Ohaneze decries insecurity in S-East, demand unconditional release of Nnamdi KANU

From Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu

The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said that the Igbo Apex group will fully partner the governors of the south east region to ensure total realization of Ala-Igbo Transformation Agenda.

He said that Igbo Apex group is fully in support of the implementation of Orosanya report, but however objected to any attempt to merge Project Development Institute Research (PRODA) with any other science institution.

Iwuanyanwu made this known through in a statement signed and issued to newsmen shortly after the igbo leaders retreat, tagged “AKO BU IJE” which took place at the Old Government Lodge GRA Enugu. 

He noted that “PRODA is a critical part of the Igbo and Nigerian history. It is an institution borne out of the experience of Nigerian Civil War. Ohaneze will request all Igbos everywhere to ensure that PRODA is not merged with any other Institution.

The Igbo leaders during the retreat formally adopted the President-General’s vision on restructuring of Ohanaeze and the establishment of specialized committees for the transformation of Igbo land. 

They also adopted the President-General’s blueprints on improving transportation in Igbo land, imaximization of the Enugu Visa Office, sports development, ending hostility to Igbos outside Igboland, 

The Specialized committees include Education Trust Fund headed by Professor Chinedu Nebo; the Committee on Culture and Tradition is headed by His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, the Obi of Onitsha. The Chairman of the Committee on Youth Employment and Skill Acquisition is Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige, 

while the Committee on Business Leaders is chaired by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and the Committee on Agriculture is headed by Dr. Ngozi Olejeme. The Committee on the Diaspora is headed by Dr. Sam Obaji while the Committee on Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria is headed by Dr. Dominic Nnaemeka Okechukwu. 

The Igbo leaders at the retreat agreed that Ndigbo have the enormous human and natural potentials to initiate a “made-to-fit” regional development agenda that aligns with the current global reality, but also observed that Ndigbo have not exploited the opportunistic media space to identifying the power centres in the region and galvanizing them for collective action. 

The various specialized Ohanaeze Committees were therefore urged to swing into action to ensure the realization of the new Igbo agenda in sync with 21″ Century socio-economic realities. 

The Igbo leaders also agreed that insecurity in the Southeast is a major hindrance to the development of the region and urged the southeast Governors, security agencies and civil society organizations to redouble efforts in the security sector, to unlock the great potentials especially in agriculture. 

The Retreat also resolved to intensify its drive for the unconditional release of the detained leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and further emphasized the imperative of collaboration between Ohanaeze leadership and Igbo Governors for the realization of Ala-Igbo Transformation Agenda.

In another development, two books portraying the journey of Ndigbo from 1914 till 2024 will soon be published under the auspices of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“One of these books is entitled ‘This Is Our Story’. It will give the true account of Igbo experience in Nigeria since 1914 till date. The book will be written by the Committee on Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria under the leadership of Dr Dominic Okechukwu and published by Ohanaeze Ndigbo. We intend to get some Igbo literary giants to support them.”

He said the second book, “Builders of New Igboland”, would portray the names, pictures, financial and other contributions of all Igbo “who during this critical period in our history contributed towards the transformation of our land”.

Those in attendance to the event includes; Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai; former Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council of Enugu State, Amb Lawrence Agubuzu; Monsignor Obiora Ike, Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Prof Nnenna Otti among others.