ENUGU—The new President-General of the Igbo social-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has explained the need for Ndigbo to bring back their businesses to Igbo land to achieve economic greatness, which would in turn lead to employment of millions of jobless youths in the geo-political zone.
Nwodo, who said he would unfold his agenda for Ndigbo at the maiden meeting of the new Executive Committee in Enugu this week, had during his campaign for the position, condemned the secret trial of the leader of the Independent People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying it amounted to a travesty of justice.
He spoke at the swearing-in ceremony of the Enugu State Executive Committee of the organisation in Enugu, and emphasised the need for unity among the Igbo, while expressing his profound gratitude to Ndigbo for electing him and others to work for them. No division among Ohanaeze members Nwodo said there was no division among the members of Ohanaeze, pointing out that he cancelled his trip to attend the wedding of Chief Allison Madueke’s nephew in Lagos because of the swearing-in ceremony to prove to the world that there was no faction in Ohanaeze.
The President-General spoke against the backdrop of reports that Madueke would have challenged him during the election as he reportedly bought the forms but failed to appear for the screening and the election. Nnia Nwodo His words: “This is my first official assignment as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, since elected on Tuesday 10, 2017.
“There is no faction among Ndigbo.
We are united for a common cause. For the first time, we had a peaceful national election that went viral like never before. President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated me within 48 hours. Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar; Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum, past heads of state, governors, church leaders and other groups called to congratulate me and lend a hand of support and partnership to work with us. The increased national attention will increase national expectation from us.”
Nwodo further said the patience of Ndigbo towards what is happening against them in the country had reached its limit, promising that the new executive members would take them to the Promised Land. “The propounded elastic situation has reached its limit and when it reaches its elastic limit, it will cut. We promised to take Ndigbo to achieve that,” he added.
I won’t play politics with Ohanaeze affairs
Reiterating that he would not play politics with the affairs of Ohanaeze, he said, “We can turn Igbo land to China of Africa if we bring home talent and God’s given gift to us. “My administration is for economic revolution not for politics because I rejected politics after the death of my wife (Justice Regina Nwodo).”
Ngige tasks him to reposition Ndigbo
Meantime, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and the new mega party, Action Democratic Party, ADP, have lauded the election of Chief John Nwodo, with Ngige telling Chief Nwodo to use his position to strategically reposition Ndigbo to align with the national politics. Ngige in a letter to Nwodo for emerging as the President of Ohanaeze, reminded him that Ndigbo were before now known for their industrious and dynamic nature but such virtues appeared to have taken a flight. In his message, Ezeife said: “Chief Nwodo was very active in Ohanaeze when that body was at its best. Indeed, many Imeobi Ohanaeze meetings were held in Nwodo’s Enugu residence and he made many significant contributions to the high quality decisions made by Ohanaeze at its peak.
The new mega party, Action Democratic Party, ADP, in its statement, urged Nwodo to use his vast experience as an elder statesman not only to push for the restoration of the pride of place of the Igbo people but to work for the indivisible unity of Nigeria.
“However, it is for you and I to judge whether we have measured up to the standard of our forbearers in today’s Nigeria and her contemporary politics. “It is, therefore, my fervent hope that as the leader of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, your election will usher in an age of self-rediscovery.
“It is my sincere expectation also that you will deploy your wealth of experience to reposition Ohanaeze in order to strategically align the interests of Ndigbo with the changing realities of our dear nation, and through that, transform our peoples’ prospects and yearnings for a bountiful harvest into a reality.” “Knowing your antecedents and pedigree as I do, I have no doubt in my mind that you will excel and history will record you in the Igbo hall of fame. I wish you a very successful tenure.”
via vanguard
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