General News
OHANAEZE Ndigbo Worldwide says that its attention has been drawn to some documents making the rounds to the effect that there is an urgent need for an Acting President General to pilot the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo arising from the death of both the President General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the Deputy President General, Chief Joel Kroham from Rivers State.
The proponents of this view argue that it is in line with the provisions of the Ohanaeze constitution and that nature abhors vacuum. The documents asking for the enthronement of an acting President General are signed by eminent Igbo dignitaries whose views cannot, in any way, be ignored.
To refresh our minds, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu passed quietly at an Abuja hospital on July 25, 2024. The news of the death of Iwuanyanwu left Nigerians and the international community in a rude shock. Nigerians from all walks of life, both at home and in the Diaspora, have been pouring condolence messages. Many foreign embassies and high commissions have also been sending their condolences. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo flag at all the Ohanaeze locations have been at a half-mast since the Igbo Leader departed.
The Chief mourner, Jide Iwuanyanwu and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo went and briefed His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State and the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum about the death of the Igbo Leader. On August 27, 2024, Governor Uzodimma in collaboration with the South East Governors inaugurated a National Burial Committee, according to Uzodimma, as “a crucial step towards ensuring a befitting burial for the late Iwuanyanwu”
The Chairman of the national burial committee is Sen. Ben Obi, while Prince Gary Enwo–Igariwey, the former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze are the Deputy Chairman and Secretary, respectively. The membership of the national burial committee cuts across almost all the ethnic groups in Nigeria and numerous eminent persons from diverse fields are lending all forms of support towards a befitting farewell to the Igbo Leader. The various sub-committees of the national body have commenced work in earnest and are gradually achieving results for a final funeral rite for Ahaejiagamba. The efforts of the Local Organizing Committees, LOCs, for Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Owerri are also very encouraging. Sen. Obi has announced that the burial programmes will commence with a Day of Tributes at Lagos on Wednesday, October 16; Abuja on October 18, 2024; Enugu on Saturday, October 26; Service of Songs at Owerri on October 29 and finally the interment at Atta, Imo State on November 1, 2024.
It beggars belief, therefore, that while Nigerians of all persuasions have shown uncompromising commitment for the implementation of the outlined burial programmes, some Igbo are busy holding meetings on the enthronement of an Acting President General. Ohanaeze Ndigbo reserves much comments on the activities of such actors, especially where most of them are titled men that are well versed with the nuances of Igbo cosmology. It appears that, in an effort to exhibit their sincere patriotism for the Igbo, the proponents of immediate enthronement of a leader in an acting capacity, may have overlooked the basic fundamentals of Igbo norms, culture and tradition.
The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassdor Okey Emuchay, assures all and sundry that “the ship of Ohanaeze is in safe hands, collectively as NEC”. For the avoidance of doubts, the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, NEC, comprises men and women who are accomplished in the academia, jurisprudence, public administration, politics, Medicare, community service, commerce and industry, etc under the administrative competence of a seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, In other words, the NEC of Ohanaeze informs our highly valued Igbo groups and their signatories that the funeral rites of the late Igbo leader are very much at hand and that an escalated contest for Ohanaeze leadership is not only a major distraction, but highly illogical, un-cultural and an indelible slur on the Igbo nation.
“We therefore urge our highly valued brothers and sisters to join hands in the burial rites of the Igbo Leader, with the reassurances that the appropriate mechanism for an Ohanaeze leadership will be applied shortly after the befitting funeral rites to the Igbo leader on November 1, 2024.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo seizes this opportunity to inform the general public that some mercenaries masquerading as special devotees and adherents of Chief Iwuanyanwu are on the prowl. Such unscrupulous zealots are lurking around with letters preying on the unsuspecting compassionate persons for unethical supports towards the funeral ceremonies of Chief Iwunayanwu. It is therefore necessary to reiterate that the only authentic body for the funeral rites of the Igbo Leader is the Sen. Ben Obi led National Burial Committee inaugurated by His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma on behalf of the South East Governors..
“Similarly, we wish to inform the general public that the National Executive Committee, NEC, of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has cancelled the Igbo Day Celebration that was earlier scheduled to hold on September 29, 2024 at Owerri Imo State. This decision was taken in honour of the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel iwuanyanwu who died in active service on July 25, 2024. Briefing the NEC decision to the Press on July 30, 2024, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, explained that it will be imprudent, unreflective and un-cultural to embark on a celebration of any kind while the corpse of Igbo Leader is still lying in the morgue. Emuchay added that Ahaejiagamba was a rare human being, who had wonderful vision for the Igbo nation and for Nigeria. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, therefore alerts the general public that any posturing for 2029 Igbo Day Celebration should be discountenanced,” the statement signed by Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia; the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide said.
28th September, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Ohanaeze Ndigbo
