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Ohanaeze, Others Back South East Summit
FROM LAWRENCE NJOKU (ENUGU) AND LEO SOBECHI (ABAKILIKI
AHEAD of today's (Monday) South-East political summit in Enugu, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has given its support for the holding even as Igbo interest groups from across the country and in the Diaspora have confirmed their attendance.? The Guardian learnt yesterday that governors of the South-East states have pledged their support for the summit where Ndigbo are expected to brainstorm on various political issues and chart a way forward ahead of 2011 elections. ? President-General of Ohanaeze, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue and prominent members of the umbrella Igbo organisation, including Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said during the Imeobi meeting of the body on Saturday that there was nothing wrong with the summit intended to bring Ndigbo together for a dialogue.? Uwechue said Ohanaeze welcomed the summit, adding that any Igbo willing to attend was free to do so.? Organisers of the summit resolved to go ahead with the event despite the announcement by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu postponing it on the excuse that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had resolved the contentious issue of zoning, which was part of the summit's agenda.
However, the Chief Convener of the summit and a foremost nationalist, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, said in a statement issued in Enugu yesterday that the summit would hold as scheduled and refuted the announcements canceling it.? The statement reads: "I wish to categorically state that the South-East Political Summit is not cancelled nor postponed. It will hold as scheduled on Monday, August 16, 2010 at Federation Hall of Hotel Presidential Enugu by 11 a.m. prompt.? "The PDP as a party has a right to take their decision while Ndigbo have a right to take their stand. ? "Though I have very great respect for the office and person of the Deputy Senate President, I need to remind him that the statement is his personal opinion and not the general opinion of Ndigbo. ? "It is pertinent to inform him that he is an invitee and may choose not to honour the invitation."? Amechi further stated that though public officers were among those invited, there were other invitees who are not public officers or politicians, stressing that they had already confirmed their attendance.? "Those invited include but not limited to federal, state, council public office holders, religious/traditional?leaders, captains of industry, university dons, professional bodies, trade and labour unionists, women, youth and student leaders," the statement added.
Source: The Guardian, 16th August 2010.
Ohanaeze, Other Igbo Groups Disown Ekweremadu Over Igbo Political Summit
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex leadership organization of Igbo people at home and in the Diaspora rose from its extra-ordinary meeting on Saturday with a condemnation of the announcement, a day earlier by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu that the All South East Political Summit scheduled for Enugu on Monday, August 16th.
A top member of the Ime Obi, the highest organ and council of elders of Ohanaeze signalled his disappointment that such a highly place Igbo man as Ekweremadu should so glibly arrogant to himself the role of the spokesman of Ndigbo without having contributed anything to the Igbo cause to merit such an honour.
Senator Ekweremadu had circulated a release on Friday, claiming that summit at which prominent and other Igbo people from all walks of life are going to deliberate and decide on the Igbo stand on the ongoing debates in the country on the political choices and options of 2011, but his claims which have continued to be repudiated by different Igbo groups and personalities, was finally authenticated by the apex leadership of Ndigbo on Saturday, claiming that even though Ekweremadu is the Senate president, he hardly qualifies as a key voice in Igbo scheme of things.
"To qualify for such a role and honour which Ekweremadu is gratuitously arrogating to himself, he must have had a track record of service to Ndigbo, but the opposite is the case", an elder angrily stated in Enugu on Saturday, wondering whether, "it is not the same Ekweremadu, who as the chairman of the committee on constitution amendment could not ventilate or insist on the need for the South East to have an extra state".
"Rather', according to the elder, "Ekweremadu has been busy advocating for the declaration of emergency rule in the South East".
Sources close to the organizers of the Summit claim that Ekweremadu's grouse might be as a result of the consummate and all-embracing working paper which was produced by an eminent committee of the Summit which had disappointed and fallen short of the deputy senate president's expectation, which according to the source, was that the Summit was being staged to herd Ndigbo into a wholesale support of the 2011 presidential aspiration of President Jonathan by without obtaining ironclad and concrete concessions and deals from him.
"However, instead of selling Ndigbo as cheaply as Ekweremadu must have promised the president, the working paper decided on five options before Ndigbo, one of which is that Jonathan's presidency would be supported only after certain concrete things would have been done by the sitting president", the source revealed.
It was further revealed that rather than support President Jonathan wholesale and without reservation, as it was claimed that Ekweremadu might have assured him, the Strategies and Intelligence Committee of the Summit which membership is said to be made up of some of the best and brightest among Igbo nation was said to have considered the pluses and minuses of five options which include the following:
" Supporting President Jonathan;
" Support a Northern consensus candidate for president;
" Dump PDP and its Zoning blues and join another party serious about Northern Presidency;
" Make a run for the 2011 Presidency from inside the PDP;
" Build Igbo aspirations around a regional party (Tactical Opposition);
It was suggested that the following options would be debated at the summit with the view to adopting one or more which would serve Ndigbo better, rather than what was said to have been the hope of the likes of Ekweremadu that a wholesale and unconditional anointing of Jonathan would have been advocated and adopted at the summit, and according to the sources when the deputy senate president noticed that he would not get his wish, he adopted a hostile stance against the summit.
However, reports flowing from all over the country and abroad indicate that rather than dampen the non-partisan summit, Ekweremadu's act has given fillip to the Summit, as it was reported by the organizers that enquiries and confirmations of attendance have unprecedented, as Ndigbo from all walks of life are vowing to throng Enugu for the summit.
The summit which will be chaired by the veteran politician, Chief Mbazulike Amechi will take place at Hotel Presidential, Enugu and is expect to have in attendance all the governors of the South East as well as other people from all the sections of the society.
According to reports from Enugu, the Summit organizers are fearing that they might have more attendees than they had expected as it was said that the Ekweremadu's act was said to have galvanized more Igbo people into the decision to throng the venue of the summit on Monday.
It was, therefore, learnt that by Saturday evening the chairman of the organizing committee, Barrister Ugochukwu Agballah and the Secretary, Senator Azuka Okwuosa were already looking for a larger venue that would better accommodate the expected larger crowd.
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No Decision Yet On Jonathan – Ohaneze
Written by NNaMDI MBAWIKE, ENUGU
Plans by some prominent Igbo politicians to persuade the Apex Igbo Social Cultural Organization, OHANAEZA Ndigbo to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 presidential election met brick walls yesterday, following the insistence of the organisation that it had not endorsed the incumbent president for the forthcoming election.
The organization also kicked against the retained regional zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting that; it would only throw its full weight behind a zoning formula that would be based on the geo political zones.
President General of the Organisation, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike who made the disclosure yesterday while reacting to a suggestion by a former presidential aspirant, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu that IGBOS should endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for 2011 presidential election, shortly after the General Assembly meeting of the OHANAEZE, insisted that the appeal "remains his personal view and advice and nothing more".
Chief Iwuanyanwu had insisted that the recent zoning formula which was recently retained by his party would favor the South east Geopolitical Zone, maintaining that, by the constitutional provisions of the country, President Jonathan would not contest again if he is elected to be president for four after the 2011 elections.
He advised Ndigbo to adopt Jonathan as their own son, insisting that the South East might be not president in the nearest future if the North gets power back, calling on Ndigbo to discuss with the incumbent president and support him to complete the tenure of his late predecessor, Umaru Musa Yaradua.
But in his reaction, Uwachue said "OHANAEZE has not taken decision on Jonathan. We cannot declare support for anybody without consulting NDIGBO to know the person they want. There are many IGBOs in different political parties. We are tired of being used and dumped. When NDIGBO come together, we will take a decision" he said.
Commenting on the zoning formula recently retained by the PDP, Chief Uwazuruike Said ""Nigeria has 6 geo political zones; we believe that all the zones should be treated equally. As for zoning formula, it is not a question of North or South but it must go round the 6 geo-political zones" he maintained.
Also speaking, the convener of the proposed South East Igbo Summit, Chief Mbazuruike Amechi insisted that NDIGBO must take a collective decision on the 2011 presidential election, insisting that South Geopolitical Zone has not supported any candidate.
He stated that the summit, which has been reportedly cancelled by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu would provide an avenue for the IGBOS to contribute their views, adding that a collective decision would be taken at the end of the meeting.
In his contribution, a former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife said there was need to get the views of all the IGBOS before the Zone endorses anybody for the presidential election.
Towing the same path, the Liaison of the World Igbo Congress in the Unites States, Mrs Grace Clerk said OHANAZE said "We have not taken decision the 2011 presidency. We should not allow PDP issues to cloud Nigeria.
Present at the meeting were, Chief Nnia Nwodo, fomer President General of OHANAEZE, Dr Dozie Ikedife, former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, among others.
Source: Leadership, 15th August 2010.
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Ohanaeze Insists On Zoning
FROM LAWRENCE NJOKU, ENUGU
APEX Igbo Socio-Cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, reaffirmed its support for zoning, stressing, however, that the Presidency must be allowed to rotate within the six geopolitical zones that make up the Federation.
Although, it said it was yet to take a position on whether or not to support the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, it maintained that power should be allowed to remain in the south-south or southeast geo political zones of the country, as they remain the only ones that are yet to hold power at the highest level.
Addressing journalists shortly, after the Imeobi meeting of the Ohanaeze, its President General, Ambassador Ralph Uwaechue, said Ndigbo would not hasten to express support for any person or group in the 2011 presidency without a concrete assurance on what they stand to gain for such support.
He stated that the present practice, where presidency was being rotated within the north and south, negates the spirit and letters of true federalism, stressing that such was the cause of underdevelopment of the country.
He said: "We believe and support zoning, but presently, it is only the south-south and southeast that have not tasted power, and we want that for them. Zoning must be practiced, strictly on the basis of the six geo political zones of the country, and not on the north and south thing."
He explained that Ohanaeze would not give support to Jonathan's presidential bid or that of any other person without extensive consultation with her people, whom he said consist different political parties with various political ideologies.
He added that what was paramount at this time was actualising effort that people of the zone might speak with one voice, stressing that Ohanaeze was tired of Ndigbo being used and dumped by emerging leaders of the country.
Source: The Guardian, 15th August 2010.
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Crisis Rocks Ohanaeze Ndigbo Over Tenure Elongation Bid
FRESH leadership crisis is brewing in the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, following alleged plot by the Ambassador Ralph Uwaechue led executive to elongate her tenure in office by another two years.
According to the current constitution of the organization, the tenure of the Uwaechue led executive, which came on board January last year, is expected to elapse by January 2011 while the succeeding executive is to emerge in a fresh election to be held by November this year. The new leadership is expected to be sworn in by January next year.
But sources at the Ohanaeze executive meeting held in Enugu Thursday said instead of tabling the proposed election for discussion, the President-General, Ambassaor Uwaechue sought the support of the executive members for the implementation of the recommendations in the amended constitution by Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi committee on tenure of office.
The development was said to have led to a shouting march among the members and the disruption of the meeting.
Some of the executive members who opposed the President_General's proposal, viewed it as an attempt to elongate his stay in office after they had suspended the amended clause in the constitution for tenure elongation until the office of President General of Ohanaeze rotates among the Igbo speaking states for a period of two years.
It was learnt that Uwaechue had while moving for the adoption of the amended constitution reasoned that it was borne out of the "approaching election of the country", stressing that Ohanaeze could not afford her own election at a time the nation was holding another round of general elections.
He stated that there was need to ensure that the leadership of the organization remained focus and make the needed inputs that could lead to a peaceful exercise, stressing that engaging in an election when the country was holding general elections was not the best.
"As soon as the President_General moved the motion, a sharp division arose among the participants who resorted to a shouting march with the members accusing each other of selfish interests as well as corruption. The confusion forced the meeting to close abruptly.
Those against the move insisted that past executives of the organizations have emerged irrespective of the national elections in the country. They cited the Dozie Ikedife led executive which emerged few months to the 2007 general election," the source said.
Source: Vanguard, 14th August 2010.
Tenure Elongation Crisis Rocks Ohaeneze Ndigbo
FROM LAWRENCE NJOKU (ENUGU) AND CHARLES OGUGBUAJA (OWERRI
APEX Igbo socio cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is enmeshed in a fresh crisis following an alleged plot by the Ambassador Ralph Uwaechue-led executive to elongate its tenure in office by another two years.
The tenure of the Uwaechue executive, which emerged in January last year, would terminate by January next year going by the provisions of the current constitution of the organization which stipulates two-year tenure for elected executive.
Based on this, a fresh election into the executive of the body should hold by November this year, while the new leadership would be sworn in by January next year.
But at a meeting of the executive on Thursday, a move by Uwaechue to get the support of other members of the executive to implement the recommendations of the amended constitution by the Prof Amucheazi committee on tenure of office, led to a shouting match among the members which disrupted the meeting.
Those against the move accused Uwaechue who is the President General, of attempting to implement the constitution to enable him elongate his stay in office, when indeed the amended clause in the constitution for tenure elongation had been suspended until the office of the President General rotates among the Igbo states of the organization.
In moving for the tenure elongation, Uwaechue had reasoned that it was borne out of the "approaching election of the country", stressing that Ohanaeze could not afford her own election so near to the country's general election.
He stated that there was need to ensure that the leadership of the organization remained focused and made the needed inputs that could lead to a peaceful exercise, stressing that engaging in an election when the country was doing hers was not the best.
But no sooner had he moved the motion than a sharp division arose as the meeting resorted into a shouting match with the members accusing each other of selfish interests as well as corruption, leading to the end of the meeting.
Those against the move insisted that past executives of the organization emerged irrespective of the national election of the country, citing the Dozie Ikedife-led executive which emerged a few months to the 2007 general elections.
One of the critics of the move and the National Legal Adviser of the organization, Elder Onyibo Chukwu, told reporters that the Uwaechue executive was "cruising on the course of perdition and perfidy," stressing that it was the same issue that generated the opposition against the Prof Joe Irukwu-led executive.
Meanwhile, following an increase in all forms of violence perpetrated against women by some disgruntled men in Igboland, a group under the aegis of Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in the Diaspora (a body of married and unmarried women in Igboland) at the weekend called for stiffer sanctions for perpetrators of rape, defilement, incest, torture and all forms inhuman treatment against women in the land.
This was part of the resolution adopted by the participants during the yearly August Meeting and a public enlightenment forum on family planning and reproductive health issues held by the body in collaboration with Ipas, a non-governmental organization, held at Regina Parish Hall, Ihioma, Orlu and Umueze Ehime Mbano local councils of Imo State.
The National President of the body, Dr. Kate Ezeofor, represented by an official of the body, Mrs. Ifeoma Ogbu, said the cases as reported in Igbo and Igbo-speaking areas (Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Delta, Rivers and Ebonyi states) were on the upsurge and alarming.
Source: The Guardian, 14th August 2010.
Why Ijaw leaders met with Ohaneze –Uwechue
From BUCHY ENYINNAYA, Asaba
Ambassador Raph Uwechue is President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo. In this exclusive interview with BUCHY ENYINNAYA at his Africa House country home in Delta State, he bares his mind on some topical national issues. Concerning the call in some quarters for President Jonathan to contest the presidency, come 2011, he contends that Ohaneze is a socio-cultural organisation and not a political organisation stressing, ."It is certainly not political. So, it is not for Ohaneze to dictate to Jonathan or any body for that matter whether to contest election or not.
He further tells Nigerians, "We have a country that if well managed, can be sincerely, the pride of Africa. So, I would say that whatever our differences, we should think together, work together, based on what is fair for every unit and every group in this country. So that we can harmoniously, promote the overall interest of Nigeria and lead Africa, as I believe, we are destined to do. Excerpt.
Recently, the Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Ijaw National Congress had a socio-cultural cum political marriage, which for some in the past, there has not been such development.
What motivated this marriage and what does it portend for the Igbo nation and Nigeria in general?
Thank you very much you know Nigeria is a creation of the British and within its boundaries, it contains ethnic units. Today we have some 300 ethnic and sub ethnic units in this country. Some are large like the Igbo, the Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba, some smaller than that. The idea is that for stability to exist in our country, these units, which are the building blocks of our nation, should take primary responsibility in ensuring that people who belong to those units shape up and become good citizens of our country. You know that traditionally, we talk of respect for elders, in a any community, we talk of selfless service to the community, and it is accepted that these core values which our customary communities cherish are fading out of our national life.
So, the idea now is to go back to base. Let the families, which we now call ethnic units look after their children make sure they are properly brought up and given the right values. If this happens, all over the country, then Nigeria as a unit, which combines all these blocs, becomes stable. And with the right values inculcated into in the citizenry. So Ohaneze Ndigbo is one of these important socio-cultural units and we find that there is the need to ensure that we work with other units in the country. Now, the Ijaw National Congress initiated a fraternal approach to Ohaneze Ndigbo. They asked to be received by Ohaneze Ndigbo. We were very pleased to get that invitation and on the 12th of June, this year, they came here to Africa House, Ogwashiuku, 22 of them and met the executive of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
We discussed matters of common interest, how to reinforce friendship and brotherliness between the Ijaw nation and Igbo nation, as a base for expanding such cooperation and fraternity beyond these two units, and more and more into the country. The visit that Ohaneze Ndigbo undertook recently, to Yenegoa, Bayelsa State on the 6th of July, was a return courtesy call to appreciate the fraternal initiative the Ijaws already showed. And we were very well received in Yenegoa; we continued to discuss matters of common interest to Ndigbo, as a nation in Nigeria and the Ijaw people also as a nation in Nigeria. At the end of it, we paid a courtesy call on the governor, of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipriye Sylva.
And then went back to our bases. So, the significance is that the Ijaws and the Igbos who are neighbors are more and more trying to ensure friendly and harmonious existence between two peoples that God put together. And we believe it's a welcome development. And we intend as Ohaneze Ndigbo to extend the same kind of cooperation and understanding to other ethnic units in Nigeria .The Ijaws are doing the same. We intend to continue to do the same. But what you are seeing is a base where two neighbors have come together to encourage harmonious relationship between two important ethnic units in this part of our country.
Don't you think this fraternal initiative by the Ijaws this time around, is a way of garnering support and softening the ground for their son and our president, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan to enable him contest and win the election in 2011?
The truth of the matter is that when discussions took place, the good deal of subjects we examined, the important thing is that they requested and we accepted to co operate with them in promoting the interest of our country. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's election is a matter that concerns all Nigerians, not only Ndigbo or the Ijaw people. And when the time comes, especially as he is now already president, and trying to perform, the Ijaws naturally, would want somebody from among them to be president of Nigeria, And Ndigbo if they see in Jonathan somebody who can advance thecourse of Nigeria, as a country, will definitely, be interested in supporting anyone who ensures stability, and progress for our nation.
The President and Nigerians in general, are insisting on having a credible election, come 2011. Do you think that this could b actualised?
Well, all Nigerians that we know that have spoken desire a free, fair election that is credible. The thing is , how do we get it on the ground ? And the essential point is the voters' register. The recent election in Anambra State for the governorship, position, showed that 1.8 million people who normally should be able to cast their votes, of this number, only about 400,000 were able to vote. That is less than a quarter of those who are qualified to pronounce on the results of an election. The electorate is the jury that decides who will do what.
If we start with a faulty composition of the jury, obviously, we cannot have anything that is free and fair or credible. So, it's important that remedial attention is directed to the voters' register, because it is the basis of having credibility in any election. For example, if we say that any one who wants to vote should be able to vote, and then he or she should be able to identify his or her name on the voters' register. I would say that INEC should be given whatever it requires in terms of time, and resources to get a credible voters' register because a credible election, is not possible without it. It does not matter how well intentioned you are. If you line up to vote and you don't see your name, then how can you vote? I would even say that this register should be published, and we should have a mock election, like we have mock exam before the real thing.
People should go to their centers as if they are going to vote, identify their names, so that INEC would know where mistakes have occurred and rectify them before the real day. You know for example that we have had governors who have ruled in their States for three years before the Court said that they were not the ones who should have been there. So, we should not be in a hurry to repeat that kind of mistake that we know can be avoided. And political instability, frustration, all these are built into the fact that people know that somebody who went in is not the right person there. And we start trouble and that leads to political and social instability. So, I'm emphasising the point that you cannot have a credible election without a credible voters' register. Let that be the base of our concentration now. And let INEC be given what it requires by way of resources on time, to ensure that we take off on a credible note.
Do you think that between now (July 2010) and April 2011 would be enough time for INEC to do this, as election is likely to kick off in April 2011?
This really has to do with INEC itself. They have to tell us what they need. If they need more time, I personally would say, let them have that time. We shouldn't rush into what we know in advance is going to be a failure. On the other hand, if we are not able to adjust the time, we can maximise and expand the resources. So, where 10 people can do something and the time is not enough for them, if you make the number 20 or 30, they can do it. Whatever, it is, the important thing is that INEC must get what it requires to have a credible voters' register.
When you talk about corruption, Nigeria has been projected as on of the most corrupt nations, As President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, what do you think is the solution to this cankerworm?
Corruption is the cankerworm that is destroying practically every project in this country. So, we all know it. To avoid corruption, or reduce it or eliminate it, we need people , who genuinely are interested in serving the population. Not a collection of people in politics who are busy trying to position themselves in places of power. The people come last while their interests come first. That is why they offer bribes, and do all sorts of things and inflate contracts because that is the objective that took them there. We had leaders in this country. At independence, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Sarduana of Sokoto, these men were not corrupt. They were nationalists and patriots who were serving their people. And I'm sure today, we have many Nigerians of that ilk. Even now.
Unfortunately for us, those who have managed to nationally monopolise the political space, are not of the same quality as those who founded this country like the names I just mentioned. So, my feeling is that it's not a matter of painting us and coating us differently from what we are. The true Nigerian is the one who is sincere, and who wants to serve his population. And I would say that we should encourage more of this kind of people to come up. We are running Ohaneze Ndigbo; we intend to promote more and more the core values if Igbo tradition, honesty, courage and unalloyed devotion to duty, which our people had and still, have inside them. All we need is o encourage more and more of it. That is what will help to kill corruption. It is your belief to serve your people, not to cheat your people.
If many more people who think that way are in charge, corruption will vanish,
Governors of the South East geo-political zone have been quoted as saying that none of them would contest the position of president or vice, come 2011.
What is the Ohaneze connection here, and if it is not a directive from Ohaneze, what is Ohaneze's position on this?
To start with, the decision of the South East governors not to contest the election next year, either at the level of the presidency or vice presidency, is entirely their own decision. Ohaneze and we as Ohaneze have taken good note of it, and if they want to concentrate on governing and rendering service in a continued manner to their people, then fighting for the presidency by them, would become a distraction did not prompt it. So, one can see that the decision may have been based on concentrating on continuity if they are re-elected to finish the jobs that many of them have started in their various States.
As for Ohaneze and Ndigbo, the governors are only five. Surely, there are other governors who are not Igbos who may be interested in those positions. So, my feeling is that the decision to be, is entirely, theirs. And I believe that if it as I think, based on their ability to concentrate on what they are doing, instead of politicking for the presidency, then, it's a decision entirely theirs and can be welcomed by anyone who believes they should concentrate on what they are doing and finishing the jobs they have started in their various States instead of having half of their minds on the job and half beaming to Abuja.
The Southeast and South-South geo-political zones are most of the time, shortchanged in terms of national positions and leadership.
What do you think is the cause of this and how can it be curbed?
The truth of the matter is that those who have manipulated the political machinery have managed successfully, to sideline both the South-South and the Southeast, as far as the presidency of this country is concerned. Obviously, there could be many causes, one of it is that the peoples in these two zones, may not have done their homework, enough and consolidated enough to fight for what I believe is their right. We believe strongly in national offices rotating among the six geo-political zones. And the easiest way to achieve it is for those who are shortchanged, as you have said, and you said it correctly, to come together and demand their rights. Many Nigerians will support them when they know that the idea of rotation is to have even development, an even share of power and even share of responsibility.
What would you want to be remembered for as President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, at the end of your tenure?
Ohaneze is a socio-cultural organisation and we intend to use the time we have in putting efforts to get Ndigbo to have more pride in their culture, and the core values customary to Ndigbo. We hope to encourage more of that. For example, the Igbo language should be taken more seriously than is the case now. Every child that is born by Igbo parents should be able to speak the Igbo language along with other languages but not to ignore the one that is primary to its parents. No child should do that. And parents should encourage children to have pride in speaking their own language, and also encourage them to imbibe the cultures of Ndigbo.
And by so doing, they will begin to identify themselves as a gifted nation. We have many nationalities in Nigeria, and if each of these takes pride in its own existence, collectively, that pride would be reflected at the national level, recently, I was invited (and I'm happy to have accepted the invitation) by the Urhobo Progress Union, when they had their summit in Warri, I was very happy to see them proudly declaring their attachments to the Urhobo nation as well as the State of Delta and also to Nigeria. I want Ndigbo to be very proud of being Ndigbo, a gifted people, proud of being Nigerians and proud of being Africans.
How do you wish to achieve these?
By organising with our talented young men and women, through organisations, to promote projects that advance the course I have just identified.
The Niger Delta crisis has become an enigma. The region lacks certain basic infrastructure and even at that, some of the governors in the region are paying lip service to solving the problems there.
What do you think should be done?
The Niger Delta problem, which has just erupted into militancy, has been there all along. Since oil was discovered in Oloibiri, incidentally, our president, Jonathan, comes from Oloibiri the very place that oil was first discovered in this country. Since that time, the resources that have come from the soil of the people who own the land, not enough of that has been put into developing the areas. Where the oil comes from. Over time, this neglect has grown, until some young men took up arms, to protest. That's what militancy is all about. We do not encourage taking up arms to fight for a political cause. But you must understand why people take up arms even if you don't agree with the fact that they have taken up arms.
The truth of the matter is that more and more attention has to be given to the areas in developing the human resources there and other infrastructure establishments. It is encouraging to know that the government set up the Ministry of Niger Delta development and also certain activities going on now, including committees that have been set up by President Jonathan at the moment chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku to concentrate more and more attention on how we can get Niger Delta area faster development and also to ensure that the militancy or any form of distabilisation is reduced and eventually eliminated. But more has to be done. One must understand why we have militancy there. We do not approve of people taking up arms. But we know that it is prolonged neglect of the area that led to that kind of eruption.
Are you not bothered as the President General, that your zone, the South-East, has become the bedrock of armed robbery and kidnapping in the country.
And if you are worried, what has your leadership been doing?
Well, every Nigerian including the Ohaneze leadership is worried about what is happening. in the realm of kidnapping and armed robbery . And the concentration of it at this point in time in the Eastern part of our country, and quite a lot of it in he Igbo speaking area, is a great cause for concern. Ohaneze has been active in talking with our governance and talking with community leaders to see what can be done collectively to ensure that this disgraceful and harmful development is put down, discouraged, and eventually eliminated, so, we have been in contact discreetly, of course with, the Stakeholders in the area.
We sent out emissaries, I, myself I have discussed at the highest level, with our own governors in the Eastern part of Igbo land to encourage them to take steps and I believe they have taken the matter very seriously. And they are working very hard at so doing. But what you have to realise is that, armed robbery or kidnapping is something that you do not see on somebody's face before he does it.
That is the problem. A quiet Youngman or woman would be going; he just starts stop and shooting or searching every body. So, many a time, it happens before you know that it is going to happen. It's like assassination in crowd. A hundred people are there and 29 people love you and only one hates you. He can kill you because you wouldn't know until he fires the shot. So, we need to equip the police better and the, law enforcement agencies and, security agencies so that they would be better positioned to cope with these things as they occur. If we have kidnapping and armed robbery and the perpetrators are caught and punished immediately, that would be the biggest way of stopping it because others would not be tempted to repeat the act. They will know that they would be caught quickly and severely punished.
What is the position of Ohaneze on the call on President Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election?
Ohaneze is a socio-cultural organisation. It is not a political organisation. It is certainly not political. So, it is not for Ohaneze to dictate to Jonathan or any body for that matter whether to contest election or not. When the time comes, and prospective candidates declare their interests, Ohaneze will encourage Ndigbo to support any one, who in their view would promote the best interest of Nigeria. And see to it that they vote for such a person.
Source: Daily Sun, 3rd August 2010.
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