…condemns Army/ESN clash in Orlu
Association of middle-aged Igbo leaders under the auspices of Ohanaeze Veterans has rejected the recently conducted election of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which threw up Prof. George Obiozor as its new President-General.
Recall that before the January 10 Ohanaeze election held in Owerri, some unresolved skirmishes and crises was rocking the cohesive unity of the Igbo organization which culminated in the creation of factions, with the embattled former Secretary-General, Barr Uche Okwukwu, breaking away to form his own electoral committee led by Prince Richard Ozobu which held its own separate election on January 9 in Enugu.
At the end of the day, while the Okwukwu faction came up with its own elected officials, the Chief Gary Igariwey-led electoral committee recognized by the immediate past President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, also produced their own elected officials, throwing up controversy and apprehension.
However, speaking on their first meeting held in Enugu on Saturday, the Ohanaeze Veterans said it aligned itself with the position of Concerned Imeobi Members (CIM) which recognized neither of the factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo elections held in Enugu and Owerri, respectively.
In a communiqué signed and issued by the Convener, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji and Co-convener, Bro Ndubuisi Igwekala, the group noted that “both elections are fundamentally flawed, not complying with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution and not meeting the minimum standards for credible elections.”
They noted that constitutionally, the Secretary-General summons all Ohanaeze Ndigbo meetings while the President-General presides at all such meetings.
“Furthermore, the said removal from office of the immediate past Secretary General, Barr Uche Okwukwu is a nullity to the extent that no General Assembly meeting ratified it, in line with the Constitutional provision that ‘The General Assembly is the Supreme organ of Ohanaeze which has the power to elect and remove NEC members and as well ratify all Imeobi decisions for them to become valid’.
“Moreso, the Imeobi meetings of 6th and 20th December, 2020 where the immediate past President-General, Chief Nnia Nwodo derived his powers to set up the Igariwey Electoral Committee is a nullity since they were summoned by a staff of the Ohanaeze Secretariat, the Administrative Secretary, not the Secretary General, as stipulated in the Constitution. More over, there was no General Assembly meeting to ratify it,” part of the statement noted.
The veterans disclosed that they would join forces with other like-mind groups to mount pressure on the Concerned Imeobi Members to establish a caretaker committee that would conduct a more credible and inclusive election of the body.
According to them, “we join the Global Igbo Leaders (GIL) a broad coalition of key Igbo organizations in urging the Concerned Imeobi Members to expedite action on the formation of the Caretaker Committee which shall midwife the process of an all inclusive credible and unifying Ohanaeze Election. Delay defeats equity.
“As such, we shall put pressure on the revered elders in the Concerned Imeobi members being chaired by Elder Dr. Uma Eleazu, to do the needful within one week in order to save Ohanaeze Ndigbo, our dear patrimony. What answers will they give to Ikemba Ojukwu, Eze Ozobu, Ikedife and Achuzia, if they fail to act expeditiously?”
Also, commenting on the recent clash between soldiers and personnel of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Orlu, Imo state, the veterans condemned the incident, saying that the soldiers should have exercised restraint while going about their constitutional duties.
“We condemn soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their highhandedness in handling their recent clash with the ESN vigilante. Rather than exercising restraint, what occurred was a repeat of the Obigbo Massacre; shooting, maiming and harassment of unarmed civilians, including women. Certainly, ESN has the sympathy of majority of Ndigbo because it arose to fill the void created by the South East governors inability to set up a Regional Security outfit, like their South West counterparts, till date.
“Going forward, both the South East governors and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader are Igbo leaders in their own right and need to work together in the Igbo interest. ‘Ụzụ amaghị akpụ ogele, lee égbé anya n’ọ́dụ.’̀ Both IPOB and the governors should borrow a leaf from our Yoruba brothers. Imagine how their governors, their Obas, their political leaders, etc rallied round to ensure that the Sunday Igboho saga did not get out of hand.
“Due to the overriding importance of the above issue, we suggest that a group of eminent Igbo elders should be saddled with the arduous but pertinent task of getting IPOB and the Governors to the negotiation table in order to avert further security hitches in Ala-Igbo and ensure mutual respect and cooperation. These Three Wise Men- Bishop Obi Onubogu, Prof T. U. Nwala and Prof Elo Amucheazi should rise up to the occasion and save Ala-Igbo,” the veterans concluded.
