Maureen Edozie in Enugu
The former senator replaces the A former Nigerian senator, John Azuta-Mbata, has been elected as the 13th President-General of the Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and replaced the immediate past President-General Fidelis Chukwu, whose tenure ended on Friday.
Penpushing reports that Azuta-Mbata emerged as the new leader of the Ohanaeze during the election for the new executives of the Igbo group which was conducted through a voice vote and held on Friday held at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu
The new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo hails from Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, while in similar vein 15 others were elected into various executive positions of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and some of them are Nnaemeka Sibeudu who emerged the Secretary-general and Okey Nwadinobi as Deputy President General,
Penpushing also reports that the others include Peter Aneke as National Treasurer, Ezechukwu Ezechi as National Publicity Secretary, and Okeagu Oguada as National Legal Adviser, among others, while they were said to have all emerged as consensus candidates from various Igbo speaking states,
The sources, however, said barely a week to the election of officers into positions of authority at the Igbo apex cultural group, there was profound horse trading which culminated into political intrigues, maneuvering and proceeding to court to question the validity of one of the contestants in the person of Chief Mike Okiro, one-time Inspector -General of Police
Penpushing reports that the argument of some stakeholders in heading to court was to ascertain the state Mike Okiro hailed from which they allegedly said he was from Imo state.
The Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah in his welcome address said the gathering offers the Igbos a little room of introspection regarding the noble vision that inspired the forebears towards its founding, noting that the Igbos are bound by common history and cultural heritage.
Penpushing further reports that Mbah stressed the need for a strong and united front by Ndigbo, urging all to put the Igbo interest above narrow interests and partisan politics, pointing out that the socio-political circumstances that gave birth to the Pan-Igbo body remained relevant in present-day Nigeria as they were in the 1970s.
The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma commended the Governor for making Enugu a home, and advised the new Ohaneze leadership to uphold the tenets of quality and all-inclusive leadership.
Penpushing also reports that the newly elected President General worldwide, in his remarks pledged to take the organisation to a greater height, and equally extolled his predecessor, who completed the remaining tenure of late Chief Iwuanyanwu, for his efforts in organising the event.
The President thanked the Governors of the Igbo speaking states as well as the people of the zone for their support and resilience, assuring that the confidence reposed in him will not be a waste, and acknowledged thousands of Ndigbo both at home and in diaspora who trooped to the venue to exhibit solidarity to various candidates who contested for other positions.
Penpushing reports that in attendance include the five South-East Governors: Prof Chukwuma Soludo, (Anambra), Chief Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Barrister Peter Mba, (Enugu) and Alex Otti (Abia) as well as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
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