt Forum and other groups,” he said.

    Ibegbu said the current leadership of the organisation had done well in building cohesive and all-inclusive bridges among the peoples of Southern Nigeria.

    “People are beginning to understand the need for us to be united and speak with one voice,” Ibegbu said.

    The theme of the 2018 Igbo Day celebration, which will hold in Owerri, Imo State from 17 to 18 December is ‘Igwe Bu Ike,’ which means unity is strength.

  • ‘PDP zoning VP to S/West, S/East will spell doom for party’

    Youth wing of the socio-cultutal group, Ohaneze Ndigbo on Monday condemned alleged plots by the People’s Democracy Party, PDP, to zone the Vice Presidential candidate to either the South-West or South-East.

    The youths warned that such move will spell doom for the party in the South East in next year’s general election vowing that it would be forced into dumping the party and channeling it’s support to any other party.

    Read Also:Crisis rocks PDP over automatic tickets for N/Assembly members

    Ohaneze Youths in a statement by its Deputy President General, Comrade Obinna Achuonye, and spokesman, Alex Osaka described the plot as barbaric and one which it will diligently oppose.

    “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has been drawn to a malicious report and nefarious plot that PDP had concluded plans to zone the Vice Presidency to South West or South-South over the South East quest to occupy the position in 2019.

    “This clandestine plot is barbaric, satanic and will never see the light of the day if it happens to be a reality. OYC insists that The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Uche Secondus should clarify this allegation immediately before Ndigbo especially the Youths take their destiny in our own hands.

    “We wish to remind the originators of this malicious plot against Ndigbo, that Ndigbo had paid their price in PDP since 1999, its morally wrong to return the Vice Presidency to either South West or South-South, after the two political zones had occupied the highest office of the Presidents in 1999 in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and in 2010 in Dr Goodluck Jonathan, leaving Southeast out in the cold.”

    The youth group also described claims that South-East has the least number of voters as a complete falsehood.

    “Those claiming that South-East had the least voters registered should remember that Igbos are everywhere in Nigeria and from our records, In 19 Northern States, we have 12.5million votes and 5Million votes in the South West, and how can you compare South-East with only 5 States with South-West and South-South that had 6 States each?”

    The group urged the PDP to name one of the Governors from the South East as its Vice Presidential candidate.

    “It is also not true that South-East Governors are not interested in funding the party.  Have these Governors not been funding the party in their various states?

    “PDP should name one of these Governors the Vice Presidential candidate and see the massive support they will get across Nigeria.

    “If PDP will pick a newly elected Governor of Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar in 1999 as Vice Presidential candidate to Obasanjo, and also named a newly elected Governor of Bayelsa then in the person of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as the running mate to late Musa Yar’adua, then a sitting Governor of Kaduna to Nnamadi Sambo to Former President Jonathan as his Vice president, then PDP should also pick one the South East Governors as the Vice Presidential candidate in 2019”

    The group while urging the PDP leadership to urgently make clarifications on this issue to put the unease in the zone to rest, warned that its patience should not be taken for foolishness.

    “OYC warns and cautions those fifth columnists in PDP plotting to see PDP into extinction after 2019, never to take the patience of Ndigbo as foolishness and should not push Ndigbo to take political decision that will bury PDP in 2019.

    “OYC led by Isiguzoro will not hesitate to join forces with other Progressives to sink PDP if our sacrifices since 1999 should not be respected. The leadership of PDP should clarify these position before it’s too late,” the group said.

     

     

  • IYC, Igbo group urge members to support pro-restructuring candidates

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) at the weekend appealed to their members to support pro-restructuring candidates irrespective of their political parties in the 2019 general elections. 

    The leaders of the groups, who met at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, specifically urged their members to cast their votes for candidates, whose manifestoes support restructuring.

    The Igbo leaders comprised the South-South Coordinator of OYC, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa; South-South Secretary, OYC, Ogoegbunam Ifeanyi; OYC leaders, Cross River, Remy Agwuzie; Delta State, Chief Chris Ezeukwu; Rivers State, Ezeilo Franklin and Akwa Ibom, Chief Nelson Udeze.

    The Igbo leaders’ delegation later met with the leadership of the IYC, Central Zone, chaired by Mr. Tari Porri.

    Prior to their meeting with Porri’s leadership, the Igbo delegates in a communique signed by Franklin, called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency set up machinery in motion to restructure the country.

    “It has become more strident even as it has been generally agreed by all ethnic nationalities and even the political party at the centre that there is a need to restructure the Nigerian state for better efficiency”, they said.

    The Igbo leaders also asked the multinational companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region in line with the directive of the Presidency.

    Read Also: IYC warns against subversion of democracy

    They said the relocation would enhance harmonious relationship between the oil companies and their host communities and further enthrone mutual trust, respect and peace in the region.

    The leaders emphasized the need for mutual coexistence  between the south-south and the South-East for progress and development.

    In a meeting with Porri, Aurthur-Ugwa, who is also the Bayelsa State President of OYC said the youths were making plans to hold a summit on restructuring.

    Porri in his remarks commended his Igbo counterparts for their position on restructuring saying it was in tandem with the views of the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson.

    He said the youths took a decision to support only pro-restructuring candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

    “We have resolved to have a cordial relationship with the Igbos across the world. Anywhere you see Igbo man and Ijaw man we are friends and brothers. This will further encourage us to be our brothers’ keepers. 

    “We have also reaffirmed our commitment, support and solidarity with our fathers around the world on the resolution that the 2019 general election is a referendum on restructuring.

    “The youth wings of Ijaw nation and Ohaneze have resolved that we are working together to vote for a presidential candidate that believes in the restructuring of this country”, he said.

  • Anti-corruption fight: Group cautions against ethnic interference

    A Non Governmental Organisation, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI) has cautioned against ethnic meddlesomeness in the fight against corruption.

    The Executive Secretary of the group, Chief Dennis Aghanya, gave the caution in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Sunday.

    Aghanya said that the rate at which ethnic and socio-cultural organisations rise to the defence of politicians from their area under investigation for alleged corruption had become worrisome.

    The executive secretary was reacting to recent outbursts by Ohaneze Ndigbo on the ongoing investigation of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    It would be recalled that the EFCC had interrogated Ekweremadu over alleged ownership of no fewer than 60 choice property in and outside Nigeria.

    The assets were suspected to have been acquired through illicit funds.

    The apex Igbo cultural organisation, however, was swift to rise to the defence of Ekweremadu, describing the investigation as unjust.

    “The ethnic dimension given to the ongoing investigation of the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, by the EFCC is worrisome.

    “Most worrisome is the role of Ohaneze Ndigbo which see every prosecution of their own extraction as unjust.”

    Aghanya said that politicians needed to stop using religion and ethnicity to further divide the country or paint security agencies in bad light.

    “Our position is that Ekweremadu should answer to the issues raised by the EFCC over the alleged 60 assets traced to him.

    “He should also stop giving it the colouration of a persecution against Ndigbo.”

    He said that Ohaneze Ndigbo needed to be neutral under the prevailing circumstance rather than sounding clannish.

    “The fight against corruption does not recognise religion or ethnicity and should not be given such colouration.

    “Ekweremadu’s problems are personal and should be treated as such.”

    Aghanya said that the lawmaker needed to help the EFCC in their investigations with a view to proving his innocence or otherwise.

    He said that it was dumbfounding how someone that had no substantial means of income before venturing into politics in 1999 would be linked with such number of property.

    “We wish to commend the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property led by Okoi Obono-Obla for tracing those alleged assets.”

    He said that the EFCC also needed to be commended for the courage to initiate investigations into the allegations as earlier petitions did not see the light of day.

    “We, at ARDI, are determined to follow up this case to ensure that security agencies get to its roots for justice to be served,” Aghanya said.

  • Ndigbo seek unity at Ohaneze rally

    Unity was the battle cry as the Lagos chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo inaugurated its new executive committee.

    Following an election in April, a new crop of leaders was sworn in at the National Theatre Iganmu, Lagos, where the Igbo were urged to come together and speak with one voice.

    Dignitaries who graced the event included former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; former Vice President of Nigeria, Ebitu Ukiwe; former minister of Information and Culture, Walter Ofonagoro; Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Real Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (Retd), and Yinka Odumakin, among others.

    Chief Ogbonna Aguene Solomon won the election and was sworn in as president after securing 401 votes against Tony Nwakaeze who got 201 votes.

    Mr Fredson Chijioke Okoli (SAN) who administered the oath, stressed the need for executives to discharge their duties in accordance with the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos and the overall constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo nationwide and to avoid conflicts with the constitution.

    The inauguration also included officials of various Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas, women leaders, youth leaders and state executives.

    Chairman, Electoral Committee, Chief Agunze Ikokwu said the election has shown that a lot could be achieved with the unity of the Igbos.

    “Even in a multi-lingual and cultural country like Nigeria, we can achieve unity amongst the Igbos. Hence, the new executives have been sworn to uphold the tenets and value of the Igbo community and they would be held accountable for their efforts,” he said.

    Mimiko said the Igbos have conducted themselves well even in light of the controversy which has rocked the Lagos faction of the group.

    A restructured Nigeria, he said, is possible if all socio-cultural groups are united.

    President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo nationwide and in the diaspora, Chief Nnia Nwodo said: “This election has brought peace to the affairs of Ndigbo in Lagos. The baton of leadership has been passed to Chief Solomon and his team and they have been saddled with the responsibility to pilot the affairs of the group.”

    In his acceptance speech, President-elect, Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos, and art collector, Chief Solomon said the support of all the factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos has made the event a historical one.

    “We also appreciate the support of Ndi-Yoruba who have always stood by us. As we have been voted to coordinate the affairs of Igbo people in Lagos, we pray for continued support and prayers of everyone,” he said.

  • Ohaneze youth wing does not exist – Attamah

    Ohaneze Ndigbo has called on Nigerians to disregard statements by one Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Okwu Nnabuike claiming to be president and secretary of the youth wing of the association.

    The special adviser to the President-General of Ohaneze, Chief Emeka Attamah, in a release in Enugu dismissed a claim by the two that they were officials of Ohaneze  youth wing.

    Attamah said the group would not join issues with the two men but needed to clear some misrepresentations that they made.

    He said the men, in search of cheap popularity, cast aspersions on the person of the President- General, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

    Attamah said that the youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo was dissolved in 2016 by Ime-Obi led National Executive Council, while the tenure of the women wing expired in 2017.

    He said the so-called youth wing executive did not exist as the new executives for both the youth and women wings would soon be elected.

    He said the National Executive of Ohaneze Ndigbo existed at the instance of the General Assembly, which had demonstrated confidence on the executive committee led by Nwodo.

    Attamah added that Nwodo had continued to enjoy the confidence of the National Executive Council of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

    He said the president-general was the only member among the executive prohibited by the constitution from participating in party politics.

    He said it was preposterous to imagine that Nwodo could romance with any political aspirant, let alone determine his choice of a running mate.

    Attamah said that associating Nwodo with politics could only be the handiwork of some politicians.

    NAN

  • We’ll resist attempts to discredit Ekweremadu – Ohaneze

    Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, said it would resist any attempt to discredit Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.
    President-General of the group, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in a statement on Thursday, in Enugu, said it was preposterous for the Federal Government to be carrying out unwarranted inquisition into Ekweremadu’s life.
    He said that the allegation that Ekweremadu, the highest ranking Igbo politician in the country, embezzled public funds without any prima facie case was inappropriate.
    Nwodo stated that the idea of asking the Senator to defend himself instead of his accusers showing how he fraudulently enriched himself, amounted to turning the law upside down.
    He observed that Ekweremadu was a revered Igbo son and had attracted a lot of development to his area without any previous accusation of embezzlement.
    “Sen. Ekweremadu is a revered Igbo son whose public image is very high and who has attracted a lot of development to his area; he has never occupied any public office where he was accused of embezzlement.”
    The president-general queried the system of investigation where one was tried for simply belonging to a political party “and is exonerated of an offence he committed for belonging to a political party or being in government’’.

    Read Also: Ekweremadu: Reps tackle special presidential panel

    He cited examples of former and serving military officers who had been let off the hook either through plea bargain or for just changing from one political party to another.
    He also said that a former governor of Enugu State whose property was under investigation was now dining with the Head of State after dumping his former party for the ruling party.
    Nwodo warned that the apex Igbo group would no longer fold it arms while Igbo sons were being systematically singled out for persecution in a country they had contributed so much to build.
    He observed that the cautionary statement by Ekweremadu had been and was still being echoed by many prominent Nigerians and wondered why his case would be different.
    He said that it was such selective justice and marginalization of Ndigbo that fuelled agitations by their young ones for self-determination, adding that restructuring was a first step toward assuaging the situation.

    NAN

  • Jonathan, governors, Niger Delta leaders for restructuring rally

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, South-South governors and other Niger Delta leaders will on Saturday lead a mega rally to call for restructuring.

    The rally organised by Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has been scheduled to hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    It was learnt that PANDEF with the rally tagged, “Restructuring the Nigerian Federation,” would insist that the country should be restructured before the 2019 general election.

    A statement signed by Chairman Publicity of the rally, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said prominent leaders such as Chief A.K. Horsfall and His Eminence, King Edmund Daukoru, the Amayanabo of Nembe, would lead the rally.

    Okorotie also said former President Jonathan, the six South-South governors and all former governors of the South-South, serving and former ministers, chairmen and members of boards and parastatals would grace the occasion.

    Others are all the current and former National Assembly members, all current and former Speakers and members of Houses of Assembly of the South-South.

    The statement also urged Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Assembly, Middle Belt Forum, the clergy, traditional rulers, leaders and elders from across the nation, youth, women groups and the general public to attend the South-South rally.

    He said: “The governors, former president Jonathan, PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, some eminent Nigerians and leaders of ethnic nationalities, civil society groups are expected to deliver speeches at the rally.

    “Fellow Nigerians; let’s restructure now, tomorrow may be too late. A restructured Nigeria will guarantee a free, fair, egalitarian, united, peaceful and prosperous nation where everybody, irrespective of region, religion, creed and status will be happy.

    “We intend to use the rally to rally support for restructuring of Nigeria. The 2019 general election is a referendum on Restructuring.

    “We the people of Niger Delta/ South-South want the Nigerian federation to be restructured to enthrone true federalism before the 2019 general election and it is doable, all that is required is a political will on the part of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Read Also: Jonathan, IBB, Shagari absent at Council of State meeting