The division in the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo after the January 10 elections has deepened with the faction opposed to the leadership led by Professor George Obiozor opening a parallel office in front of Akanu Ibiam International Airport as its operational base.
The Engr. The faction led by Chidi Ibeh, while inspecting Ohanaeze’s main secretariat on Park Avenue, Enugu, recently declared it uninhabitable and promised to secure another secretariat to manage the affairs of the Igbo sociocultural organization.
Meanwhile, the Ibeh group has declared April 22, 2021 as “Ndigbo’s Day of Atonement.”
According to Ibeh, on the subject of atonement, “this land must be purified; Our men and women of prayer will gather together, all the clergy of the land of the Igbo will come together and pray for the cleansing of the land. “
The group also declared its support for the Eastern Security Network, ESN, promoted by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to protect the people of the Southeast from unjustified attacks by herdsmen and other criminals.
They asked the governors of the region to lend their support to the security team. “We call on all the governors of this region to support ESN; their work is important to stop the incursion of criminals in this area ”, urged Ibeh.
He also dismissed last week’s Ohanaeze Council of Elders meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, as a nullity, saying it was a mere political dinner called by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
The group also reaffirmed its determination to pursue the project of the Igbo presidency with all seriousness and without compromise and to lead all Igbo in the effort to gain support from other parts of Nigeria.
“My leadership as elected on January 9 remains the only authentic leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and we will do everything in our power, under our power, to bring Ndigbo into a very proper perspective.
“Having said this, I must express my dismay at the so-called meeting of the Ohanaeze Council of Elders held in Owerri on Saturday. That was entirely a sham, an absurdity. That meeting was a mere political dinner convened by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
“It was not an Ohanaeze meeting and I want to appeal to Ndigbo to disapprove of the discussions, the results and any meeting that they had yesterday.
“When the Council of Elders is duly constituted, we will inform our people. First of all, if I am the President General, by balance of power and equity, the President of the Council of Elders will come from another state of Igboland and not from the state of Imo.
“So, anyone who addresses Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as president of the Council of Elders is wrong. Is not acceptable ”.
“I want our people to know that after visiting the permanent secretariat of Ohanaeze last month, we have created a temporary secretariat; It has been summoned here in Enugu and this environment is the temporary secretariat. From now on, all Ohanaeze activities will take place here.
“In the Igbo presidency, our determination is that it is non-negotiable and we do not compromise; We will do everything possible for an Igbo man to rule this country, ”Ibeh said.