• Igbo leaders end maiden retreat, charting new course for their people
From Magnus Eze, Enugu
• Admiral Madueke addressing retreat
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide recently convoked a one-day retreat to basically chart a new court for Ndigbo.
• Participants at Enugu retreat
President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Allison Madueke (Rtd) and other eminent Igbo leaders in attendance had a very fruitful concourse.
Setting the tempo at the event, Iwuanyanwu said that his administration has been committed to repositioning the narrative of the Igbo.
In achieving this, he noted that the achievements of Ndigbo from inception in Nigeria was tied to education. Education is very critical, he said, stating that the government cannot do it alone. And for that reason, disclosed that the communities will be mobilised for inspection of schools.
Iwuanyanwu declared that Ohanaeze was going to take the committees on education and business headed by Prof. Chinedu Nebo and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, respectively, very seriously.
He also talked about the committee on culture and traditions of the Igbo chaired by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeke Achebe.
He explained that the cultural committee will design a cultural calendar, stating that he was not “happy with how we celebrate our New Yam festival haphazardly. They are going to get a week where all the Igbo states will mark the Iri Ji. We are also going to pay attention to Iwa Oji. You know we reverence Oji.
“Most importantly, the committee will also look into Igbo values. There should be a reorientation so that our people will reinvent those values that the Igbo were known for.”
Still on culture, Iwuanyanwu said that each South East state will be urged to build Igbo cultural centre.
The Igbo leader who disclosed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo will sue the federal government this month over the skewed federal structure. He clearly reiterated the call for restructuring: “Our position is that allocation should be shared based on states, we don’t support the sharing of federal allocation to local governments. It’s lopsided.
“We have asked Igbo lawyers to prepare suit, we are going to sue the Nigerian Government. We were to do it since January but if we had filed it, some people might have said that it was our suit that stalled the release of Nnamdi Kanu. But in April, we have to sue Nigeria for the short-changing of Ndigbo in state creation.”
Madueke, who was represented as Chairman at the opening session of the occasion by former Chairman of Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke went memory lane stating that the marginalization being suffered by the Igbo started with the misconception that they were behind the January 1966 coup which eventually led to the civil war.
He debunked the flawed narrative and urged the Igbo to remain resolute insisting that they did not lose the war as evidenced by the much-talked about ‘No victor, no vanquished’ slogan of the federal government.
Reflecting on the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria and the place of Ndigbo in the current dynamics of Nigeria in the understanding that difficult times required divine wisdom, the settled for the theme “Ako bu Ije” (Wisdom or tact is the watchword).
After reviewing the robust vision of the President-General and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze to reposition the Igbo nation in the scheme of things in Nigeria, participants at the retreat formally adopted the President-General’s vision on restructuring of Ohanaeze and the establishment of specialized committees for the transformation of Igboland.
The retreat also adopted the President-General’s blueprints on improving transportation in Igboland, implementation of the Orosanya Committee Report and preservation of the autonomy of PRODA; maximization of the Enugu Visa Office, sports development, ending unwarranted hostility to the Igbo outside Igboland, the release of Nnamdi Kanu as well as book publications and leadership awards
The Igbo leaders at the retreat resolved that Ndigbo has the enormous human and natural potential to initiate a “made-to-fit” regional development agenda that aligns with the current global reality. They further observed that they have not exploited the opportunistic media space to identify the power centres in the region and galvanizing them for collective action.
The various specialized Ohanaeze Committees were therefore urged to swing into action to ensure the realization of the new Igbo agenda in sync with 21st Century socio-economic realities.
The August body also resolved that insecurity in the Southeast was a major hindrance to the development of the region and urged the Governors of the zone, security agencies and civil society organizations to redouble efforts in the security sector.
According to a communique issued by Secretary General of the Igbo group, Okey Emuchay and National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, the consensus was that the provision of security will unlock the great potential of the region especially in agriculture.
The Igbo leaders emphasized the imperative of collaboration between Ohanaeze leadership and Igbo Governors for the realization of Ala-Igbo transformation agenda.
“The retreat also harped on the capacity of Ndigbo for self-sufficiency in food production and urged the Igbo Governors to key into this vision and also ensure tight security in the region to earn the confidence of intending investors.
“The Igbo leaders also endorsed the proposed N10billion Naira Endowment Fund from the Igbo in the Diaspora to give Ohanaeze a reasonable degree of financial stability.”
They noted the profound emotional attachment the Igbo owe to Ohanaeze; and stating that such a sacred Igbo identity should not be desecrated on the whims, caprices, rascality and exuberances of some social deviants and wary transgressors. So, they admonished all groups or persons trading with the name of Ohanaeze to henceforth, desist from that unholy act.
Erudite scholars who presented papers at the retreat include Professor Okey Ikechukwu, Prof. Nnenna Oti, Prof. Monsignor Obiora Ike and Dr. Nnaemeka Obiaraeri and they all urged Ndigbo to demonstrate unity of purpose in all levels of their relationships.