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Charge MASSOB members to court, Ohanaeze urges govt. The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not comfortable with the continued detention of members of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), without efforts to arraign them. Although the Igbo socio-cultural group would not campaign for the release of anyone found guilty of offence, it abhors violation of human rights, especially when such action is" rooted in pure malice, according to its president, Dr. Dozie Ikedife. Reacting to the allegation of detaining about 2000 MASSOB members without trial, Dr. Ikedife, argued that such detention was paralleled to the tenets of democracy. Ikedife said that although he was still waiting to be "informed" officially about the development, his approach had been that if anyone has committed offence, government should go ahead and arraign the person. "It makes nonsense of democracy for people to be kept indefinitely in detention without any efforts to charge them to court, just because somebody does not like them", he argued. The Ohanaeze leader said slamming over 2,000 able-body’s men into detention in an awaiting-charge situation, at a time the country is not at war, calls for concern. Ikedife challenged the federal government to charge the MASSOB supporters in a competent court "if they have committed any crime or breach the law". The fate of the MASSOB adherents had remained uncertain since the release of their leader, Chief Ralph Nwazuruike. Some members of the group have lately accused Nwazuruike of betrayal. There were speculations that he has been warned against agitating for the release of his members in detention. The government’s calculation, it seems, is to ensure the leader of the troubled group does not have enough foot-soldiers to cause serious threat. Regional Administrator of the Movement, Mr. Alphonsus Ajuka, recently raised alarm that over 2,000 of its members were still being held by the federal authority. Ajuka appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and the international community "to put pressure on the government to ensure their release from detention."
Ohanaeze Blames North For FoI Impasse Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo rose from her meeting in Enugu, yesterday urging the speedy passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, just as it declared that the delay in passing the bill was part of the northern agenda to hold political control of the country. It said those against the passage of the bill might have realized that it would expose shoddy deals that go on in government and, as such, would continue to truncate efforts in ensuring that it received speedy passage. Ohanaeze said when the bill is passed; Nigerians could now have the opportunity to make certain inquiries about government, adding that the bill would serve federal government's war against corruption, especially in high places. At the meeting, presided over by the President General, Chief Dozie Ikedife, which may have signaled the end of hostilities in the Igbo apex organization, Ohanaeze also asked the South East governors to ensure the realization of an international status for the Akanu Ibiam airport in Enugu, insisting that several months after the federal government promised to upgrade the place, nothing has been heard about it. At the meeting were former Enugu governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Rear Admiral Alison Madueke, Prof Ben Obumselu, Chief Ralph Uwazulike, Prof Offiah Nwali, Prof Uche Azikiwe, Prof Pita Ejiofor, Prof J.C.Ogbonna and Major General JOJ Okoloagu rtd, among others. South East governors had, last month, given an endorsement to the Ikedife-led Ohanaeze as the authentic group to serve the interest of the zone till November this year, when a fresh election would be held for a new executive in the organization. Following the recognition, the keys of the secretariat that were said to have been seized earlier by the former Secretary General of the group, Chief Joe Achuzia was released to Ikedife. Before now, meetings of the group were held in hotels. In a communiqu? released at the end of the meeting, Ohanaeze condemned the alleged delay in the passage of the FOI bill by the Senate, insisting that 'external forces are at place to thwart the bill following the realization that it would serve as war against corruption in the country". Ohanaeze challenged members of the National Assembly to live to their vows and pass the bill in the interest of the people of the country. "There is no other way in which the people can feel proper representation unless the bill is passed and signed into law", it said. The Organization observed that the economy of the South East has almost collapsed, due to epileptic power supply and urged the governors of the zone to take the lead in ensuring that alternative power supply was provided for the people to enable commerce thrive in the zone. It further appealed to the federal government to find ways of bringing succor to South East zone, by ordering the repairs of vandalized pipelines in the area. The organization, lamented that for several years now, the depots in Enugu, Aba and other places in the zone have not functioned, adding that it has tripled the cost of petroleum products in the zone.
OKEKE-OGENE : 'Ohanaeze Dream Is Dead, I'm Sorry' Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, a foundation member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, personal adviser to the pioneer President-General, Justice Eze Ozobu, a representative of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) in the Ohanaeze Exco, served in various committees within the body and represented it at the annual World Igbo Congress for six years. He opened up to CHUKS COLLINS. WHAT actually is the problem with the Ohanaeze leadership? The problem is the ego of the leaders; nothing more, nothing less. Then what is the way forward? The way forward is a serious revolution, to inject fresh, young blood with ideas, drive and Igbo interests at heart, not personal interests. The Southeast Governors met recently and adopted Dr. Dozie Ikedife as the accepted President-General. What is your take on this? It's clear inconsistency on part of the governors. I have respect, regards for them, but as far as Ohanaeze is concerned, I hold the governors responsible. How? The previous governors at Abakaliki in 2005/2006 altered the stand given to Irukwu to deliver at Ebonyi, which never included anything on Third Term ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The executive rejected it. But with the blind ambition of some of the governors, namely Dr. Sam Egwu, Chimaroke Nnamani and Achike Udenwa with the exception of Dr. Chris Ngige and Dr. Orji Kalu, they supported Third Term. Therefore, they lured Irukwu to say that the Ohanaeze executives would support whatever the governors decided on. Dr. Orji wasn't present at the meeting and the other three governors that were there outweighed Ngige. Irukwu then said he concurred with them, contrary to the submission by Ohanaeze. So, it was these three governors, driven by selfish Third Term ambition that sowed the seed of confusion in Ohanaeze till date. The crisis is far from being over. Thereon, they didn't relent in manipulating Ohanaeze into a PDP tool. They hijacked Ohanaeze for PDP with Irukwu and Co on the driving seat. Neither Irukwu nor Ohanaeze survived that Abakaliki self-inflicted injury and plot against the Igbo race. It gave rise to the PPA (Orji) forming a breakaway Ohanaeze led by Ikedife without other executives. Orji then apparently started taking care of the Ikedife faction. In the light of this, indigenous Bishops from Southeast invited both factions to the Catholic Retreat Centre at Emene in Enugu. After three meetings, they resolved that: Everyone should sheath his sword and to accept their verdict as God's intervention. That they had prayed day and night before the meeting for the resolution to become the final. That Irukwu be given a soft landing between June/December 2006, to remain in office while election holds in December 2006 for a new, united executive to emerge. That a new constitution be adopted. That any party that disobeyed the resolution would be doomed. But Dr. Dozie Ikedife and Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kalu (retired) backed out. This now made Irukwu to continue, showing that the efforts of the men of God were in vain. The crisis then continued. But the governors, who put the Ohanaeze into the predicament, met again but with new the face of Peter Obi as the chairman. They met at the Enugu Governor's Lodge and resolved that a committee, headed by the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe of Onitsha, Chief Ezeikpe, Ndubuisi Kanu and Senator Ellah, should re-organize and conduct fresh election within three months. They were also mandated to produce a new constitution for Ohanaeze. Even within the committee, there was sharp disagreement as the alleged Kanu was imposing his opinion on them. Senator Ellah consequently resigned, and after few meetings without encouraging responses from key actors in the dispute, the Asagba became almost frustrated. And the committee went into coma till date. Within this period, Irukwu's tenure ran out and his group chose Chief Ifeanyi Enechukwu as acting President-General. The present governors adopted Ikedife to conclude his onslaught against the PDP, despite the fact that prominent respected Igbo sons and daughters are in PDP. That's why Chief Joe Achuzia went on a solitary egocentric courtesy call to Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, the national chairman of PDP. He did not go or consult with any other person. So, for how long would these elders play with Ohanaeze and Igbo destiny and sensibilities? It is clear and obvious that none is representing Igbo interest; if so, they would have listened to ordained men of God. When did the Ohanaeze dream die, according to you? Ohanaeze died after Chief Ben Nwabueze (SAN) and Justice Eze Ozobu, both learned men, could not agree on which of the two conflicting constitutions drawn by the same executive, should be used. Both men were Secretary and President-General respectively. I have worked with Ohanaeze for decades and had remained within the leadership circle for nearly 20 years. I saw all of them not having any interest to hand over the baton to anyone. They chose to rather drop the baton inside their graves when they die instead of handing it over to anyone. I regret my involvement in Ohanaeze. I am ashamed we did not achieve anything with the group, except endless crises. I regret the elders handed no knowledge or experience to us. I resigned my position as a factional Anambra State chairman of Ohanaeze and apologized for the inability to move the body and Igbo forward or reconcile our elders.
OKORIE: Like Afenifere, Ohaneze Must Define Its Role In Politics Chief Chekwas Okorie was a member of the Igbo Forum that metamorphosed into Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1979. Former president of the Igboezue Cultural Organisation, he became the youngest member of the Ohanaeze strategic committee in 1995. In 2002, he founded the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), He speaks on the problems of Ndigbo, the crisis in Ohanaeze and the way forward in this interview with Samson Ezea WHAT is the origin of Ohanaeze Ndigbo? Ohanaeze has a chequered history. It has been going on and off crisis. I was there at the inception of the body. By 1976 when I followed my uncle, Prof. J.U Agwu to join the Igbo Forum, I was an undergraduate. The late Dr. Akanu Ibiam was the chairman of the forum; the late Justice Daddy Onyeama was the vice-chairman; the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the patron and incidentally the only patron Ohaneze has ever had. Chief Jerome Udoji was the secretary and my uncle; Prof. J.U Agwu was the Deputy secretary. In 1979, it was changed to Ohaneze Ndigbo; the new leader became the late Chief Mathias Ugochukwu, a business tycoon and the then traditional ruler of Umueze in Anambra State. Being a businessman, he aligned with the NPN-led federal government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Dr. Alex Ekwueme as the vice president. The NPN easily penetrated Ohaneze and that made Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to be annoyed and he withdrew from Ohaneze though he did not formerly resign as a patron. And going with Zik were Jim Nwobodo, then Governor of Anambra State and Dr. Sam Mbakwe of Imo State, who were members of the NPP with Zik. With NPP's pull out, Ohaneze became more of NPN affairs. That was the first crisis and it lasted for a long time until about 1983 when Ohaneze was re-organised and people started coming, calling for the removal of the organisation from partisan politics. The organisation never made any impact or sign of protecting and promoting Igbo interest. The time of recovering fully again was after the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Panel in 1999. It was in the panel that the body made such a wonderful presentation that restored the confidence of Igbos in it. So, the credibility of the body was rekindled, and we thought we could keep it. But unfortunately, by 2003, another group had infiltrated the Ohaneze, this time trying to get the body to endorse a Presidential candidate. I warned them, as somebody, who had been there for a long time. I was there before Professor Ben Nwabueze left the UBA to join the organisation; I was there before many of these people. I remember vividly that those who were there before me that are still there now are few. When they came up, trying to endorse General Nwachukwu, I vehemently fought against it. I said, "We are now going to make the same mistake we made several years ago. It is better Ohaneze did not dabble in politics but if we must do so, they should look for a platform and not a candidate." I insisted that instead of taking General Nwachukwu, they should take the APGA as a platform. That stalled the discussion that day because the plan to endorse Nwachukwu had been completed. But to change the arrangement and talk of platform brought a lot of confusion and Ohaneze was saved from dabbling in partisanship. Things became worse when Prof. Joe Irukwu became the president-general of the organisation. He is from my own side of Igboland. I came strongly against his emergence, as president of the body. He might be a boardroom guru, an academic of repute and a professor of insurance law but he does not have the necessary qualities to lead Ohanez- a group that represents people that were under siege and he was too much of an establishment man to lead Ohaneze. We were not just looking for somebody who's rich but somebody who was self-contented. And I did not see Irukwu as somebody, who was contended. But before we knew it, his insurance company had fat accounts with the NNPC and other government bodies. The language of Irukwu changed immediately. Everything became pro-Obasanjo. He carved out so brazenly in support of the failed Third Term of Obasanjo. To lay strong foundation for the agenda, the state executives of the organisation were anointed by various PDP State governors in the South -East and card- carrying members of the PDP were chosen as the state executives of the organisation. The governments started hosting Ohaneze meetings. We know that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Because of that, Ohaneze went into full partisan politics with the PDP. Knowing that the president of the body had a leverage to reap bountifully from government, the struggle to become the president of the body began. Prof. Irukwu said his tenure was no longer for two years, whereas the Ohaneze constitution says two years. I was part of the people that wrote the constitution. The Ikedife group said no, that Irukwu's tenure was for two years. Now for the first time, we had a factionalised Ohaneze. When we wanted to resolve the differences, they brought the governors, who are neck-deep in partisan politics. I think Ohaneze is in a deep mess. It will take a long time to extricate it from the bidding of politicians. I don't see the future of Ohaneze. Igbo people are not very inclined to cultural organisation. When the Igbo State was strong in the First Republic it was because it directly aligned itself with the NCNC. Except we now change Ohaneze and make sure it is not a partisan organisation so that people can relate to it as belonging to any party like Afenifere. Afenifere does not pretend about its political agenda for the Yoruba. Ohaneze say they are not political yet we play more politics than others do. It is difficult now to remove it from the grip of politicians but we better re-orientate the organisation. Ohaneze should choose a platform to control and the Igbo people can choose who will represent them. Don't you agree that the constitution of Ohaneze that gives more power to the secretary-general than the president is a major problem of the body? Prof. Ben Nwabueze tampered with that aspect of the constitution, no doubt, because that was not what we did. We tried to oppose it because I felt that what he was trying to do was turn the body into a Soviet communist party where the secretary is more powerful. Even if he meant well, that could fall into the hand of somebody who would abuse it. That was not changed. The moment Irukwu became president and Col Joe Achuzia emerged secretary; he began to invoke those sections of the constitution, trying to use them against Irukwu. Irukwu and Achuzia never worked in harmony from the beginning because of the powers of the secretary, as stipulated in the constitution that Nwabueze tampered with. Is true that the election that brought Ikedife to power was stage-managed by Chief Orji Kalu to actualise his political ambition? No. That is not true; people are mixing up things. As a matter of fact, the election that Orji Uzor Kalu played a major role in was the one that produced Joe Irukwu. That election was conducted in Owerri and they manipulated the election planning committee. It was part of our arrangement that the presidency would rotate across the member-states in alphabetical order so it was the turn of Abia. There were people like Dr. Ume Eleazu, Prof. Anya O Anya and even Ndubuisi Kanu, who were interested. But Orji Uzor Kalu fenced them off and said that Abia had brought three people from three senatorial zones - Joe Irukwu from Abia North, Chief Adiele from Abia South and Chief Bob Ogbuagu from Abia Central. The arrangement was that Ogbuagu and Adiele would step down for Irukwu. The plot was hatched and Irukwu emerged unopposed from Abia State. The other contestants were not allowed into the ball; they were excluded from participating as delegates. That was the one that Dr. Kalu played a major role in. One thing about this Third Term of arrangement, Prof. Irukwu turned around and made Kalu a target. Kalu became a victim of Irukwu's allegiance to the authorities in Abuja because Orji was now in confrontation with Obasanjo. The monster Orji created became a monster against him. In the case of Ikedife, factions were already there, and Orji Uzor Kalu already had a face-off with Irukwu. The Ikedife group, looking for support to be ahead of the other faction, found Orji Kalu very attractive. Kalu, too, knowing that his own brother whom he installed had turned against him, found the Ikedife group attractive. He did not install the Ikedife group but he gave them adequate support in all fronts and they, in turn, endorsed his candidate in 2007 presidential election. The moment they endorsed his candidature, Odumegwu-Ojukwu reacted by saying that Kalu was a political misfit. This was because he did not accept that the Ohaneze should endorse anybody as a presidential candidate. Do you think that the endorsement of the Ikedife-led group by the Southeast governors is the solution to the problems bedevilling the body? No. I said it earlier in my opening statement. The crisis can never be resolved like that. Ohanaeze's involvement in partisanship will have to be redefined. If Ohanaeze wants to be involved in politics, it must redefine its mission in politics. It can begin to pretend that it is a non-politician body. It has to go back and do what Afenifere does so that it can become clear. We have much to do to correct the damage. It took us years to correct that mistake of aligning with the NPN in 1979; now the PDP has done another damage to us, it will take us years to come out of it. There is the belief that the Igbo have no leader. Do you agree? The republican nature of the Igbo people is not a disadvantage; that is what propels them to be very enterprising. Igbo people recognise their leaders and they follow them sometimes sheepishly until those leaders disappoint. The late Azikiwe was not an Igbo leader; he was a Nigeria statesman. Without planning it to be so, he became a rallying point for Igbo politicians and the intelligentsia. Majority of Igbo people were inclined to the NCNC in the First Republic. In the homefront, Dr. M.I Okpara showed such purposeful leadership and selflessness that if you paired him and Zik for a contest, Okpara would have easily won in Igboland. The good thing was that they worked together. Our people did have the difficulty as to whom to follow. There was no divided attention at all because following Okpara was like following Zik. That paid off even after the Civil War. Just nine years after the war, the same Zik reared his head, knowing that our people had lost self-esteem, as a result of the defeat during the war. Rather than aligning with the octopus - the NPN, he went to the small NPP in order to give it a coloration of an Igbo platform so that his people could use it to restore their dignity. And it worked. The two Igbo States then were won by the NPP and they were able to get allies in the Middle Belt - Benue and Plateau States. That was a major achievement.
IKOKU: Ikedife Is Acting As Sole Administrator Of Ohanaeze Chief Guy Ikoku spoke to LAWRENCE NJOKU in Enugu on the leadership crisis in Ohanaeze Ndigbo and suggested ways of solving it. COULD give us the origin of the Ohanaeze? Ohanaeze Ndigbo started in the 70s when the military handed over to civilians. You then have the problem in Igbo between the haves and the have nots and most of us, the younger generation coming out of the war, said we must assert our independence as a people and that we were not a conquered people. By then there were those who said they belonged to the older generation and they wanted to go to where there was money; most of them were in the NPN (National Party of Nigeria). So, they did not take kindly to the idealistic assertions of the younger generation. Of course, you know that the NPP (Nigeria Peoples Party) cleared the eastern zone; that is old Imo and Anambra States and so they formed Ohanaeze as a pressure group of the elderly mainly to confront the younger generation or track the person into line with the NPN-controlled federal government. But over the time, it didn't work and so there was a metamorphosis, to try and get everybody on board. With everybody now agreeing that Ohanaeze should remain the apex cultural body for Ndigbo, it was agreed that it should not be partisan, politically so that everybody could identify with it and then we talk about Igbo interest. It does not matter what political party you are in but the thing that will unite the Igbo is what matters. That is how it came to be stabilized as a non-partisan cultural body so that over the years you see that with the overwhelming acceptance of Ndigbo, the philosophy of Ohanaeze was also translated abroad for our people as a cultural body embracing all the cultural groups and tribes in Diaspora. That is the basic origin. What happened along the way? After sometime, you found out that people, who were in actual partisan politics and wanted to canvass for platform, wanted to use Ohanaeze as an instrument. And it always led to friction and division. In recent times what had happened - and it's clear to everybody - is that Ohanaeze was being dragged into partisan politics. And many people in Ohanaeze even the people in PDP, resisted Ohanaeze being used for a third term objective of Obasanjo even the people in PDP. Ohanaeze itself had a position paper on Ohanaeze interests at the Abuja conference to reform the polity. But Third Term was not part of Ohanaeze's agenda because we knew that with such a term, other zones would be shortchanged. There was this cleavage at Abakaliki - the presentation of Ohanaeze position on constitutional review. And I call it a mistake by the leadership then of Prof. Joe Irukwu. When they were asked, they said that the (Southeast) governors had identified with the Third Term and they spoke for the people. You can see the problem there, and most Igbo rejected that notion. Governors speak for themselves when it comes to such matters because most of them were being intimated by the EFCC, which was an instrument of coercion by Obasanjo to toe the Third Term agenda even when most of them were not for Third Term. They also knew their people were not for Third Term but they could not say so openly. The same thing was applicable to the legislators at the federal level except the few who were courageous in the National Assembly to oppose it publicly Was there another factor at play? The other issue was the tenure of Ohanaeze. Many people within Ohanaeze said the tenure was two years but others like Joe Irukwu and co said it was four years. That was immediately they were sworn in, that there was a committee headed by Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to amend the Ohanaeze constitution to elongate the tenure and that the committee actually elongated the tenure from two to four years. But many of us said, yes, even if the Iwuanyanwu committee reviewed the constitution and was recommending four-year tenure, under the Ohanaeze constitution is procedure for such amendment. You have to call the Imeobi, you have to call the General Assembly and you have to pass it by way of resolution, given a formal notice to amend the constitution. And if you get the requisite majority of two-thirds or whatever is prescribed by the constitution, then the constitution will be amended. That was the point of division and it was carried on till the point that it split the organization. So sub-groups decided to summon an Imeobi as a pressure group and to insist that it is two years that the executive should be dissolved for new elections. This matter was taking to various elders, traditional rulers, Bishops and Attorneys-General of the five States and they said that having looked at the circumstances, it should be two years until the constitution was properly amended. Even the Archbishops said it, but added that two yeas was too short and that when it was amended, they would recommend three years so that any new executives would have the first three months to take over formerly and two and half years to work and then the last three months to disengage for a new executive, which makes sense. That has not been effected yet; it is just a recommendation from that panel of clergymen. Then the governors met on August 12, 2006, called the stakeholders on both sides of the divide in Enugu here, and agreed that an election committee should be set up headed by the Asagba of Asaba. Senator Francis Ellah of the blessed memory was a member; Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu was a member because he was leading the Lagos and other groups who said it was two-year tenure and then the Obi of Onitsha. It was a four-man committee with guidelines to conduct an election in 2006 for a new executive. The Asagba went abroad for medicals and did not come back until the end of October. That committee, before then, had met once or twice and had appointed seven election officers from each of the States including Rivers and Delta (Anioma) area, who would supervise the elections in their own States and collect nomination papers; and supervise the delegates' election for States in accordance with the constitution. The election date was set for November 4, 2006 and the General Assembly to be preceded by an Imeobi on November 3 at Umuahia. WHY the stalemated Umuahia election? Something happened: the tragic accident of the ADC aircraft at Abuja in which Sultan Maccido died and the whole country was thrown into grief. Almost at the same time, Irukwu and others went to court in Enugu here, because having waited to see to the implementation of the guidelines for delegates' elections - and that was not happening, on the basis that if a General Assembly were held in Umuahia, delegates would be appointed. Just like what is happening in elections in Nigeria - some persons will sit down in their hotel rooms and write lists of delegations without election. That would not be democratic. So, they took out an action in Enugu High Court, suing the election committee: that the election should be withheld until delegates were properly elected in accordance with the Ohanaeze constitution, because what they advertised in the papers was that stakeholders would arrive in Umuahia for an election. The constitution of Ohanaeze does not recognize stakeholders. You cannot stay, for instance, in your bedroom in Enugu and start writing names of delegates for Anioma when there is an Ohanaeze executive in the state in Anioma. They are the ones to call their people to a general meeting, accredit them and send their names to the zonal electoral officer, to the General Assembly and to the Imeobi. It is a very simple procedure; the same thing will also apply in all the States. There are state executives of Ohanaeze in all these States and they have not been dissolved. But that wasn't done and it was the reason for the court action, to compel them to adhere to the Ohanaeze constitution. I was one of those canvassing that there should be a General Assembly to elect a new executive. I was at Umuahia and when we got there, we found that on the third of November, which was a Friday, when an Imeobi should be meeting, the Asagba of Asaba, who had returned from the United States and was briefed about the pending court actions, said no; that Ndigbo could not go washing their dirty linens in the public. After due consultations, he postponed the General Assembly of Umuahia until further notice or consultations to do the right thing in accordance with the Ohanaeze constitution. This was also on the network on that Friday at Umuahia and all of us saw it because it was so widely broadcast; many delegates from the States did not show up. So, the Imeobi for that Friday did not have a quorum and all of us attributed it to that broadcast and announcement. How can you hold an election when the chairman of the electoral committee has postponed it? Like in Nigeria, if INEC said there wouldn't be any election in Enugu State, that they were postponing it due to certain logistics or other factors, could the Enugu State governor then call his SSG to come and conduct an election in Enugu on behalf of INEC? It is not possible with INEC when other electoral officers are absent and then you say it is an INEC conducted election. You see our people, who have read political science, who are observing the Constitution, the electoral laws are in the forefront telling the president and so on, don't rig the elections, don't do this; Iwu we want credible elections and so on. Why will you now do the contrary? If you do the contrary, you lose the morality. You see what happened at the National Assembly? How can the presiding officer in the House of Reps inflate contracts without due process and then he will be the one to set up a sub-committee for oversight functions to probe ministries and other agencies? How did the participants take it in Umuahia? It was not taken well by the general populace but they insisted in Umuahia that election must go ahead. So, on that Saturday morning, the Obi of Onitsha came as a member of the electoral committee and was told there was going to be an election. The man said he wouldn't be part of it. That he just came to pay respect for Ndigbo with his Prime Minister, former Attorney General of the Federation, Ofodile (SAN) and said they would just attend to opening session and leave. He advised that the meeting should get a committee to go and meet with the Asagba and the electoral committee and he left. Immediately, they appointed Onyenso Nwachukwu to chair the session and Uma Eleazu, who is a doctor in Political Science and Economics, to be a returning officer. There were some delegates from the World Igbo Congress and they asked for our views and we said we should select a committee to go and meet with the Asagba. But they insisted there must be an election even without the delegates. The only group that came with a delegation was Anambra State where Dozie Ikedife is the chairman of Ohanaeze. And I want to tell you that he is still the chairman because his executive has not been dissolved. What it means is that he is doubling both as chairman in Anambra State and protective president at the national level. It does not work; it is not possible. Obasanjo or Yar'Adua cannot be president of Nigeria at the same time a state governor. You have to relinquish one. So, the Anambra delegation met, selected delegates and they were there. No other State did that kind of delegation. When they called for accreditation of states, Ebonyi was not there absolutely; Rivers State not there absolutely; Anioma, Enugu, Abia and Imo States were not there, as delegations. How can six States be absent and you say you are holding an election? Eleazu protested, saying that with the absence of all these people, it was not easy to conduct an election. But they insisted on election or a kind of appointment. They started with the president and it was only Ikedife. Most of us said we would not subscribe to that kind of procedure and we did not submit any forms. The Monsignor of the Catholic Church, who is Anambra's electoral officer, was not there and he was the person who collected all the nomination forms and supervised the delegates' election in Awka. He was absent and so how then do you accredit the delegates from Anambra? We have tape recordings of the whole thing. There was no election. But funny enough, they got a judge to swear them in. Orji Uzor Kalu gave them N6 million. Babangida was there at the Government House, Umuahia. An Ohanaeze meeting, which was supposed to be at the Michael Okpara auditorium, was moved into the Government House, which was again unusual because the Michael Okpara auditorium was free. Babangida came and greeted all of them and I asked why the presence of Babangida and why move the event to Government House, Umuahia? We don't attend election of the Arewa or Afenifere and why should that of Ndigbo be different if not that somebody was fuelling it. So, the next thing we started hearing was that there's a new executive of Ohanaeze. We said, okay, if Ikedife is the President-General, who is his Secretary? The position of Secretary-General was zoned to Ebonyi State, and they have not nominated anybody. There is supposes to be five chairmen, one for each Igbo State; they have not nominated. There is supposed to be a deputy president and that deputy president is to come from Anioma (Delta), which is the Asagba's constituency. They have not nominated any deputy president. So, Ikedife has no deputy president; he has no vice president, no secretary-general. Who is his treasurer, who is his financial secretary, who is the publicity secretary, who are the ex-officio members? All these are lacking and so what you have now is a sole administrator, a one-man executive. In order to give himself credibility he started aligning with Oji Kalu. It is now history but we all saw it: that Ohanaeze under Ikedife started attending rallies of the PPA (Progressive Peoples Alliance). You see them seated at even political rallies for the presidency. They held Igbo Day at Awka, which the governors said should be cancelled. But Ikedife went ahead with Governor Peter Obi and held one where they were given N17 million, as we understand, to organize it. What happened on that day? They presented a plaque to Orji Uzor Kalu, as the new Igbo leader. Is that the Ohanaeze? It has become so partisan. Ikedife issued a statement on the presidential election: that all Igbo persons, who vote for PDP or Yar'Adua would be ostracized or excommunicated. It was giving very wide coverage and used for the election: that Igbo were against PDP and Yar'Adua. The elections had come and gone and he (Ikedife) now finds himself in the minority in alliance with AC and PPA. Is that the Ohanaeze we are canvassing for? WHAT have you to say about the Governors' recognition of Ikedife? Now, to complicate the whole thing, the governors met some weeks ago and said that they had endorsed Ikedife, as the president-general of Ohanaeze. A one-man executive? The governors lack the jurisdiction to do a thing like that because in their earlier meeting, they had asked that all cases in court should be withdrawn. There are four cases in the Enugu High Court here. The second case was by the Ikedife group, saying that Irukwu's group should no longer parade themselves as officers of Ohanaeze because their tenure had expired long time. There was an injunction to that effect by the court; there was an appeal against it and that is why it is still in court. So, the secretariat now is without any officers. Another action from lawyers in Lagos said Ikedife and any other person working with him should come to Enugu High Court and tell the court why there shouldn't be an election of Ohanaeze executive. But if they said they held an election in Umuahia, to tell the court what kind of election took place and who were those elected with Ikedife. It is unfortunate the whole thing is this way. As a people, it reduces us in the estimation of other Nigerians because the questions will be whether there is a one-man Afenifere; do you have a one-man ACF in the North? Absolutely not! The case is filed for them to come and show whether there was an election in Umuahia and to submit to an election under that committee of the Asagba. They had not put up an appearance in court, which means they do not want to submit themselves to a court in Igboland. The case had come and adjourned and they had not put up any appearance and so the Lagos lawyers have filed a motion for judgment. The motion came up two weeks ago and had been adjourned for this (last) month of May. Meanwhile, Ikedife has ignored traditional rulers, who have said there should be a new election under the constitution and went to the governors through Peter Obi and they came here to say they were recognizing Ikedife as what, because he told them that they should, on their own, nominate people into his so-called executive to fill the vacancies? How can you do that without a General Assembly? It cannot be done. You have to have an election so that people can fill the vacancies. Under the constitution, any state that is given the secretary-general will present three names for that post, and the General Assembly will pick one of them. It is not for one man to decide because like a governor, who works for Ohanaeze, he will certainly influence the action of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So, that is the crux of the matter right now. We want to build a credible Ohanaeze that is devoid of partisan politics. Members of Ohanaeze can belong to any political party of their choice. We have no problem with that, but on Ohanaeze platform itself, they cannot bring their partisanship to bear on Ohanaeze so that it becomes an appendage. We might lose our credibility; Ohanaeze will not be able to speak independently for the Igbo and in the interest of Igbo. That is the procedural requirement and if there is the need for amendment of certain clauses and so on, it is the General Assembly that will do that, and not the governors sitting in their offices. The governors cannot amend the Ohanaeze constitution because they are members of the General Assembly, they are members of Imeobi and not synonymous with Ohanaeze. They were elected by their own political parties. But Ohanaeze comprises people of different political linings and therefore, should always do things that are in the interest of Ndigbo to get all the governments in Igboland to harmonize their policies and activities to integrate the Igbo. What the Ohanaeze stands for is cultural integration of Ndigbo, a pressure group to get the Federal Government to give Ndigbo their due in infrastructure and so on. The roles should be integrated, if there is a road from Enugu here that should continue to Onitsha, you can't stop at Abia and turn round again to get to Onitsha. This is what Ohanaeze stands for: to bring back our culture; in education to get Ndigbo into technical education or college of education and not partisan politics. That is exactly where we are now. Could the Irukwu executive still be recognised? Irukwu and his executive had resigned and so, there is no executive at the moment. They had written letters calling for an election. Ikedife didn't have an election in Umuahia and he's only one parading himself as the sole administrator of Ohanaeze. He should come and have a proper election. All the States of Ohanaeze with their executives should, in accordance with the constitution, elect their own delegates according to the guidelines. He cannot predetermine the outcome of an election sitting down in his bedroom. That is why we are blaming the government and INEC. Why can't we do it the proper and democratic thing? Ikedife can contest for the presidency of Ohanaeze. He is eminently qualified like any other candidate, but he cannot appropriate it to himself to the exclusion of others. These are issues. But it does not appear that Ikedife is operating alone. He has leaders and elders of the zone backing him? What I am saying is that there should be rule of law and that is the origin of this problem. Those who do not know the origin of this problem, maybe his friends, associates, when he was Presidential Liaison Officer (PLO) for Shehu Shagari in the NPN, will say this is my friend and they will put their muscle behind him. They didn't attend the General Assembly at Umuahia and then they go by what they read in the newspaper and so on. Look at what we are doing in PDP. Every state we went to had three or two groups and each of the groups would attend our hearing with massive number of vehicles and people. In Anambra, the two major groups came with almost 200 vehicles. So, if we go by this, we may not look at the constitution and guidelines and every member of the group can do anything he likes because they have people that have come with them. This kind of thing does not give one legitimacy. If there is legitimacy, it becomes less expensive. You don't have to spend money to rent crowd or induce people. Based on circumstances in Ohanaeze, there is a general feeling that it has nothing to offer Ndigbo in the polity. So, what organization can then be relevant? The zone or people cannot be naked like that. It is like saying there is no well-meaning Igbo and things like that. There are so many well-meaning Igbo but they should be given the structure and platform to perform and to bring credibility to Ndigbo. That there are few individuals of queer character does not mean that Ndigbo has nothing to offer. Afenifere has similar problem; they split into three and you know that. Only the ACF in the North is more or less intact because they have had a proper succession for leadership. What is the way forward, looking at the pronouncement of Southeast governors? The governors call for all cases in court to be withdrawn within four weeks but none was withdrawn. What they should do now is to call the stakeholders of both contending sides to a meeting and not select a one-sided meeting of stakeholders. They know what to do, like the stakeholders that came for August 12, 2006 meeting. If you convene them, it is those stakeholders that will go and withdraw the cases from court with their lawyers. But before they do that, the governors must fully accept that there should be a new election by the electoral committee with the guidelines and they will agree with what is obtainable in the Ohanaeze constitution. If they like, let them set up a constitution committee and give them four weeks to write a new constitution for Ohanaeze to the satisfaction of everybody. Then call a meeting where these things will be agreed upon and then on that basis, you set up the structures. If you like, you can set up the structures at the state levels and after that at the national level. Do things correctly. If you don't do things correctly, can you preside over anarchy? Can the governors usurp the jurisdiction of the courts? They can't because the court is just an arm of government. So, the governors must respect the judiciary in doing their functions especially when the matter is sub judice. There are three or four cases in court and the proper way of resolving cases in court is by judgment or discontinuance by parties that went to court. Parties will have a freer mind to discontinue when they know that the alternative is for rule of law and constitutionality in the interest of the people not otherwise. They cannot withdraw the cases only for you to hand absolutely illegal conception to a sole administrator. I believe the governors are not being properly advised. They should go and look at the provisions of the constitution of Ohanaeze, as they (former governors) did on August 12, 2006. They should revisit all the memos written then and call for an election. They should call the Asagba of Asaba and discuss with him on why the election did not hold then and his programmes. There are Ohanaeze executives in the States still intact and you cannot brush them aside no matter your thinking. They should be highly involved if we must resolve this problem.
Azikiwe, NNUBIA: Igbo Suffering Due To Ohanaeze's Crises Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe, the eldest son of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief I.G Nnubia, the Anya of Ihembosiin Ihiala Council of Anambra State, have reacted to the lingering leadership crisis in the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo...They spoke to Chuks In Awka Azikiwe: BECAUSE too much water has passed under the bridge and hence made seeking room for compromise relatively far-fetched, let them go for an election to choose a new executive. Since the 2007 Igbo Day celebration disagreement, where the two sides refused to yield to the other's views, it really narrowed down room for any compromise and many now see election as the way out. I am ready and willing to play a role in making peace. It's disheartening that we allowed the last administration to insult our vision and focus by manipulating the entire organisation. Many of the elders found themselves either becoming docile or speaking from both sides of their mouth. It was unacceptably strange to learn of another 'constitution' which provided for a term of more than two years for the executive, other than the one, which was presented to some of us. I was given a constitution, which provided for a two-year tenure, which I accepted and was convinced to encourage others to accept it, too. The zone suffered untold pains under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. We were even the greatest victims of election rigging in the country under that regime, until what his party men then described as the Tsunami of 2003 in the Southwest when he struck and left his people speechless. I, however, wish to caution that Ohanaeze was a dream with an aim and vision. It is only men with passion for that dream and vision that can save the organisation now. Unfortunately, some of the foundation members, who still hold on to the dream like our brothers from Rivers State, have warned that they may pull out if the crisis is not settled soon. This crisis of confidence has robbed us of many development projects. Chief I.G Nnubia: I AM not happy with the goings-on in Ohanaeze, and it's the same for many other true and patriotic Igbo. Those at the helm for whom we hold to high esteem have disappointed us. They have been playing with our collective sensibilities as the prolonged leadership and ego clash has robbed the Igbo countless opportunities and development both in terms of national and international appointments and projects. Ohanaeze was expected to be a rallying point for the people but unfortunately, it has not been so. There's now urgent need for the leaders to come together and once again have a common front. Let us stop giving our enemies and opponents the opportunity to play with our destiny and collective will. Our competitors and outsiders know that no government in Nigeria can stabilize or excel without Igbo's support. It's unfortunate the former executive allowed the former President to manipulate, use, disagree and dump them. Let us, however, put everything behind, conduct fresh election and choose a new executive.
IKEDIFE: We Shall Reunite Igbo Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political body of all Igbo has for years been factionalized. But recently, the Southeast Governor's Forum chaired by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, succeeded in harmonizing organisation under Dr. Dozie Ikedife, as the president-general, who barred his mind to CHUKS COLLINS in Awka. HOW has the struggle been to unify Ohanaeze Ndigbo under one umbrella? The struggle has been on for quite sometime. It's like the fight of the lizards - they don't draw blood, but there are strong feelings on both sides. We are all happy it has now been resolved in my favour and everybody is encouraged to come under one umbrella once again under the leadership of Dr Dozie Ikedife, as the president-general of Ohanaeze Worldwide and the Ikenga-Nnewi. I also wish to say that we have our hands wide open, ready to accept anybody who was on the other side of the divide before. The battle is over and the issues have been resolved. We are willing to forget the past and move forward. We are not going to point accusing fingers especially on those who earlier went round confusing and misinforming people. The battle is over. While the struggle lasted, we lost a lot as a people; we lost relevance, we lost positions, we lost cohesion and we even lost trust and focus. We lost initiative in every thing. We ended up speaking in diverse and opposing views, thereby confusing our audience, especially when someone says one thing and another person says shut up, you are not our leader or spokesperson. So, no one knew whom to deal with. The disagreement actually cost the Igbo a lot of opportunities, even in governments and political parties. What is the agenda for restoration? I don't have any personal agenda but a general Ohanaeze agenda. But we must first of all come together, to talk with one voice. We are already articulating programmes, like the Southeast Economic Zone. We are urging our people to henceforth think less as an Enugu State man, an Ebonyi man or an Abia man, etc. Think more of an Igbo man, and with bigger number, you'll be able to tackle bigger economic, political or social issues. Certainly, we need communication, power generation/distribution, etc. We need to work together. If we develop, say, Abia State alone, it will not make proper impact. But you have to develop all of them together - Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Delta, Rivers, etc. Then we can say we have started. We have enough of good and bright ideas; we only need to convince the people that this is the way we should all go. What is the position of Ndigbo in contemporary Nigeria? Could you say you have arrived? Obviously, we have lost a lot of ground and are still losing. But I have strong faith in the Igboman's ability to survive. The Igboman is, in fact, like the typical beetle, which cannot be killed. Our detractors know our weaknesses and have been exploiting them. We shall overcome all these and become relevant because even in the big political parties, the Igbo are not relevant. An Igbo, for example, is the chairman of PDP, but his position is a very weak one when you have the chairman, Board of Trustees that can overrule not only the party but also the government. It is shameful (please, permit me to digress a little) for anyone to talk of a party ruling this country for the next 60 years. That sounds very ominous and dangerous. It is not good for democracy. Even among those who have practiced it for long, you may get someone ruling for so many years but you have to change hands. Honey is sweet but if you go on eating only honey, you won't have balanced diet. Even in Communist countries, they have tried continuous unchangeable leadership and have all ended up finding it counter-productive. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is unfortunately shortsightedness for anyone to think and say he's going to rule for the next 60 or 100 years. No one thinks or says such in a proper democratic environment. Change is the only thing that is permanent in life, and we must allow room for change. We need to have a sustained conscious opposition to help you put checks and balances, do a re-think; otherwise, it becomes a train rolling uncontrollably down the hill. Many say that some Igbo turn their back on their people once they get to higher office. No, it's a broad generalized statement. But mind you that most of them are in positions where they can do absolutely nothing. They are marked round about, hence cannot take meaningful decisions, or implement meaningful programmes outside what they have been ordered to do. Igbo are never cowards but we don't have the opportunities. It is until you are given opportunity to play before you can be assessed as a poor, moderate or excellent player. If the leadership of this country is given to an Igboman, he will certainly lead the country aright. When people talk of shift of power, there are aspects of power you cannot shift in Nigeria. The economic power is where it is: not in the hands of the Igbo. The same with bureaucratic power, the military power, etc. All we are saying is let the leadership be given to an Igboman because we are broad-minded; we don't think about ourselves first. That's why you say they turn their back on their people. They depict broad-mindedness, accommodating and never wanting anyone to feel bad. Have Ndigbo in Diaspora and the World Igbo Congress really been effective in activities here at home? They are most invaluable part of the Igbo nation. No one can ever quantify the amount of help, assistance, impetus and encouragement they are giving the Igbo at home; so don't ever mess with them because I will come out fighting in their defence wherever they are. Other Igbo in Diaspora organizations are also doing their best notwithstanding that not long ago, a functionary of Ohanaeze was touring the globe, confusing people, giving them all kinds of information and wrong signal. But presently, we hope all that has come to an end. However, no one should blame anyone who goes ahead to set up another body, especially when someone was going round collecting money from people and making them chairman here, chairman there, Eze-Igbo here, Eze-Igbo there. It bothers on criminality but that phase has come to an end and henceforth, all the organisations know where to go and who to talk to. Talking about Eze-Igbo here and there, this has become a disturbing trend. Which is the way out? The stand of Ohanaeze on this has not been given wide publicity. We believe that wherever the Igbo are, they should come together and have leadership and spokesman, and not to have, say, you are Eze-Igbo in a foreign country or state outside Igboland. It sounds illogical and improper. It is a desecration of our custom. You can only become Eze-Igbo of an autonomous community, and not for a collection of people in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos or wherever. Do not act as if you are translocating the Igbo environment where you are. You may imitate it but you do not translocate it because you are desecrating it by so doing. You need leadership, you need advisers to the leadership but they should be given proper name that depicts that role. How worthy is the institution of a Hall of Fame/Shame for deserving Igbo sons and daughters? It has been there and we have been honouring distinguished Igbo sons/daughters. During the last Igbo Day celebration, we combed out a few of them and honoured them. The other side of it - Hall of Shame - is a little bit delicate to put someone's name, as having qualified for the Hall of Shame because if he's alive, he will fight or his people will do the fighting. But suffice it to say that the voice of the people is that of the spirits. Anyone who performed poorly need no other special induction or ceremony to know he's qualified for the Hall of Shame. There are certain Igbo today that wherever you mention their names no one wants to associate with them because they are already in a hall of shame where they put themselves even without formally hanging their names on the wall somewhere. However, we need to be more vocal in condemning iniquity, evil and unpatriotic act. We should be more vocal about it. The ignoble list currently exists in the hearts and minds of the people. Which areas in the electoral system would the Ohanaeze see reformed, now that another opportunity has come? The most important area that needs reformation is to introduce punitive element against those who perpetrate electoral fraud, rigging or prevention of actual voting but ending up with handwritten results. Anybody found guilty of having committed any electoral offence - it should be made part of the Electoral Act and Constitution - should be barred from holding or contesting for any public office at whatever level, for 10 years or even for life. That will begin to bring sanity. It will also include those who procure people to perpetrate the offences on their behalf. Another important thing is that election petition tribunals should be made to conclude the cases before the date of swearing in of the new elected persons. This will enable the person to face the work with the necessary concentration without having to go up and down the tribunals, and worry over whether to start implementing his programmes or not. Also if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is found lacking or deficient in anyway, it should be dissolved, and new members reconstituted. At times, it appears we tend to perpetuate iniquity. For example, whoever conducted the last election cannot say he has done very well, Therefore, he should not be allowed to organize bye-elections as ordered by the tribunals. Are you satisfied with the current level of government/people's relationship? Do you think the government is carrying the people along? There's still a lot to be done. We are, however, hopeful that when President Yar'Adua settles down, he will tackle some of them. How far with the issue of a new state to be carved out of the Southeast zone to bring it at par, at least with some other geopolitical zones in the country? It has been raised, discussed and agreed. Discussions are still going on, but what is worrying me is that some people may go to hang on to a particular proposal without considering other possible proposals. Such a situation again may end up portraying us as speaking in diverse tones. Won't Ohanaeze come in early for such discussions to be appraised and concluded internally before going public formally? Yes, Ohanaeze is involved and we are discussing it. But at this stage, it may be counter-productive to begin to discuss it in the media. We are certainly discussing it. A preview of the probes into the last eight years of democratic rule in Nigeria has revealed a lot, especially as the Igbo nation appeared worse-off. What do you advise President Yar'Adua? The president should first gather the information and avoid surrounding himself with sycophants and praise-singers, who would be feeding him with twisted information. He should thereafter do well to remedy the anomalies. The only painful thing is that you hear these things (allegations); songs and dances are made of them; committees created to look into them. But soon the accused persons walk home with all the loot happily. It doesn't make any sense. Any looter should naturally be made to vomit it and should swallow some bitter pills of his wrongdoing. It's not enough to write in the newspapers that so and so has been found to have stolen such amount of money. Then the National Assembly, FG, EFCC, ICPC, etc., set up this and that committee, after which the issues die down. It looks as if the committees were usually set up to douse the fire. For example, a certain Inspector General of Police was disengaged from service compulsorily and arraigned for allegedly stealing huge sums of money. He was arraigned amidst fanfare but was later jailed ridiculously six months, which made him walk away to his house from the court. Simply put, he did not feel any punishment. That will not stop any other person from committing the same or similar offence again. And his successor has already been indicted and no one knows what is going to happen. These make things ridiculous and it looks as if we are just joking, as everything is swept under the carpet. Now, the underside of the carpet is full; let us sweep no more. If we want to be respected by other countries of the world - because they are watching and judging us - there's no need spending billions to launder your image when what you need is simply to launder your cloth. Then your laundered cloth will launder your image for you. Let us clean up our acts so that other nations will see some seriousness or resemblance of it in us, not when we wallow in iniquity, we make songs about it and then do nothing. No one will take us serious no matter how much we spend on CNN, BBC or Voice of America, trying to say we are clean. In Igbo language we say that, agugo amu-ibi bu kponie akwa gi, meaning if you are accused that something is wrong with your anatomy, then raise your dress to expose that anatomical part to clear yourself. If we are accused of being corrupt, let us show that we are not, by not being corrupt not just by saying we are not, we are not.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo ...Trouble In The Family Despite efforts by some interest groups from the zone to resolve it, the protracted leadership crisis in the Igbo apex social-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo appears unabated. But the Dr. Dozie Ikedife- led faction of the body says the problems are over, going by the recent endorsement by the Governors of Southeast States. SAMSON EZEA takes a cursory and retrospective look at the origin of Ohanaeze, and the crisis and efforts the resolve it. THE Igbo are among the earliest races to practice democracy, as monarchical institution makes their skins crawl. As republicans, power has always been with the people and bodies that appeal to the masses. In earlier times, authority lay with the elders and the first male child who belonged to a council called the Ama-Ala. Married women, known as Mgboto or Umuada that wielded immense authority, usually complemented their efforts. The youths (Umu Okorobia) carried out law enforcement and other directives from the above two bodies. Though there are parts of Igboland that imitate foreign forms of government, these are generally alien to the Igbo traditions (Igbo enwe-eze). This is why the British colonists found them a hard nut to crack during the build-up to colonisation. Before the Nigerian Civil War that erupted in1967 due to political differences between the then military administrator of the Eastern Region, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the General Yakubu Gowon-led Federal Government, the Igbo were more united, strong and focused than any other ethnic group in Nigeria. By the time the war ended, things had fallen apart, as the centre could no longer hold for the once united people. They came out of the war traumatised and divided due to alleged roles played by some individuals against the people's interests and wellbeing. It was alleged that some Igbo played the role of saboteurs by divulging secret information and supplying arms to the federal troops. That brought about name-calling, conspiracy and suspicion among them at the end of the war. It was learnt that in a bid to articulate and evaluate their positions in the pre and post Nigeria civil war that the likes of Late Dr. Akanu Ibiam, Dr. Michael I Okpara and other prominent Igbo citizens came together to form the 'Igbo Forum' in 1976. Akanu Ibiam was the chairman of the group while the late Dr Daddy Onyeama was the vice-chairman. While the late Chief Jerome Udoji was the secretary and Prof. J.U Agwu the deputy secretary, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe became the patron. It was through the activities of the Forum that they realised that they had lost all their positions in the affairs of the country and that the 'No Victor, No Vanquished' pronouncement of General Gowon after the war was a mere political rhetoric to calm frayed nerves at that moment. Following this development, they decided that there was need for the Igbo to have a common front to articulate, propagate and protect their interests in the affairs of the country. In 1979, after the military handed over power to the civilian government, the Forum metamorphosed into the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the late Chief Mathias Ugochukwu became its president. However, Ugochukwu, being a businessman, aligned himself with the National Party Nigeria (NPN)-led Federal Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari with his Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who incidentally came from Anambra State. It was alleged that Ugochukwu did that to protect his business interests and those of members of the executive like Udoji, the late Joe Nwankwu and others at detriment of Igbo interests. They felt that the NPP-dominated government in the zone was too utopian, idealistic and forward and that they were pushing the zone into the opposition instead of mainstream politics, as canvassed by Ekwueme and his group in the zone. The Southeast governors then comprised of Chief Jim Nwobodo of Anambra State and the late Sam Mbakwe of Imo State, together with the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) presidential candidate in 1979 general election, Dr. Azikiwe, protested the partisan political position of the Ohanaeze. That resulted in the battle for supremacy between Nwobodo and Ekwueme over who controlled the state (Anambra) and the organisation during the Second Republic. In the scheming, Nwobodo teamed up with the young generation of politicians in the zone while Ekwueme was in alliance with older generation of politicians in the zone. The older generation wanted to lord it over the younger generation but they rebuffed it strongly. In 1983, there was agreement among them to stop the infighting especially on social-cultural front. That brought about internal reformation in the organisation to distance it from partisan politics. They started having normal joint meetings between the (Oha) - the people and (Ndieze) - the kings. Following the amendment of the organisation's constitution, the kings (Ndieze) were empowered to have their own forum considering their status and position in society. After taking their decision, they would meet the representatives of the people at the IME OBI. The organisation has state executives in the seven States of the Eastern Nigeria comprising Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Anioma (in Delta State) and Rivers State. In 2003, attempt by the Ohanaeze to endorse General Ike Nwachukwu as the president candidate of National Democratic Party (NDP) created ripples and deep crisis in the organisation but it was later resolved. However, the current crisis rocking the organisation started when Prof. Joe Irukwu emerged as its president for a two-year term, according to the constitution of the group allegedly drafted by Prof. Ben Nwabueze, its former secretary for years when the military was in power. The constitution stipulates that the secretary is the accounting officer of the organisation, thus giving more power to the secretary than the president. After Irukwu's inauguration, the Ohanaeze executive saw the need to amend its constitution by setting up the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu committee, which recommended a four-year term. It was read to Ime Obi. Though noted, it was not adopt it because it had not become law yet. Irukwu and his secretary, Col. Joe Achuzia, started having differences at the early stage of their administration over who controlled the organisation. Irukwu subsequently summoned all Ohanaeze state executives and fired Achuzia. That was in their first month in office. But the Ime Obi summoned Chief C.C Onoh, Eze Ozubu and others and they told Irukwu that he could not fire the Ohanaeze secretary like that. Meanwhile, Achuzia's people in Anioma (Delta State) had protested the Irukwu moves. They accused him of marginalising their people in the Igbo affairs. Achuzia later took the Ohanaeze constitution and registered it at the Enugu High Court - that their tenure was two years. But in a twist after the Ohanaeze Ime Obi meeting in Enugu in May 2006, Prof. Irukwu declared: "There is only one Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which has Prof. Joe Irukwu as president-general and Col. Joe Achuzia as secretary-general with elected national officers that constitute the national executive committee, NEC, inaugurated for a four-year tenure on 31st January 2004. The term of the present Ohanaeze leadership will expire on 31st January 2008." He was strongly opposed by the Ohanaeze Transition Committee (OTC) led by personalities like Ndubuisi Kanu. The OTC moved the headquarters away from Irukwu. But Irukwu insisted that 7, Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu, was the secretariat and headquarters of Ohanaeze. Every effort by various Igbo citizens and groups to convince him to bow out proved abortive. After reviewing the constitution, all interest groups agreed that it provided for a two-year term. On August 12, 2006, the Governors of Southeast called a meeting of stakeholders of the two sides in Enugu. They resolved that the constitution provided for a two-year tenure that the two years had elapsed. So, they constituted an election committee headed by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien with the late Senator Samuel Ellah, the Obi of Onitsha and Ndubuisi Kanu as members. They were mandated to meet and get produce the necessary guidelines, as stipulated in the constitution of the organisation and hold election between October and November 2006. The bone of contention was whether the Irukwu-led executive had been dissolved, but the governors were silent on this. Irukwu continued in office but his greatest undoing was his support for the controversial 'Third Term' agenda of former President Obasanjo against the position of the organisation. Under the constitution, Chief Ifeanyi Enechukwu, as the deputy-president of Ohanaeze, wanted Irukwu to hand over to him in writing. Irukwu refused knowing the implication of such an action. Rather, his resignation went to the executive, which, however, agreed that Enechukwu, being the deputy president, should be acting until the Ime Obi met to decide on whom to nominate from Abia to complete Irukwu's tenure. Following the Governors' resolution, the Asagba of Asaba met with his committee members and set out guidelines for the General Assembly. They agreed that there should be seven electoral officers from the seven member-states of Ohanaeze. They agreed that the election would take place in October or early November of 2006. Then the Asagba travelled overseas for medical check-up and came back by October ending. Before his arrival though, Ndubuisi Kanu was reportedly restless, thinking that there was plan to sabotage the committee. Thus himself, Chris Okoye, Dozie Ikedife, Emeka Onyeasor and Elechi Onyia (SAN) allegedly decided to summon the General Assembly for the election in the absence of the Asagba of Asaba. They announced a stakeholder meeting at the Mike Okpara auditorium, Umuahia. However, the Irukwu faction protested to Prof. Edozien four days to the meeting and obtained a court injunction stopping the meeting. But the meeting was shifted to the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia. Still, a day to the meeting, Prof. Edozien announced its cancellation because of the ADC plane crash that occurred a few days to the event. But investigation revealed that it was because of the suit instituted by the Irukwu group against the electoral committee. Thus, the turn out of people, especially members of Ime Obi was very poor at the meeting. Dozie Ikedife, who was then chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Anambra State chapter, came with his full executive. There were individuals from other member-states but they were not representing their various state executives or elected delegates. Kanu was advised to adjourn the meeting till the election committee met. The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe came in the morning but left immediately when he realised that nothing genuine was happening. Still, the participants forged ahead with the 'election', picking Dr. Ume Eleazu as the returning officer. Crowds were allegedly rented within the Umuahia metropolis and election was conducted. Anambra was ordered to nominate a candidate for the president and it nominated Ikedife. Ebonyi was to nominate the secretary but there was no delegate from the state. It was alleged that immediately Ikedife was nominated as president, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, came out to congratulate him. Former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, who was then governor, reportedly gave the Ikedife executive some millions of Naira to take off. In a bid to resolve the crisis, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi enlisted the traditional rulers from Southeast. A meeting was summoned in Enugu and later rescheduled for Owerri, chaired by Mr. C.I Ilomuanya, chairman Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers. Prof. Edozien attended the meeting, likewise the delegates from the two factions. The question that was posed to Dr. Ikedife was whether he had an executive. He had no secretary, no treasurer and other executive members. The meeting agreed that there was need for a properly organised election for Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The battle by Igbo politicians to use the organisation to achieve their political ambitions in the 2007 general elections contributed immensely to the polarisation of the body. It was alleged that the real reason for Ikedife's insistence as the president was the pressure from Orji Kalu, who wanted to use the organisation to achieve his presidential aspiration of Nigeria. Ikedife was disposed to endorsing Kalu as the Igbo candidate for president but was strongly opposed by the Irukwu camp. Investigation also revealed that the crisis has affected the World Igbo Congress (WIC), the umbrella body of Ndigbo in the Diaspora as pro and anti-Kalu members are allegedly at each other's throat over who controls the group. Despite suits instituted in court by various factions to the crisis, which are still pending, the Southeast governors recently endorsed the Ikedife-led executive as the authentic leadership of the Ohanaeze. But mixed reactions have trailed their action. The question is has peace returned to the organisation? If not, when will it that happen and when will it live up to expectation in protecting and propagating the interest of Ndigbo? | |||||
