Ambassador Okey Emuchay’s bid to become the next Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has got more endorsements from Abia State personalities.
The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation zoned its secretary-general’s slot to Abia, and the career diplomat is offering to serve in that capacity.
Speaking yesterday in Umuahia, when Emuchay met with Abia executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi declared his support for Emuchay and called others to join in selling him to the delegates for election on Sunday, January 10.
Aguiyi-Ironsi, a former Defence Minister, said that his support stemmed from the fact that Emuchay dedicated more than half of his life serving the nation meritoriously.
“The greatest problem of the Igbo man today is survival. We have to negotiate and not fight. Emuchay is a man with knowledge who will defend Igbo interest,” he said.
Another chieftain of the organisation, Chief Collins Umezuruike, is of the view that the state will adopt Emuchay as its candidate, describing him as ripe for the position of secretary-general.
Emuchay promised to change the narratives of Ohanaeze and the Igbo nation, if elected.
“As a career diplomat, who worked in different countries of the world before retiring after 31 years, I will use my wide reach to galvanise and encourage the Igbo in the Diaspora to bring their businesses home,” he said.
According to him, while his immediate task, if elected, is to ensure that Ohanaeze has a befitting secretariat in Enugu, he pledged to interface with other ethnic organisations in the country for national good.
Emuchay, who disclosed that three former Nigerian presidents – the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd.) and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan – gave him letters of commendation, assured that he would not disappoint Ohanaeze Ndigbo if elected.
In his remarks, Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Abia chapter, Chief Justice Ajuzieogu, commended Emuchay for aspiring to the position and wished him success.
Ajuzieogu told The Guardian that about five other persons indicated interest in the position, and that until they purchase the forms, fill them and get clearance, they would remain aspirants.
It is after clearance that they become candidates, awaiting the state chapter to do the needful, he added.
