A former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, has announced that he has withdrawn from the race for the position of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in an election slated for Friday January 10, 2025.
Okiro who announced this during a press briefing in Enugu on Thursday, said explained that his decision was in compliance with an Enugu State High Court order that barred him from contesting.
The court issued the injunction following a suit claiming Okiro is from Imo State, not Rivers State, where the position has been zoned.
Meanwhile, the outgoing President General, Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu, has reaffirmed his commitment to hand over the reins of power to an indigene of Rivers state.
There has been controversy over whether a Rivers man should be Ohanaeze President General especially since some notable Rivers group have denied their Igboness, while some core Igbos are averse to a Rivers man becoming Ohanaeze leader.
But Chukwu, however, stated that though his tenure as a President General was very brief, but “what matters is the impact and legacy with which we will be remembered. The millions of Igbo people all over the world are watching us with more than a passing interest on the quality of Ohanaeze leadership that will be enthroned on January 10, 2025.”
Chukwu made the above remarks during the valedictory session of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo which was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at its National Secretariat, No 7 Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu.
The Igbo Leader reiterated that the success or failure of any organization is a function of its leadership recruitment process, noting that the screening, appeal and electoral committees for the purpose of the forthcoming Ohanaeze election comprise men and women whose public records and antecedents are above reproach.
He urged the people of Igbo extraction in Rivers state in particular and other Igbo states in general to ensure that only men and women of integrity and proven records of accomplishments are put forward to fill the offices zoned to the states in accordance with the rotation principles of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Every true Igbo looks forward to a vibrant Ohanaeze Ndigbo; a sociocultural organization that comprises men and women of honour, moral rectitude and selfless service, an organization that lives up to expectations and places the Igbo interest first in their policies and programmes,” he said.
In addition, an Ohanaeze that “every Igbo will embrace with pride irrespective of political leaning, ideological persuasions and religious affiliations.”
Chukwu emphasised that for one to lead the Igbo, the person must have proven experience in leadership roles, particularly in cultural organisations, age grades, town unions, market associations or similar contexts.
“Evidently, the person must be well educated with demonstrable leadership traits, including strategic thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. Not only that, the person must have cultural competence; a deep understanding of Igbo culture, traditions, and values. Above all, such a person must have a profile of strong moral character, transparency, and accountability,” he said.
The Igbo Leader seized the opportunity to introduce two Executive Orders: The first is on Membership Registration.
Chukwu lamented that since the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was founded in 1976, it has lacked the capacity to function effectively due to paucity of funds.
He therefore, proposed that every Igbo should pay a registration fee of One Hundred Naira per month or One Thousand Two Hundred Naira per anum; while affiliate organisations will pay Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira annually.
He stressed that every proud Igbo will subscribe to the prescribed fees because we all aspire for a viable Ohanaeze with a strong economic base.
Membership Registration gives one a sense of belonging, ownership, and participation.
A committee comprising eminent Igbo was constituted to drive the process.
The second Executive Order is the establishment of a Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), which is charged with Advisory, Representative, Oversight and Supportive Roles. It provides benefits of corporate knowledge and institutional memory. The PAC will offer strategic guidance, policy formulation, stake-holders engagements, community outreach, mentorship, fundraising, conflict resolutions, capacity-building, amongst others. The two executive orders were approved by the NEC.