Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The nomination of the former Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was on Sunday ratified by the Imeobi Ohanaeze as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The elder statesman was nominated by Imo State as a replacement for the late Ohanaeze President, Professor George Obiozor, to complete the state’s tenure of the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
Some serving and former governors of the seven Igbo-speaking states; former leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; leaders of the South-East Traditional Rulers Council ; and senators among others, attended the Imeobi Ohanaeze meeting held at the Old Government House Lodge Enugu.
The host, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; and his Anambra State counterpart, Professor Chukwuma Soludo; were in attendance.
Deputy Governors of Ebonyi, Imo and Abia: Mr Kelechi Igwe, Professor Placid Njoku, and Ude Oko Chukwu, represented their principals.
In attendance also at the event were the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; Governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah; and the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim.
Former President-Generals of Ohanaeze led by Nnia Nwodo; Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Chief Okey Emuchay; former Director General of Nigeria Directorate of Employment, NDE, Chief Chuku Wachuku; former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu; among other Igbo Leaders also attended the Imeobi Ohanaeze.
In his acceptance speech, Iwuanyanwu expressed delight that after he made three unsuccessful attempts to be President of Nigeria, the mantle of Leadership of the Igbo nation had finally fallen on him.
The elder statesman who noted that all through his life, he had strove to serve Ndigbo both in times of war and peace, promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him.
Describing his emergence as Ohanaeze PG as an act of providence, Iwuanyanwu said: “I contested the presidency on three occasions but I did not succeed. I took my losses in good composure knowing full well that as a Christian, all powers and promotion come from God.
“But today, destiny has placed squarely on my shoulders the duty of leading the Igbo as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. I, therefore, have a duty to valiantly defend the Igbo cause and I promise Ime-Obi and all Igbo people that by the grace of God, I will not fail them.”
Iwuanyanwu bemoaned the fate of Ndigbo in Nigeria, and vowed to lead the campaign to reclaim the lost grounds.
He said his leadership would focus on education, agriculture, industrialisation, electricity, power generation, and health among others to relaunch Ndigbo into national recognition.
Chief Iwuanyanwu expressed deep worry over the festering insecurity in the South-East, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a panacea to insecurity in the zone.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to comply with the various court judgments and release the IPOB Leader before leaving office.
According to the new Ohanaeze PG, it is not possible to negotiate any peace while Kanu is in detention.
He expressed concern over Kanu’s failing health, urging the Federal Government not to allow any further deterioration of his health.
“It is also important to note that the judiciary has discharged and freed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It will be the joy of many Igbo people and Nigerians to see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu released from detention.
“There is also a report that his health is deteriorating. I feel it is important that he is released to have access to his medical doctors so that he does not die in prison,” Iwuanyanwu said.
