The claim by Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, that he is the incumbent President General of the Igbo socio-cultural group “is only on the social media”.
Chief Omeife Omeife, the Vice-President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, who spoke in Enugu on Monday, alleged that a certain politician from Rivers State “who destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party is behind the emergence of the Okwukwu-led faction”.
Recall that Dim Okwukwu allegedly emerged as Ohanaeze PG during a congress of an Ohanaeze faction held in Port-Harcourt the same day the mainstream Ohanaeze elected Senator John Mbata in Enugu.
Okwukwu claimed that his emergence was authentic because the venue of the election was in Port-Harcourt, and not Enugu.
Ohanaeze had zoned the position to Rivers State, and Okwukwu argued that Ohanaeze elections are held in the state where the leader would emerge.
Omeife said, “There is only one Ohanaeze leadership led by Senator John Mbata. Okwukwu’s faction exists only on social media.
“He declared himself elected in the comfort of his house.
“In the case of Mbata, governors, both past and serving; senators, town unions, among others, participated.
“Okwukwu and co are simply dancing to the tune of their paymasters.
“The man who destroyed PDP is using Okwukwu to destroy Ohanaeze.
“The fear is that Gov Fubara of Rivers State might align with Ohanaeze now that the PG is from Rivers.
“Former Governor Nyesom Wike earlier said he is not Igbo.”
The VP said the new Ohanaeze leadership had mapped out strategies to tackle the insecurity and dilapidated public infrastructure in the region, adding that the executive would also champion cultural preservation and political emancipation of the Igbo race.
On the support of the Indigenous People of Biafra for the Okwukwu faction, Omeife said, “The spokesman of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful, being a reasonable person, couldn’t have supported that faction. They shouldn’t draw us back.”
Okwukwu had, in his acceptance speech, said he would prioritise engaging the federal government on the unconditional release of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and restructuring Nigeria.
He further pledged to “unite fractured nerves and bring the Igbo together as one indivisible family”.
Quoting him, “We shall encourage the federal and state governments to engage all agitators to address grievances to bring a just closure to issues.
“I will also engage the federal government in dredging, modernization and restoration of the Igweocha/Port-Harcourt and other coastal ports for the Igbo/East and others, together with the dredging of the Azumini to Opobo Imo River basin to the coast, in order to recreate a pole of export-import industrialization and development in Igboland/East, down to the Middle-Belt and Maiduguri.
“I will work for the creation of the Anioma State as an equalization state for the Igbo, and for additional Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orlu or other states in case the balance is further disrupted.”
Meanwhile, a veteran journalist, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, has advised the new leadership of Ohanaeze to eschew manipulation by politicians.
He also questioned why the election of the Ohanaeze leadership was held at the Enugu Government House instead of the secretariat of Ohanaeze.
He said, “The leadership should remove Ohanaeze from political gladiators.
“The new leadership should demonstrate to us if they have come to serve the Igbo interests or political gladiators.
“Having Ohanaeze factions will continue to undermine the credibility of Ohanaeze. Ohanaeze is supposed to be an-agenda group for the governors.”