By Felix Durumbah, and Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Two conventions of apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, held on Friday, January 10.
They produced two Presidents-General (PGs),both lawyers, as well as top personalities to fill other executive positions as Igbos displayed their legendary republican nature.
The eye-catching development laid the tar of truth to the Igbo adage that there is no one road to get to the market.
At stake was the battle to control the soul of the Igbo nationality and proffer solutions to the numerous challenges confronting one of the three massive ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Much more important was the not small matter of what sort of personalities should lead the ‘troops’; what their proclivities were; who and who were backing them; what were the antecedents of such backers –genuinely pro-Igbo or known pretenders; and many other vital characteristics that define peculiar leadership.
These posers became important before and during the elections amid the continuing incarceration of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the subsequent roiling insecurity in Igboland which has claimed several lives and led to destruction of properties valued at billions of Naira.
At the end of both conventions, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, former lawmaker representing Rivers East senatorial district, emerged new PG, while activist lawyer, Barrister Uche Nnam Okwukwu, also from Rivers State, was elected PG by consensus by another faction of Ohanaeze. Okwukwu’s group call themselves progressives.
The emergence of new executives of the Azuta-Mbata group took place at the Enugu State Old Government House Lodge, GRA, Enugu.
Azuta-Mbata, in his address thanked the outgoing PG of the body, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, for keeping the flag flying, expressing his gratitude that the conducted a befitting general assembly and handed over graciously.
He said :”You resisted the temptation of extending your tenure by one day; that shows the level of statesmanship and leadership and I salute you on this occasion.
“I thank all the governors for their physical presence that has made things to go in an orderly manner on this occasion.
“We are very encouraged by your leadership and will continue to cooperate, collaborate and match step by step with you to ensure that the status of our people is moved forward and that our people continue to take their rightful place in the comity of nationalities in Nigeria.
“I thank the Igbos for resting upon me the responsibility of the office of the President-General. I will assure you that you will not be disappointed because we have assembled a team of technocrats, a team of people who are desirous to serve.
“I believe, under the guidance of the governors, elders and Imeobi, we will make you proud.”
Governor of Imo State and Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, earlier in his address, thanked the candidates and delegates to the convention, stressing that the South-East governors came together and resolved to strengthen and give strong support to Ndigbo.
“Also to make it the dreams of the original founders, we discourage all forms of rascality, bad behavior and conduct among the executive and members of Ohanaeze and encourage those things that will bring Igbos together and shut those things that will divide the Igbos.
“We therefore requested the governors of various states to coordinate those states and recommend men and women of substance to come and serve Ndigbo and that led to the formation of unity.
“Today having put together the nominations and those nominations passing through screening in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of Ohanaeze and with a motion agree this time on the mode of election, any decisions taken here are allowed by the constitution, is an amendment even it is not in the constitution. The convention has the power under the constitution,” he said.
Uzodinma thanked the outgoing executives advised the new set to follow their footsteps and improve on what had been done.
Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, in an interview, emphasized that the new executives are credible people and need the support of Ndigbo.
Meanwhile, in Port Harcourt, Okwukwu was crowned PG.
According to a statement by the Returning Officer, Dr. Achi Achi, the new PG was returned unopposed at the convention, which kicked off Thursday and ended Friday.
Dr. Achi recounted that Okwukwu was elected by the progressive movement in Igboland, and thanked the Ohanaeze national delegates who arrived Port Harcourt for the convention.
Apparently making comparisons, Dr. Achi declared that the group are the true members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for finding the new helmsman,a renowned activist, worthy of the post.
Dr. Achi stated that Okwukwu pledged to fight for all Igbos and operate strictly by the tenets of Ohanaeze’s constitution.
In his acceptance speech, Barrister Okwukwu profusely thanked the delegates, saying that he has humbly accepted the great responsibility laid upon him to lead Ndigbo “at this moment in our history.”
Okwukwu listed his priorities to include engaging with the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government on the unconditional release of leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as well as the restructuring of Nigeria.
Furthermore, he pledged to “unite fractured nerves and bring the Igbo together as one indivisible family.”
According to him, he recognized the enormity of the unprecedented trust reposed in him, asserting that he has capacity to succeed.
Okwukwu told Ndigbo: “I shall live up to their high expectations.”
The new PG who remarked that Ndigbo had passed through unprecedented difficulties, promised to immediately interface with federal and state governments, businessmen, politicians, the youth and the intelligentsia, over the challenges confronting Igbos.
Particularly, Okwukwu promised to meet with President Tinubu for the unconditional release of Kanu, other political prisoners, and see to the de-criminalization of political exiles so they can return and help in reconstruction.
Aside these, Okwukwu said he will also engage Abuja in the dredging, modernization and restoration of Igweocha (Igbo traditional name for Port-Harcourt) and other coastal ports for the Igbo; the dredging of Azumini to Opobo Imo River Basin to the coast, so as to enhance export-import flow, industrialization and development in Igboland and South-South stretching to the Middle Belt and Maiduguri.
On additional states for the Igbo, Okwukwu said: “I will work for the creation of the Anioma State as an equalization state for the Igbo, and for additional Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orlu or other states in case the balance is further disrupted.”
Turning to the vexed issue of restructuring, the PG stated that he will galvanize the Igbo for it.
Okwukwu revealed that all other ethnic nationalities in the country had prepared their people’s positions on the matter, regretting that no recent Ohanaeze leadership had the courage to articulate Igbo template on the issue.
Dwelling on Igbo unity, he promised to bring together all Igbo outside South-East and South-South, including those in Benue, Edo and other places.
“I will work hand in hand with critical Igbo stakeholders to advance the unity of the Igbo nation, and ensure that Igbo communities in Benue, Edo etc, are fully incorporated into the Ohanaeze family memberships, modernize the Igbo language as one of the major languages of global commerce, culture, science and technology,” he said.
Delegates to the convention came from the South-East,South-South and the Diaspora.
