The statement, which maintained that the Deputy President General, Chief Jackson Omenazu, from Rivers State, who had been recommended by the Elders’ Council as the rightful successor to Iwuanyanwu, also questioned the legitimacy of the ‘‘Group of Key Igbo Associations’’
By Valentine Amanze
Crisis has hit the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, whose late President General, Engr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is yet to be buried.
The issue is, who succeeds the late Iwuanyanwu, even as the group’s constitution appears vague about it.
Already, Dr. Valentine Iheukwumere Oparaocha, who came second in the election that produced the former President of the organization, the late Chief George Obiozor, recently alleged plots by some groups to undermine the succession order by orchestrating the imposition of another leader on the group.
In 2021, 16 people, including Oparaocha, bought forms for N500, 000 (five hundred thousand Naira) each, but only three of them stood for the contest, which late George Obiozor won amidst complaints of electoral irregularities.
However, dusts raised by the declaration in Owerri, the Imo State capital, in 2021, has refused to settle years after.
Obiozor died, and Iwuanyanwu, who was also declared successor without going through the electoral process, and against constitutional order, also died less than a year after assuming office, resulting in people asking about the constitutionality or otherwise of, ‘Acting President’, a status said to be alien to Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its constition but being muted by a cluster of Igbo associations by the name, “Group of key Igbo Associations Worldwide”, with their headquarters in Enugu, via a memo dated September 14, 2024.
The memo signed by 13 representatives of 12 key Igbo associations; Dr. Uma Eleazu (BoT chair-Anya Ndi Igbo), Engr. Chris Okoye (President Anya Ndi Igbo), Professor Chinedu Nebo (President, Nzuko Umunna), Bishop Obi Onubogu (Chairman, BoT Alaigbo Development Foundation), Agbalanze Chike Madueke (President Aka-Ikenga), Dr. Festus Okere (Chairman, World Igbo Congress (WIC)), Professor Elo Amucheazi (President, Igbo Leaders of Thought), Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu (President, Otu Oka Iwu/Igbo Lawyers Society Worldwide), Chief Chris Ekeoba Ugodinma (President, Association of Alaigbo Town Unions, Lagos), Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze (President, Igbo Worldwide Assembly (IWA) Amadiebube Mbama (Chairman, Global Igbo Leaders) and the only two females; Iyom Josephine Anenih (President Nkata Ndi Inyom) and Dr. Mrs. Uzoama Josephine Aguoji (President, Council of States in America (CISA), says it is recognizing Dr. Kingsley Dozie, the vice president to succeed Iwuanyanwu as president on acting capacity.
Also read: Iwuanyanwu not qualified to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo – Oparaocha
The memo copied; Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Imeobi members and Ohanaeze NEC members cited Article 13 of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution to defend their actions which is also being challenged by one of the three contestants during the 2021 election, Valentine Oparaocha, and another group, Ogbako Ndi Igbo Nile (ONN).
Ogbako Ndi Igbo Nile, in a statement dated September 22, 2024 signed by Ambassador Akpelu Azunna E. Ph.D, FIPMD, FONN (President General ONN), Maj-Gen Collins RU Ihekire (rtd) Officier du Mille Colline (OMC) Rwanda, JP (Imo state) National Leader and Prof. Obasi Igwe, Secretary General faulted the Group of Key Igbo Associations Worldwide for taking steps they view as capable of causing more injury on Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The statement reads: “The recent document issued by the so-called Group of Key Igbo Associations Worldwide, raises serious concerns that threaten to undermine the constitutional framework that governs Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and could create unnecessary divisions within Alaigbo”.
“We find the statements in their letter dated 14th September, 2024 not only provocative but also misleading cum capable of of distorting the facts and we must set the records straignt for the benefit of Ndigbo and the continuity of our collective unity”, insisting that appointing Dr. Kingsley Dozie when the constitution clearly provides that the Deputy President General should take charge in case of demise of the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“Supporting the emergence of Dozie amounts to not only series of constitutional breaches and at the same time, ‘direct attempt to disenfranchise our kith and kin in Rivers State, who are entitled to their rightful role in this process their rights as according to them, no Igbo, no matter how highly placed or location, is superior to another by nature’.
The statement, which maintained that the Deputy President General, Chief Jackson Omenazu, from Rivers State, who had been recommended by the Elders’ Council as the rightful successor to Iwuanyanwu, also questioned the legitimacy of the ‘‘Group of Key Igbo Associations’’, adding that the association has no legal standing within Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and therefore lacked the authority to make any pronouncements on the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural association.
Meanwhile, Valentine Oparaocha, who came second in the election won by Obiozor, is insisting that haven emerged second runner-up in the 2021 Presidential contest should be allowed to succeed Iwuanyanwu, who, according to him, never passed through electoral but was crowned by a segment of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and few other Igbo leaders against succession guidelines.
Oparaocha, a retired security expert, is arguing: “The tenure of Imo State has not elapsed and these groups are quoting a constitution they never quoted in anything Ohanaeze had been doing for years.
“Now, they want Abia State to control Ohanaeze by making the assistant President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the acting President General.
“What happened to the man you cheated out of the office of President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide? The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is from Abia State. This means that both President General of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo and Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndigbo would be from Abia State. No! That should not be, because it is unconstitutional and against natural justice.”
He added that there was no fairness and justice if not allowed to complete the turn of Imo State.
He argued that, by the actions of the few individuals if allowed to continu,e is capable of successfully alienating Rivers State from mainstream of Ndigbo.
“Secondly, when Obiozor died, the next runner-up in the 2021 election should have been considered a worthy successor. But by a doctrine of necessity, Imo State leaders of thought conceded it to the late Iwuanyanwu because of his towering image and not necessarily by due process.
“I think the position of President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide still resides in Imo State even if it is for a few months. I sensed that the people of Imo State are jittery over the misfortune of successive deaths but that shouldn’t deter us from doing the right thing”, Oparaocha said, adding that he was still interested and should be allowed to complete the trenure of Imo State.
“The actions of some groups that are now creating more problems in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by conscripting themselves into clusters and claiming this and that should be jettisoned,” Oparaocha said, adding that he remained the most suitable for the seat as the only one who went through electoral process and came second.
“The latest I heard was that they were calling on the former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, to become President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide but I also learnt that he has publicly declined the offer. God is watching, the gods of our land are also watching and seeing how some people are trying to subvert the wishes of the people for their vain interests”.
……………
For more interesting stories click: nigerianewsflight.com.ng
