By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has cautioned two South-East governors and others against obstructing the election of a new President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, which has been zoned to Rivers State.
In a statement issued yesterday by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the organization said that, as stated in its constitution, Rivers State has the right to produce the next President-General between January 10 and 11, 2025.
The statement read in part, “It is paramount to recognise that, as explicitly stipulated in our governing document, the constitutional right of Rivers State to produce the Office of the President General by the dates of January 10-11th, 2025, is both a duty and an honour that must be upheld with the utmost respect and integrity.
“The emergence of the President General from Rivers State through lawful and proper constitutional procedures is not merely a formal requirement; it is essential for fostering unity among the Igbo people.
“In light of recent developments, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been alarmed by the conspiring efforts of two South-East governors, alongside a former military general who served as both head of state and President of Nigeria from the South-West, a former 2023 presidential candidate from an opposition party, a notable chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta organisation, and several other subversive elements.
“These actors are seemingly united to undermine the constitutional prerogative of Rivers State and usurp its rightful claim to the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, instead favouring an individual from Abia State.
“As vigilant observers of our historical narrative, we recognize the deeply entrenched implications of these actions. The former Head of State’s role in perpetuating the identity crisis within Igbo lineage and the Igbo-speaking areas of Rivers State, beginning with the conclusion and end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, cannot be overstated.
“Historical scrutiny reveals that certain factions, including the Pan Niger Delta representatives and their allies within the Ijaw leadership, are actively working behind the scenes to maintain the status quo established since the tragic conflict.
The group also expressed its profound gratitude to all sons and daughters of Igbo lineage, both within our homeland and across the globe, for their unwavering commitment to the observance of the 2024 Igbo Day, held at many worship centres worldwide on September 29, 2024.
This momentous occasion reached its zenith with a resounding call for strict adherence to the provisions of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution.
