… As elders call for interim committee, amended constitution
Uche Okwukwu, who emerged as president of Ohaneze Ndigbo at the Port Harcourt congress two days ago, has insisted that he is the rightful president.
In an exclusive interview with BusinessDay, the immediate past secretary-general of Ohaneze said the convention is that the state zoned to produce the next president will host the congress. In that case, he stated, Rivers State was to produce the next president and thus played host to the congress. The Port Harcourt congress, thus, is the right or legitimate one.
He also said the returning officer was named as Achi Achi and he performed his role. He said the election in Enugu that produced any other person (Azuta-Mbata) allegedly took place in the Enugu State Government House, arguing that Ohaneze is totally different from political party or governors’ offices.
He went on: “Even on moral grounds, what has any of these Rivers candidates said or done when Igbos were persecuted and oppressed? What did they say when Igbos were being massacred in Obigbo (Oyigbo)? What did they say when Igbos were being oppressed in Lagos? Have they even spoken publicly as Igbos, do they openly admit to being Igbo?
“I was called a madman for saying Ikwerre is Igbo. I have said Igbo property seized as abandoned property is wrong. What are their own positions on these things?”
Read also: Ohaneze president: Conflicting signals as Uche Okwukwu, Azuta-Mbata, emerge
He went on: “It is wrong to jump out now that Ohaneze presidency has come to Rivers State. You don’t become Igbo when there is cow to share.”
He said there were many challenges facing the Igbo ethnic nationality and that Ohaneze should be able to articulate robust response to them.
The lawyer-activist said it would be a tragedy for the governors to pocket Ohaneze Ndigbo, saying that the socio-cultural group (Ohaneze) could sometimes take a position contrary to that of a governor. “That is how Ohaneze would earn respect just like Arewa and Afenifere.”
He said most persons believe that it is the weakening of Ohaneze and the dwindling of objectivity and influence of Ohaneze that may have created hunger for leadership in the Igbo masses leading to emergence of liberation groups such as MASSOB, IPOB, BLF, etc, which seem to have snatched followership from Ohaneze. “It is not enough to be called Ohaneze president but the ability to galvanise Igbos and win their trust and confidence. If Hausa people obey an Arewa order, Yorubas harken to an Afenifere order, and if Igbos disregard Ohaneze call, would the Ohaneze have respect in the eyes of the world?”
He reminded the congress that the constitution demands that a new president and executive committee must emerge in same hour that the tenure of previous exco expired, and that this was what happened in Port Harcourt on January 9 to 10, 2025 where he emerged.
Another source said everybody seems to be after money from Igbos in the Diaspora. This they said was also what destroyed all the liberation movements that emanated from Igboland. The source asked those now claiming to be president to show the year they even registered as a member or when they hosted any Ohaneze committee or event.
Some elderly voices cautioned the Igbo nationality against self-inflicted injuries. They suggested that now that two elections have been held and two presidents have emerged, that elders must spring to action to save Ohaneze.
An elder who chose anonymity suggested setting up of an interim committee to manage Ohaneze, amend the constitution, and conduct fresh election on the amended constitution. They warned that this is the best way in the face of the present circumstance. The voice said if we complain against wrong doings against Ndigbo and we now do same to Ndigbo, can Igbos complain when others do it against them?
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