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Tag: Nwodo

  • Finally, Ohanaeze, IPOB sheathe swords, agree to work together

    Finally, Ohanaeze, IPOB sheathe swords, agree to work together

    Pan Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the separatist Igbo group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have mended fence with a promise to work together for the common good of the Igbo people.

    Both groups met yesterday at the home of the first Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Both groups have been at logger head recently, with the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, calling on his members to attack the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Nnia Nwodo, anywhere he was seen.

    But Amechi, who met with the group, described the rivalry as unnecessary as they were both working for the good of the Igbo people.

    “I summoned the two bodies to express my displeasure with what I have been reading in the newspapers about Kanu giving orders for the stoning of Chief Nwodo.

    “I’m happy that even before this peace meeting, Kanu has retracted the statement. We, therefore, appeal to Nwodo to accept the retraction and get it off his mind as IPOB has agreed to work with them.

    “The two bodies must realise that it is the same battle they are fighting, which is marginalisation, killings and denial of federal government to develop South-east and Igbo land in general,” he stated.

    IPOB, represented by Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to Kanu, said he was at the meeting with the blessings and instructions of his client, just as he thanked Amaechi, who he said was not a stranger to what he was doing having been once declared a terrorist.

    Also, speaking on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Anambra State President of the body, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said the body endorsed all that were contained in the communique.

    He said: “Those who thought our fences are fallen will know that the fences are much stronger than they thought.”

  • Just in: Drama as Nwodo, traditional rulers walk out of South East security summit [Photos]

    Just in: Drama as Nwodo, traditional rulers walk out of South East security summit [Photos]

    There was a mild drama at the venue of the South East security summit on Wednesday as a result of delay by Southeast governors and the Inspector General of Police to arrive promptly at the event venue.

    The event which was slated for 9am was attended by the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, traditional rulers from the 5 states of the zone, religious leaders, captains of industry and other stakeholders from the zone.

    They had all arrived on time at the venue, Base 2 event centre filled to capacity and the police band was on hand entertaining.

    However, as at 1pm the governors were no where to be seen as the VIPs patiently waited.

    At this stage, most of the dignitaries ran out of patience and the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma and announced to the audience: “We are not here for music entertainment but for security issues. We have been here for hours waiting for these people and they are no where to be seen.

    “This is how they toy with issues concerning Ndigbo. Why should they keep us waiting.?

    As if that was the whistle the VIPs were waiting for, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo stood up and left the venue and was followed by many of the traditional rulers.

    Despite pleading of the chairman of the Enugu state traditional rulers council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the VIPS ignored him and left.

    The governors and the IGP later arrived about an hour later.

    Just as the Inspector General was giving his address, Nnia

  • Ohanaeze clears air on Nwodo’s tenure, blasts Nnamdi Kanu for causing ‘confusion’

    Ohanaeze clears air on Nwodo’s tenure, blasts Nnamdi Kanu for causing ‘confusion’

    The tenure of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership will end in January 2021, not 2020, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation said on Sunday.

    It warned mischief makers against stampeding the executive.

    The organisation faulted those it said were “going about claiming that the national election of Ohanaeze Ndigbo would hold in January 2020”.

    It warned them to desist from such propaganda.

    The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, in a radio broadcast on Saturday evening, said the tenure of Ohanaeze President-General Nnia Nwodo would end on December 31.

    Nwodo assumed office in January 2017.

    Kanu said in the broadcast that some people from the marginalised parts of the country, who are supposed to be supporting the Biafran cause, are rather fighting against it.

    Such people, he said, include some leaders of Igbo groups and some governors from the South.

    He said the agitation for Biafra will continue as Biafra and Nigeria are not meant to be together.

    Kanu ended his address by stating that Nwodo will no longer be the leader of Ohanaeze after December 31.

    But Ohanaeze deputy spokesman Chuks Ibegbu noted in a statement that the Nwodo-led executive won’t complete their term until January 2021.

    He accused “desperadoes” and those who wish to use the office for personal gain as propagating the rumour.

    According to him, when the tenure of the present Ohanaeze executive is due to end, the world would be told.

    Ibegbu noted that for now, the Nwodo-led executive was trying to reposition Ndigbo within the Nigerian polity.

    Many prominent Igbo citizens from Imo State are said to have started jostling to succeed him.

    Those jostling are saying, contrary to the Ohanaeze executive’s claim, that Ohanaeze constitution prescribe three-year tenure which is rotated alphabetically among the five Southeast states and the Igbo speaking parts of Delta and River states.

    With Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi and Enugu having produced Ohanaeze presidents, it is Imo’s turn.

    Those said to be interested in the position from Imo are former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States Prof. George Obiozor; former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim; policy consultant Dr Chris Asoluka; former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Dr Joe Nwaogu, among others.

    Nwodo served as Minister of Civil Aviation during the second republic under Shehu Shagari.

    He served as Minister of Information and Culture under the Abdulsalami Abubakar military administration.

    In 2017, Nwodo won an election that declared him the ninth President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural organisation that represents Igbo speaking community, and protects the rights and interests of the Igbo around the world.

    He won with 242 votes. His opponent, former Anambra State University of Technology Vice-Chancellor Prof. Chiweyete Ejike, had 13 votes.

  • RUGA: Defend yourselves, Nwodo urges Igbo

    In his reaction to the 30-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to rescind its decision to suspend the RUGA policy, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, on Thursday described the threat as irresponsible and urged his kinsmen, the Igbo, to stand up and defend themselves against any threat.
    According to Nwodo said in a statement, “My attention has been drawn to a broadcast by Abdul Azeez Suleman, speaking for a coalition of northern groups in which he had the audacity to give the Federal Government an ultimatum of 30 days to rescind its decision on the suspension of its RUGA settlements policy.
    “Abdul went further to threaten the expulsion of southerners resident in the North at the expiration of his ultimatum if the Federal Government does not rescind its suspension decision.
    “This irresponsible, unlawful and provocative outburst reminds me of the northern youths’ notice to quit the North to southerners two years ago.”
    While describing the RUGA policy as an Islamisation and a Fulanisation policy, Nwodo said that Ohanaeze would resist it.
    He added, “The threat to evict law-abiding Nigerians from their places of abode in northern Nigeria is treasonable and obviously like the gun-trotting herdsmen will go unnoticed by our federally-controlled law enforcement agencies.
    “Let Abdul, the Federal Government and others like them, take notice that Ohanaeze has no objections to all Igbo in the North returning home so long as all northerners in the South-East would leave the South-East and we dismantle the federal structure imposed on us by the military and return to autonomous federating units.“The nepotism exhibited by this Federal Government, her duplicity of standards in law enforcement, her undisguised Fulanisation policy is repugnant to the rule of law and good governance. We will no longer tolerate any further threats from these northern war mongers.
    “After all, who should be the aggrieved under the circumstance? The millipede that has been marched is whimpering, but the person that marched it is complaining that his foot has been soiled.
    “The southern Nigerian people that are bearing the yoke of oppression from cattle herders are trying their best to co-exist with their aggressors, yet it is the aggressors that are threatening further mayhem. This cannot be.
    “I call on all Igbo to be ready to defend themselves. Enough of these threats!”

  • 2019: Obiano, Nwodo allegedly trade words over Ohaneze’s endorsement of Atiku

    2019: Obiano, Nwodo allegedly trade words over Ohaneze’s endorsement of Atiku

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State allegedly lashed out on phone at the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Nnia Nwodo on Thursday in reaction to the group’s endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar for next month’s election.

    Obiano, who was disappointed that the endorsement came on a day President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Mausoleum of Nigeria’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in Onitsha, reportedly described the action of Ohanaeze and its president as idiotic.

    Nwodo was said to have been shocked by the tone of the governor’s language and wondered why the matter could not be trashed out in a brotherly discussion.

    According to a report by The Nation he (Nwodo) later sent a text message to the governor saying: “Your Excellency, Gov. Obiano, I was surprised to receive a call from you a few minutes ago in which you said the following words ‘Nnia, I didn’t know that you were so idiotic’

    “I am shocked that you can be so insolent.

    “I am sure that I was not so idiotic when I addressed your State Assembly asking Ndi Anambra to disregard the IPOB boycott of your election nor was I idiotic when I pleaded with the Commander in Chief to restore your security details.”

    “History will judge who amongst us is idiotic. If standing with the popular wish of Ndigbo makes me idiotic, I am happy to be called an idiot.”

    The Anambra State Government on Friday formally dissociated itself and the people of the state from the Ohanaeze endorsement of Atiku.

    It followed it up with a press conference at Agulu yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, where it branded the action of Ohanaeze as an act of sabotage.

    Chukwulobelu, who stood in for the governor at the press conference, claimed yesterday that Nwodo, whose father served as Minister under Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, stabbed him in the back.

    He said the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, by Ohaneze Ndigbo was a slap on Zik’s face in Igboland.

    His words: “We’re not part of that decision. Our position as far as the presidential election is concerned is to keep neutrality in order not to hurt anybody and the fortunes of the Igbo in national polity.

    “From history, the Ohanaeze had failed on four occasions where they endorsed certain presidential candidates. Shall we continue that way all the time?

    “That purported endorsement by the Ohanaeze was a stab in the back to the Igbo and what we are saying is that we are not part of it”

    Obiano added that Anambra was mostly angered that all these happened on a day President Muhammadu Buhari was in the state to honour the late pioneer president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, by commissioning the Zik’s Mausoleum in Onitsha

    Obiano said, “We had expected Ohanaeze leaders to participate actively in the commissioning ceremony of the Zik Mausoleum, Onitsha, Anambra State, but they didn’t consider it an honour to be part of that historic occasion.

    “We have read bits of the communiqué purportedly issued by the Ohanaeze leadership. We regret that they do not reflect the position of the people and Government of Anambra State.”

    “The position of the Anambra State Government is that Ohaneze should remain a united organisation umbrella for all Ndigbo, and should not take sides with any party.”

    “There are major leaders in all political parties, including the three major ones in Nigeria, namely, APGA, APC and PDP.

    “It is deeply regrettable that the Ohanaeze leadership has chosen to go down a divisive trajectory capable of setting back Igbo unity for several years.”

     

  • Bombing my house won’t deter me from serving my people – Nwodo

    Embattled President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo has reacted to the incident of an explosion at his country home in Enugu State.

    Nwodo who expressed surprise that anybody would be after his life but added that the incident would not deter him from leading his people.

    In his speech, he had thanked the Commissioner of police for his prompt response to the incident.

    Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Umudele in U kehe, Igwe Lawrence Aroh, thanked God for saving the life of the President General.

    The monarch wondered why some bad elements would constitute danger to others in a country bountifully endowed by nature.

    He assured the Commissioner that the people would be extra vigilant and that any such attempt in the future would be nipped in the bud.

    The Enugu State Director of DSS, Mrs E A Likiyon, was also at the scene.

  • Youth, women wing suspend Nwodo as Ohanaeze president

    The crisis rocking the apex Igbo socio-political body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, escalated on Sunday as the youth wing of the association, Ohanaeze Youth Council, announced the ‘suspension’ of the President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

    The leadership of the women wing of association was part of the decision to suspend Nwodo, according to a statement made available to journalists in Enugu.

    The development came on the heel of the announcement of plans by the National Executive Council of Ohanaeze to conduct elections into executive positions of the youth and women wings.

    The Nwodo-led NEC is insisting that the Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro-led youth wing had been disbanded by the Ime-Obi, Ohanaeze’s highest decision making organ, in 2016 while the tenure of the women wing had expired in 2017.

    Before announcing Nwodo’s suspension on Sunday, the Ohanaeze Youth Council had, on April 2, 2018, passed a vote of no confidence in Nwodo, and demanded his appearance before a ‘disciplinary committee’ over a number of allegations levelled against him.

    The Ohanaeze youth wing led by Isiguzoro, accused Nwodo of running the apex Igbo socio-political body as a ‘one-man show.’

    Claiming that Nwodo was parading himself as a ‘Generalisimo,’ they alleged that the former minister was using the office to further his political ambition.

    The OYC insinuated that Nwodo was working for the presidential ambition of a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, for whom, they claimed, he was positioning one of his brothers as the running mate.

    They equally accused Nwodo of ‘illegality,’ noting that, contrary to the rules of the organisation, he was using a Forum of States’ Presidents (presidents of Ohanaeze state chapters) to override the Ohanaeze NEC.

    The OYC further frowned on the appointment of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, by Nwodo, as well as the appointment of a Director of Administration, which they said were done without the approval of the Ime-Obi, the organisation’s highest decision making organ.

    Accusing the Ohanaeze President-General of autocracy, the youth leaders added, “He (Nwodo) has closed down the Publicity Department of Ohanaeze by not giving the Publicity Department the liberty which the spokesman for Afenifere enjoys, rather he (Nwodo) is now the President-General and the Publicity Secretary using his media aide against the official spokesmen of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

  • You can’t run for president in 2019, Ex-PDP chair, Nwodo tells Fayose

    A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Okwesilieze Nwodo, says Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, cannot contest in the party’s primary poll for 2019 presidential election.

    He stated this on Thursday in Abuja shortly after Fayose’s formal declaration of his intention to contest for the position of president of Nigeria in 2019 on PDP’s platform.

    Nwodo, a former National Chairman of the PDP, told newsmen that party’s ideology forbade Mr. Fayose and other members from the South from contesting in the presidential race in 2019.

    He said that the ideology would be followed to the letter in spite the governor’s declaration.

    “Fayose cannot run and I will tell you my reason,” he said.

    “When we formed PDP, the first battle we fought and won as a party was to zone the presidency to the South.

    “Those of us from the south made a case because in the first republic, prime minister was from the North; in the second republic, the president was from the North, and in the third republic, a southerner won and the election was annulled.

    “There was no way we could go back to the south and say let’s elect a northerner again without giving the south a slot.

    “A decision was taken that the presidency should come from the south and the chairman of the party to come from the north.

    “That was how Solomon Lar became the chairman of PDP and secretary was zoned to the south; that was how I became the first secretary of the party.”

    Nwodo, a former governor of Enugu State, said that the party would take a decision to ensure that its constitution and ordinances were respected.

    He explained that those who tried it in the past failed to achieve their aim.

    He said, “For example, late Abubakar Rimi, former Governor of Kano State paid for a form and wanted to run.

    “Then I was the national secretary, I returned his cheque and informed him that the party had taken a decision that the presidential candidate could only come from southern Nigeria.

    “When we went to the Convention in Jos, he went to the venue and started to campaign without having a form because we didn’t give him.

    “We had to get some party leaders around to go and counsel him; we didn’t want security agencies to manhandle or embarrass him and good counsel prevailed and he stepped down.

    “That was what PDP did and now we did not only zone the presidency to the north, we have re-emphasised at every opportunity we had that the zoning will take place.

    “So, the party will not collect expression of interest money from anybody else who is not from the North and will not issue him a nomination form to contest; no, we will not do that.’’

    However, TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayose had in a letter to PDP leaders insisted that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, adding that it was in the interest of the party and Nigeria.

     

  • Buhari congratulates Nwodo, promises to work with Ohaneze Ndigbo

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday congratulated the newly elected President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo and expressed readiness to work with the new leadership of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

    He assured Igbos that his administration would continue to be a partner-in-progress in implementing suggestions, measures and programmes to advance the unity, development and prosperity of Nigeria.

    The President said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

    Buhari, who congratulated Chief John Nwodo on his election as the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, noted that Nwodo “is eminently qualified for the job given his long years of distinguished service to the nation.”

    The President said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

    Buhari, who congratulated Chief John Nwodo on his election as the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, noted that Nwodo “is eminently qualified for the job given his long years of distinguished service to the nation.”

  • Former information minister, Nwodo emerges Ohanaeze President-General

    It was dramatic on Tuesday as former information minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo emerged the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

    Other contestants for the position included a law Professor, Simon Ortuanya, ‎Former Vice Chancelllor, Prof. Chiweyite Ejike and Chief Joel Ifeanyi Ezugwu.

    However, before voting commenced, Ezugwu and Ortuanya announced their decision to step down for Nwodo, describing him as a man of wisdom and competence, well qualified for the position.

    Following the development, Nwodo was left with only Chiweyite, a pioneer Vice Chancellor of then Anambra State University of Science and Technology, ASUTECH, to contend with.

    At the end of the election held at the Ohanaeze Secretariat in Enugu, he emerged victorious with a wide margin, having polled 242 votes, while
    Prof. Chiweyite trailed far behind with 13 votes. There were 6 voided votes.

    The seven Igbo speaking states, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Delta and Rivers, as well as other affiliate groups, including pro-Biafra groups, the MASSOB, and the IPOB participated in the election with specified number of delegates.

    In his pre-election speech, Nwodo had assured of his readiness to entrench transparency and accountability in running the Ohanaeze affairs.