• List Kanu’s release, reconciliation, regional integration as priorities
From Magnus Eze, Enugu, Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba and Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Leading Igbo groups and eminent leaders from the region have asked the President General designate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, to make the release of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), his priority.
They also urged him to, on assumption of office, quickly reconcile all aggrieved persons and groups within the apex Igbo socio-political organisation.
These and some other items were on the shop list handed over to the elder statesman by former National Vice Chairman, South East of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, legal luminary, Chief Mike Ahamba and the Igbo National Council (INC).
The business mogul was until recently the Chairman of Ohanaeze Elders Council, but following the demise of the President General of the body, Prof. George Obiozor, he was nominated by Imo Elders to complete the tenure of the late Igbo leader.
Iwuanyanwu’s selection has no doubt attracted mixed reactions, but many commentators believe that his leadership would bring about the desired peace in the South-East.
Setting agenda for the new Ohanaeze PG, Nze Ozichukwu said: “Iwuanyanwu is a very experienced person, broad minded, I think he should focus on regional integration. There have been so many handshakes across the Niger, handshake across the Benue, Lagos, across Nigeria, but there is very urgent need among ourselves for handshake in the South-East.
“He should ensure joint dynamic evolution and peaceful coexistence among the states of the South-East. It’s heartbreaking to think a governor could get up in Enugu and sack non indigenes and seize their properties and same as in Abia, so there is need for healing, there is need for understanding and there is need for the new governors coming in to be one another’s keeper.
“It’s extremely important because the state of the South-East and Igbo cannot grow in isolation, and I think having been the chairman of Elders Council of Ohanaeze and also conceived and initiated the South-East business forum, I think he has bright ideas, the people of the South-East will have a future.”
The INC would want him to settle rancours existing among some stakeholders in the apex group.
President of INC, Chilos Godsent , urged him to unite every aggrieved person who was against the process that enthroned the late President General.
“The Igbo National Council would like the incoming President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo – Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to reach out to all major stakeholders to woo them to support a genuine reconciliation agenda that will lead to peace in the organization.
“We, therefore, enjoin Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to commence consultation aimed at uniting major stakeholders of the Igbo Nation before his inauguration date so as to reduce friction in the organization,” Godsent counselled. INC advised that he should immediately after assuming office, convene a Pan-Igbo unity summit.
Former National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze and leader of Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA), Chief Chuks Muoma,Muoma, opined that at 80, Iwuanyanwu, may not achieve much, and as such ought not have accepted the position at this time.
But another legal luminary, Ahamba, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sees nothing wrong with choosing the Champion Newspapers founder for the apex Igbo organization’s top job, as according to him, age was a mere number and had no place in determining one’s capacity or zeal to lead.
Ahamba challenged those hinging on age for perceived failure to see what Joe Biden, President of the United States of America (USA), and the Malaysian, Prime Minister, both of who are in their late 80s, are doing for their respective countries.
Ahamba argued: “It is just a number. There are many young people Iwuanyanwu, is stronger and better than in our land. The important thing is whether he will be useful in the project. If he can be, why not? He is an Igbo man. He has wide connection. What we expect of him is to make sure that Igbo get their fair share in a country called Nigeria.
“Ohaneze should stop being partisan in politics. They should stop being partisan because, its children are in various political parties. The moment Ohanaeze gets into supporting one party, there will be a split in Igboland. It should recluse itself from partisan politics until candidates are chosen. That is my position.”
Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) would want Iwuanyanwu as an entrepreneur and industrialist to drive the reactivation of moribund industrial concerns in the region.
COSEYL’s President General, Goodluck Ibem said: “As a successful entrepreneur and engineer who has traversed the length and breath of the globe and has seen what an international airport looks like, we want him to prevail on the Federal Government to put in place necessary functions and facilities needed to make Enugu Airport, an international airport in practical terms and not on paper only. Owerri Airport should also be upgraded to the status of an international airport.
“We want him to mount more pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to obey the Federal Court of Appeal judgement that unconditionally released the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the Department of State Services (DSS), custody, which is needed to restore peace and normalcy in the South East. This will end sit-at-home which has crippled economic activities in the zone.
“We want him to do his best to ensure that Ndigbo take back her place in the political stratosphere of the nation. A situation where Ndigbo, which is one of the tripods on which the nation stands, is relegated to the background politically should be corrected.
“We want him to ensure that the youths are carried along in the scheme of things, because, as it stands, the youths are surprised and confused when they hear or are told that they are the future of tomorrow.”
Also, another youth leader, Monday Diamond told Saturday Sun in Enugu that having played pivotal role in the emancipation and projection of Ndigbo and their collective agenda, Iwuanyanwu should first of all, consolidate the leadership body of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide by reaching out to every aggrieved member of the group’s leadership.
According to him, a united Ohanaeze Ndigbo should then serve as “a tool for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the prison, after which he would through the Office, champion the unification of all Igbo worldwide by organizing a prolific World Igbo Day for the robust discussion of security in Igbo region, project Igbo image for equal recognition and value at the national level as a Nigerian and set a goal towards the actualisation of Nigeria President of Igbo extraction.”