The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ohaneze Ndigbo

  • Ohanaeze applauds FG on agric initiatives

    The President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has applauded the agricultural initiatives of the Federal Government saying they are yielding positive results in Igbo speaking states.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural organisation of Igbo speaking states in Nigeria.

    Addressing newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, Nwodo contended that with the implementation of the initiatives, the federal government had taken the best move to take the people out of recession.

    He said that the various agricultural schemes embarked by the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were a huge success.

    The Ohanaeze chieftain said that the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, should be commended for the intervention of the apex bank in various empowerment programmes aimed at stimulating the economy.

    Nwodo said: “we want to use this opportunity to salute the governor of the Central Bank.

    “This gentleman has had one of the most difficult challenges that have faced any governor of the CBN.

    “What he has done lately in terms of fighting the value of the naira is most commendable.

    “His programmes at assisting agriculture have impacted positively on the sector.

    “It is working in Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra and it is beginning to work in Enugu state and we are immensely grateful to him.

    “We encourage him to continue to work in this way to ensure that the ordinary people in Nigeria can bounce back as this recession continues to recede in its calamitously effect on our standard of living.”

    Nwodo said that the achievements of the government in the petroleum sector should not be overlooked as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had been reinvigorated.

    He said that the achievements recorded in the NNPC during the tenure of Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum and Managing Director were outstanding.

    “Since the NNPC was incorporated, no minister or managing director has ever put the corporation on public portal.

    “But by the click of the mouse, when our son was there, you could tell how much came into NNPC every day and how much was spent.

    “For the first time, petroleum subsidy was removed without the economy collapsing,” he said.

    The Ohaneze president appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and rehabilitate the Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway which he described as “death trap.’’

    “While we commend the minister of Power, Works and Housing for the work that has started on the Enugu/Onitsha road, we want to draw his attention to the road between Enugu and Port Harcourt.

    “The road is a death trap. It is tortuous and God knows how long it will take to rehabilitate the road especially with all the stops by security men,” he said.

    Nwodo expressed concern that the entire South-East seemed to be under security siege by officers of the armed forces, who he alleged, extort money openly from innocent citizens and road users.

    He said that complaints by the organisation against the brazen impunity of the security agencies on the roads across the zone had remained unattended to.

  • Ohaneze Ndigbo presidency: Group hails Nwodo’s choice

    Ohaneze Ndigbo presidency: Group hails Nwodo’s choice

    A group, the Nsukka Professionals Group, has lauded the South-East and other Igbo speaking states for conceding the Ohaneze Ndigbo presidency to the former Minister of Information, Chief John Nwodo.

    The group, which consists of professionals and business people from the Nsukka cultural zone living at home and in the Diaspora, gave the commendation in a statement signed in Enugu on Friday.

    The statement was signed by the General Secretary and Publicity Secretary of the group, Messrs. Nick Omeye and Dan Ugwuoke, respectively.

    The group applauded the decision affirmed at a recent meeting of Igbo leaders in government and business, as well as traditional rulers, held in Enugu where Nwodo was unanimous selected.

    “We totally endorse the selection of Chief John Nwodo, because of his sterling experience in the public service, his towering intellect and unassailable personal integrity.

    “But more significantly, for his love for Igbos and his total commitment to Ndigbo, their struggles, aspirations, culture and the progress of Igbo nation.

    “At times such as this in the history of our dear nation, Nigeria demands a person with the stature, global acceptability and store of goodwill across its tribal and religious divides and unwavering commitment to the cause of Ndigbo.

    “We are confident that, if given the opportunity and support by the leaders and elders of Ndigbo, Nwodo will inject the much desired new energy, direction and national purpose to the Ohaneze Ndigbo,” the group said.

    NAN reports that Nwodo is a lawyer and economist by educational training.

    He was at different times Special Assistant and Minister of Aviation under former President Shehu Shagari and Minister of Information and Culture under Retired Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar-led administration.

  • Ambode to host world Igbo Day

    Ambode to host world Igbo Day

    The stage is set as the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode hosts world Igbo day in Lagos following the commencement of the celebration in Enugu on Thursday.

    The president of Lagos state chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Fabian Onwughalu said all necessary preparation have been made to mark the world Igbo day celebration taking place in October in a dynamic way as big tycoons such as the governors from Anambra and Enugu state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top dignitaries are expected to grace the occasion.

    Similarly, Onwughalu noted that Ifeanyi Ubah, the former governorship aspirant for Anambra State in 2013 election is expected to be the guest speaker of the day, alongside the president of Coscharis Motors, Dr. Cosmas Maduku is also expected to be there as they have received confirmation to the invitations sent out.

    The event is expected to address both common and internal interest including the celebration and preservation of the Igbo culture and Heritage.

    The president of Ohaneze Ndigbo also said that the Igbos in Lagos are been neglected by the present administration as none of them were considered a member of Ambode’s cabinet despite owning 50 percent of the lands in Lagos, but however pleaded with governor Akinwunmi Ambode to grant certificate of Occupancy to the landlords so as to build their confidence.

    The woman leader of the group, Chidozie Ada Ofoegbu said the women are fully ready for the event as all plans have been made. Part of which include displaying and presentation of various cultural dance steps, presentation of the Kola nut and many other things.

  • Herdsmen: Activists slam Igbo leaders

    Herdsmen: Activists slam Igbo leaders

    Human rights activists in Anambra state  have slammed political leaders of Igbo extraction for allegedly  not rising up to the occasion  following the killing of over 40 people in Nimbo community in Enugu state last Monday.

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, (Ohaneze) is meeting Saturday in Enugu to discuss the matter.

    The South East/South South coordinator of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Elder Chris Eluemunoh, told The Nation Friday in Awka that the Imeobi caucus of Ohaneze would meet to deliberate on the matter before coming out with any resolution.

    Rights activists, Comrade Obi Ochije and Osita Obi praised the presidential directive that the Nimbo culprits be smoked out and prosecuted but said it came a bit late.

    Osita Obi said: “our Governors, ministers have failed their people.They do not deserve the respect of their people any longer, it is a shame that they have become dumb suddenly”

    Anambra State coordinator of Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM), Comrade Obi Ochije said: “the directive is good because we are all Nigerians.

    “The president kept quiet for too long, but now that the directive  has come, it is the duty of the security agencies to be watchful and report to the federal government”

    “The President should use his powers to forestall another war in the country.”

    The Anambra state commissioner of police, Mr. Hosea Karma, said the  command has deployed security operatives in border communities in the state.

    Karma, who is the state chairman of the security committee set up by Governor Willie Obiano, said everything was under control.

     

     

  • Ohaneze begins talks with Presidency, monarchs on Kanu

    Ohaneze begins talks with Presidency, monarchs on Kanu

    The Pan Igbo social- cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, on Friday said it has started talks with the Presidency to ensure the release of Radio Biafra founder, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

    The body also said its leadership will commence discussions with the notable traditional rulers in the country for the same purpose.

    Although the group did not give details of its discussions and Presidency officials it met “for security reasons,” it noted that those consulted assured its representatives that something positive would come out of the consultations very soon.

    Ohaneze told journalists in Abuja on Friday that discussions were already at advanced stage between its leaders and top officials in the Presidency.

    The modus operandi, it said, was to employ political solution to the problem.

    The National President of the group youth wing, Mazi Okechukwu Iziguzoro, who spoke at a news briefing, said notable traditional rulers like the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar;  Ooni of Ife,  Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the monarch of the Bornu Kingdom, had been consulted on the issue.

    Iziguzoro noted that Igbo leaders assured the Presidency and the royal fathers that they were prepared to prevail on Kanu to discontinue the operation of Radio Biafra if he is released.

  • New appointments vindicate Buhari – APC

    New appointments vindicate Buhari – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East geopolitical zone said on Friday that recent appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari is a clear demonstration that the President bears no grudge against any section of the country.

    In a statement issued by its Zonal Spokesman, Osita Okechukwu and made available to journalists in Abuja, the party said the appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Engr. Dennis Ajulu as Group Managing Director and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) respectively vindicated his earlier position that every region of the country under his watch would receive equal and fair treatment.

    He also applauded the enlistment of Enugu Airport among the airports to be upgraded, describing it as a clear indication and demonstration that Mr. President bears no grudge against Ndigbo for not voting for him.

    He recalled that South-East APC had earlier assured the Igbos that President Buhari will not marginalize them for not voting for him and therefore urged Ndigbo to disregard gossip-terrorists and ethnic merchants peddling falsehood that President Buhari hates the Ndigbo.

    “Since I cannot assume to know all the pressing issues facing Ndigbo or what Ndigbo expect of the new Nigeria we wish to build, I would greatly appreciate if you could kindly arrange a consultative meeting with Ohaneze Ndigbo where we could discuss and try to determine how this could best be done.

    “I considered it pertinent to hold consultations with all communities nationwide in order to build a mutually acceptable national consensus. Needless to add, no national consultation will be complete or meaningful without a meeting with the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo.”

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  • Gov’s aide chides Ohaneze Ndigbo over Tinubu

    Gov’s aide chides Ohaneze Ndigbo over Tinubu

    A former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Electronics and Broadcast, Engineer Remi Omowaiye, has chided the Ohanaeze Youth Council over its attack on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Omowaiye, who also condemned the statement credited to the group in its reaction to the invitation of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by the police for alleged forgery of the Senate Rules, warned the Igbo group against being used to tarnish Tinubu’s image.

    According to Omowaiye, it is shameful for the Ohanaeze Youth Council to associate itself with allegation of forgery levelled against Ekweremadu, adding that the group is expected to preach justice, rule of law and campaign against executive lawlessness.

    He warned the OYC against politicising the criminal case and whipping up ethnical sentiments on the matter, arguing that Ekweremadu could not have been invited by the police if, indeed, he had no hand in the forgery allegation.

    Omowaiye called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, not to succumb to the campaign of calumny to discredit the police on the case.

    Omowaiye said: “It is shameful for a group of elites like Ohanaeze Youth Council to associate with criminal allegation, and it is also mischievous for the group to accuse Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of being the man behind the ordeal of Senator Ekweremadu.

    “Asiwaju is the factor in Nigerian politics and the icon of common sense revolution and he could not be wished away no matter the blackmail and conspiracy of detractors.

    Speaking on the forthcoming election to choose the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the APC, Omowaiye urged leaders of the party to unanimously elect Tinubu for the position, stating that he is the most qualified for the exalted position.

     

  • Okonkwo to Igbo delegates: align with Ohaneze on confab

    Okonkwo to Igbo delegates: align with Ohaneze on confab

    The president of Committee 21, an Igbo socio-political group, Senator Annie Okonkwo, has urged Igbo to support the Ohaneze Ndigbo’s position on the National Conference.

    Okonkwo, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Collins Ugwu, said: “Any opportunity for a national jaw-jaw of this dimension is better than war-war. The potency to correct structural and social injustices is best served through dialogue than the violence of warfare. People must appreciate that it is better late than never.

    “I call on Ndigbo of all persuasions to strategically stand behind Ohaneze Ndigbo as our delegates go to the conference to canvass our position and interests, because the Igbo must make a statement that on this very issue of national dialogue, we are one, since the consequences of our collective deprivations as a people is neither discriminatory nor selective.”

    He advised Igbo delegates to the conference: “It will be a lamentable self-inflicted disaster, difficult to forgive, much less forget if the policies and protocols of governance that will shape the future of this country are negotiated without the best of our deepest inputs from our cerebral fountain of knowledge, wisdom and prized attributes.

    “It is therefore of solemn importance that our unvanished reflections, desires and demands are skillfully orchestrated, persuasively canvassed and convincingly articulated with no room for self opportunism or vain grandstanding, because our delegates should never make the mistake of coming home with analogue rating when we clearly have a digital capacity.

    That is why we should go to the confab with competence and character, to optimize our confidence and capacity to seal a fair deal for Ndigbo who certainly will not accept anything less.”

     

  • Ohanaeze raises panel on National Conference

    Ohaneze Ndigbo, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has set up a five-man committee to harmonise the positions of the diverse groups in the area for the impending national conference.

    The committee is headed by the former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo.

    Speaking at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Monday, the President-General of the organisation, Chief Gary Igariwey, said the committee had four days to present its report.

    The president-general said the committee would come up with a document to guide the zone .

    According to him, the final positions of the Igbo for the conference would be released in the next one week.

    He promised full representation of members of other Igbo organisations at the conference.

    “We are here today to rub minds with all the other Igbo major organisations to harmonise on the position for the conference.

    “The idea is to make sure that we have an all inclusive position, so that we can speak with one voice. They have four days to harmonise these positions.

    “Some of the positions are identical. They are just going to fine tune the language. They are going to make sure that when we speak, we will speak with a consensus.

    “Within the next one week, we will call them together again to show them our final presentation. We will still be open to other inputs. We believe in working with all Igbo organisations,” he said.

    On the alleged leadership crisis in Ohanaeze, Igariwey said the organisation had yet to receive any document contesting its leadership.

    “There is no leadership crisis in Ohanaeze. This executive was properly elected for a four-year tenure, attended by past presidents-general.

    “This executive does not have any case in any court in this country,’’ the president-general said.

    The meeting was attended by a one-time governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, traditional rulers and other stakeholders from the zone.

     

  • Conference: ‘Fed Govt won’t interfere’

    Conference: ‘Fed Govt won’t interfere’

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the Federal Government will not interfere in the structures and processes of the proposed National Dialogue.

    Jonathan spoke in Abuja during an audience with leaders of Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Southeast at the Presidential Villa.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the Jonathan administration had left it to Nigerians to determine the framework, content and process of the dialogue.

    He said: “If you listen to the radio, watch television and read on-line, you will realise that Nigerians are talking. We listen and read the commentaries. But all the discussions and ideas need to be harmonised. We must come to a point where we can move in one direction.”

    On the worries expressed in some quarters over the time frame for the dialogue, the President said the process would be completed before the 2015 elections.

    According to him, the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Dialogue will soon present its report to him, having concluded its nationwide consultations.