“We will ensure that we continue to collaborate to ensure that the status of Ndigbo is moved forward and that our people continue to take their rightful place in the comity of nationalities in Nigeria. Thank you, your Excellencies, for what you have done.
“I thank Ndigbo for reposing in me the responsibility of the office of the President General. I want to say that you will not be disappointed because we have assembled a team of technocrats desirous to serve, and I believe that under the guidance of our Governors, our leaders, Ndi Imeobi, we will do the needful and make you proud,” those were the words of Senator John Azuta Mbata, the Ikwerre, Rivers State-born 13th president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
He also pledged to reinvent the Igbo assembly spirit and once more make the nationality a pride of Nigeria.
Mbata’s acceptance speech in Enugu last Friday, resonates the length and breadth of places that the Igbo reside, for in the ex-lawmaker and his team, they place their hope of addressing the myriads of challenges facing the Igbo. They include skewed appointments at the centre, neglect of infrastructure in the Southeast, release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as well as insecurity and existential threat especially in Igbo homeland.
Activities leading to the January 10 election actually raised concerns over the possible outcomes of the exercise especially as some persons alleged that there were calculated plans to deny Rivers State its presidency in the Ohanaeze rotational arrangement.
When the then Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu-led National Executive Committee publicly said there was no going back on the Rivers Presidency of the apex Igbo sociocultural body; the indigenship of Mike Okiro, Nigeria’s former inspector general of police and an aspirant to the topmost Ohanaeze job, became another contention.
Though, two persons from Rivers State-Chief Uche Okwukwu and Chief Omenazu Jackson, eventually claim that they are factional leaders of Ohanaeze, not even the blind knows the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo today. Events at the Old Enugu Government Lodge on January 10, were not just emphatic but definitive.
The five governors of the Southeast states fully participated in the General Assembly where Mbata and his team were elected. Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu), Alex Otti (Abia), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra) and Hope Uzodimma (Imo) were present while Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi was represented by his chief of staff, Prof. Emmanuel Idike. Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara was jointly represented by the State Commissioners for Transport and Special Duties.
Daily Sun reliably gathered the governors put aside their political differences and worked behind the scene to rescue the apex Igbo organisation.
They collectively resolved that Ohanaeze should be strengthened and supported to meet the original philosophy of its founding fathers.
Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma disclosed that they agreed to work in unity to move Ohanaeze forward, noting that the custodians of Ohanaeze leadership must be people with track records and no more persons with traits of disharmony.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of South East/South South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN), Emeka Ugwu-Oju applauded the governors, who according to him, for the first time, worked together for a better Ohanaeze leadership. He said that they also consulted with stakeholders in their various States to have a consensus on who should represent the States in the National Executive Committee which obliterated imposition of candidates that usually led to resentment of Ohanaeze leadership by many well-meaning Igbo.
He highlighted the roles played by Gov. Mbah, who provided conducive environment and safe venue for the Ohanaeze General Assembly and 2025 Election.
Ugwu-Oju noted that it was Gov. Otti that reached out to his Rivers counterpart, Fubara, who then provided a suitable environment for the conduct of the Rivers State Ohanaeze State Congress and election of delegates, and most importantly, a peaceful selection of a consensus candidate for the position of the President General election in Enugu: “We hope that this togetherness exhibited by the five State Governors will be immediately put to good use in the implementation of a regional security architecture for the South East, instead of the present stand-alone State architecture.”
As commendations poured in torrents for Mbata, former Abia governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was not left out: “I am confident that your wealth of experience and expertise will greatly benefit this role. There is no doubt that you possess the necessary credentials to champion the cause of Ndi Igbo and strategically position the Igbo people within the complexities of today’s Nigerian politics.
“Please know that I remain fully committed to supporting you as we move forward together.”
Also, the Cultural Credibility Development Initiative (CCDI), said the election has vacated that sense of distrust, disunity and despondency that trailed Igbo resurgence since after the civil war.
Chief Goddy Uwazurike (President) and Steve Nwabuko (Secretary) in a statement said the outcome of the election has been received with dignified solemnity in the sense of acceptance that a proper Igbo indigene from Rivers State won the election in the person of Mbata: “The outcome of this Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide general elections has solidified Igbo oneness of purpose, unity, equality, shared values and prosperity.”
Writing on his X handle (former Twitter) in a congratulatory message to the new NEC, standard bearer of Labour Party in the last general elections, Peter Obi urged them to leverage their positions, which shows the people’s confidence in them, to strengthen the Igbo family and unite the country: “Their emergence as the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the umbrella body that unites the Igbo people, underscores the level of confidence and hope the people have in their leadership ability and their commitment to the development of the region and the nation in general.”
Credit: The Sun