The apex organization of South East Igbos in Nigeria, the Ohaneze Ndigbo appears stuck in neutral over squabbles emanating from monies collected by the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan as gifts for the apex organization. This is as executive members and stakeholders of the Apex organization have charged that the monies collected on their behalf was collected without their knowledge – and that the monies were collected in exchange and/or in return for the endorsement of the organization.
For this reason, the internal administrative wheels of the Igbo Apex organization fell into a cantankerous quagmire.
Information available to 247ureports.com reveals the numerous visits by the President General, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, to the Presidential villa in Abuja to meet with the President of Nigeria during the hay days of the 2011 presidential elections.
As gathered, the election of Ambassador Ralph Uwechue into the seat of President General saw the weighty influence of the then substantive President of the federal republic of the Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan into the affairs of the apex organization – into electing an Igbo person of Niger Delta extraction. [Ambassador Ralph Uwechue is from Delta State.] With President Jonathan’s weighted influence, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, who not a frontrunner, emerged the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
Uwechue’s ascension immediately brought the expected desires of the presidency to the forefront. The President General began with frequent visits to the Aso Villa quarters for behind closed door meetings with the President. One of the President men who were present at one of the ‘behind the closed door’ meetings – revealed to the executive members of Ohaneze that during one of the visit to the villa – the Ohaneze Ndigbo was given N250million on behalf of the apex organization – in return for a blanket endorsement of President Jonathan – during the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] presidential primaries – a move that was considered awkward because the endorsement carried no significant towards the PDP primaries.
The competent source within the presidency pointed to the meeting held at the palace of Asagba in Asaba in Delta State on November 22, 2008 – where the Anioma delegation were instructed to hoist the person of Uwechue to the seat of President General. The source stated that the choice of Uwechue was met with stiff resistance by the stakeholders within the Ohaneze because Uwechue was reported to have never attended or showed interest in Ohaneze activities. Nonetheless, he was elected on November 29, 2008 unopposed after the two other candidates [Chief Dan Okenyi and Dr. Joshua Enueme] withdrew their candidacy on the eve of the Election Day.
“Between November 29 2008 and November 2012, Uwechue had audience with President Jonathan 20 times” said the source while confirming that during the visits large sums of money were handed to the President General that sums to a little over N5billion. He added that the President General approached the Presidency about the formation of Ohaneze Foundation – which he made the presidency believe was a venture under the auspices of Ohaneze Ndigbo – and so – was given significant financial support towards the startup of the foundation. With the formation of the foundation, the President General launched a transportation business – and purchased a slew of mini buses to ply the routes of Lagos to South East and from Abuja to South East – and other routes. However cursory investigation revealed that the foundation was setup as a private foundation belonging solely to Ambassador Ralph Uwechue – and not Ohaneze.
The proceeds of the transportation business – called Aka Ikenga Transport – are reported to go directly into the private coffers of the Ohaneze top boss under the said foundation. Ohaneze, the apex organization, according to the information gathered, does not have knowledge of the funds generated through the transport outfit.
Other business endeavors engaged by the Ohaneze top boss under the guise of representing Ohaneze extended to real estate investments – of which the Union of Ohaneze were not aware of – nor were they knowledgeable of the funds generated from the business outfits.
The recent election held in Enugu where a new President General was elected exposed the long hidden administrative maladies plaguing the apex organization. It was learnt that Ohaneze finances were in the red [empty] to the extent – Ohaneze as a body was not financially able to conduct the said election. It took the intervention of the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore A. Orji who released the sum of N2million to the organization.
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Meanwhile, the revelation financial mischief on the part of the former top boss has since tossed the apex organization into turmoil – threatening to further sedation of the already sedated union. Its executive members have taken the matter to the courts for redress – while some within the stakeholder have called for the criminal prosecution of the former top boss.
Efforts to reach the former Ohaneze boss through his MTN line – failed – as he refused to respond to our inquires.
Culled from UReport
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IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA)
LAW SUIT AGAINST NEWLY ELECTED
OHANaEZE NDIIGBO LEADERSHIP IS AN ACT OF SABOTAGE
02-01-13
Igbo World Assembly (IWA) has resolved that the law suits instituted by certain individuals against the newly elected leadership of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo is an act of sabotage to Ndiigbo. The election that was praised as being free and fair as well as attended by Ndiigbo from the South East and South South (Igbo speaking States) Zones and the Diaspora country groups representationed by IWA ; and yet some individuals who were not present during the election are trying to stop the newly elected National Executives of Ohanaeze.
It is now very clear on whose interest these QUESTIONABLE individuals are working for –certainly not in the interest of Ndiigbo. There have been Igbo saboteurs in the past and IWA is saying not anymore.
Ndi Igbo are united and have on 12th January 2013 spoken through a democratic process and enemies of Ndiigbo and their agents are making themselves known and they will not succeed.
IWA noted with disgust how THESE QUESTIONABLE individuals who neither contested nor participated in the election have gone to court, while no Ohanaeze Chapter from any State went to court challenging the Ohanaeze’s 12th January election; however THESE individuals have gone to court. The world knows and so will future generation know that these individuals are on a mission – against Igbo interest.
If all groups including the Governors from South East are seeking for peace, unity but THESE individuals are taking Ohanaeze to court; one should start asking in whose interest they are fighting for. We need to know who they are representing, who is paying for these law suits. If they represent any Ward, LGA or State Chapter of Ohanaeze why not sue through such body.
IWA had on its communique of 21 November 2012 re-“IWA Condemns Law Suits Against Ohanaeze Ndiigbo”; appealed to aggrieved individuals to withdraw their court cases against Ohanaeze Ndiigbo and follow the due process of handling such issues within Ohanaeze Ndiigbo traditions and mechanism. IWA’s call has been supported by several Igbo groups both home and abroad, we re-affirm our call and continue to advice that there is no issue that the Ndiigbo cannot handle within themselves. Ndi Igbo survived the civil war and several challenges thereafter and yet we have come out resolute and strong. IWA appeals for all to be a PART OF THE SOLUTION.
IWA is proud of Ndiigbo and thanks all Ndiigbo both individuals /groups that put Igbo interest first. IWA does not tolerate inefficiency, ineffectiveness, corruption or any action against the common interest of Ndiigbo. IWA once againadvices aggrieved individuals to withdraw their cases from the Nigerian Courts and pursue their cases first of all through our Igbo traditional judicial system. IWA would like to reaffirm that Ohanaeze is for OHA NDIIGBO AND NOT FOR FEW INDIVIDUALS OR CABALS.
There are more than enough challenges facing Ndiigbo and we should encourage the newly elected National Executives of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo to start tackling these issues. Our challenges consist of (but not limited to):
· Having Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2015 (after President Jonathan Ebele Goodluck)
· Getting two additional States for South East (were stalled by the current Constitution, we should get developmental/money allocation for TWO STATES and ASSOCIATED LGS)
· Getting Anioma State from the South South
· Building 2nd Niger Bridge before 2015,
· Completing Enugu International Airport in 2013
· Economic infrastructure establishments in Igbo States,
· Tackling Kidnap and improve security
· Youth Unemployment,
· Promote good governance
· Assisting to re-establish our people that returned from the Northern part of Nigeria due to security issues.
Distracting the newly elected National Executives of Ohanaeze, and or using Nigerian Court process to create gap/crisis within Ohanaeze Leadership WILL NEVER BE IN THE INTEREST OF NDIIGBO AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED
IWA is of the view that monies to be spent for these court cases could better be used for example to provide scholarship to some of the kid-returnees from the North while the case goes through the traditional judicial process .
IWA appeals for resolution of all issues peacefully. We need to help and support the newly elected Ohaneze National Executives to start tackling the challenges listed above.
IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY therefore:
In the pursuit of IGBO UNITY and in our resolve to tackle the challenges confronting Ndiigbo as well as the context of continuing law suit, Igbo World Assembly unequivocally:
1 Stand by its position in condemning Prince Chukwuemeka Ifeanacho Onyesoh and Chief Oyibo Chukwu for not withdrawing their Law suit against former Ohanaeze President General Amb Ralph Uwachue/ Ohanaeze Ndiigbo as advised by all, but rather went further to Court and filed a motion in an Enugu High Court seeking for an Order to quash the 12th January election of Ohanaeze National Executives.
For clarifications and notice to all - Prince Chukwuemeka Ifeanacho Onyesoh (Alias Okpalaeze Nri – a distance Cousin of Eze Nri); has On Saturday, 01 December 2012 at 09:57 stated that “The co-called proposed election by Ambassador Raph Uwechue has been found to be a mere ruse. It has been found that Chief Uwechue has no plans to exit office as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo in the foreseeable future” please see the link (http://mail.elombah.com/
2 Stand by its position in condemning Chukwuemeka Onyesoh & Oyibo Chukwu for giving face to a faceless“alliance of Igbo patriots”. If there is any Igbo group represented by these two individuals they should come out and make their objectives known to all. Even Boko Haram is recently having face.
For clarity Chukwuemeka Onyesoh on 01 December 2012 09:57 stated that “For Ndigbo in Igbo World Assembly (IWA) under the leadership of Dr. Nwachukwu Anikwenze who seem to be uninformed on Ohanaeze, they should be told that there is nothing personal in the suit which is initiated by a coalition of Igbo patriots who wish to rescue Ohanaeze from a autocracy which is alien to Igbo Culture. Emeka Onyesoh & Oyibo Chukwu are merely giving face to that alliance of Igbo patriots”
· Who are these Igbo Patrots?
· Are they another Cabal or Boko Haram in SE?
· Why is Emeka Onyesoh & Oyibo Chukwu merely giving face to these faceless“alliance of Igbo patriots”
· Why is it that Emeka Onyesoh & Oyibo Chukwu cannot go through the Ohanaeze Chapters in their Wards?.
3 Condems the injunction order by Chief Richard Ozobu from Ebonyi High Court ordering Igariwey, Nwaorgu and those elected on 12th Jan not to present, act or parade themselves in any manner as Ohanaeze officials.
IWA is aware thatthe secretary of the Ohanaeze Electoral Committee, Chief Richard Ozobu, disagreed with the Chairman of the committee, Chief Chris Asoluka and other 14 members of the committee over the decision to conduct the election on 12th January 2013 when necessary arrangements (e.g. lack of funds) had not been made for the exercise.
Since the election went well, we therefore appeal to Chief Richard Ozobu for the sake of Igbo unity. He need to learn and know that one member out of a committee of fifteen membership cannot veto the process “ a tree does not make a forest”.
4 IWA views those distracting every Ohanaeze Administration from doing its duties for Ndi igbo as well as preventing them from reaching out to other Nigerian nationalities ahead of 2015 in support of Nigerian President of SE extraction risk being labeled as saboteurs who have auctioned the actualization of Igbo agenda because of self-interest.
5 Finally, Igbo World Assembly (IWA), supports all moves/actions from all groups towards making Ohanaeze Ndiigbo stronger including the outcome of the meeting of the South East Governors and the highly placed Igbo Statesmen and Elders in setting up a High Powered Committee led by Senator Ben Obi (Ojelu Igbo Awka) to look into the aggrieved matters within Ohanaeze. Igbo World Assembly (IWA), TRUST that all genuine actions will proffer A NEW ORDER for Ndiigbo that will free the newly elected Ohanaeze National Executives to execute their mandate for Ndiigbo and Igbo Agenda.
Igbo World Assembly (IWA) is the Apex Global Umbrella Organization that represents the Apex National Igbo Organizations (outside Nigeria) in the various countries of the world such as USA, UK, France, Spain, Finland, Netherland, Ireland, India, Ghana, Dubai, Pakistan, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden ,Mali, Austria, Belgium and Canada. The Igbo World Assembly (IWA) works very closely and recognizes Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo as the mouthpiece of Ndi-Igbo World Wide.
The Igbo World Assembly (IWA), is the only bona fide, inter-continental, Igbo Advocacy group of its kind founded on May 19, 2008, and represents a committed attempt to truly perfect a Global Igbo Union. IWA is founded on the twin principles of Njikoka and Igba Izu (synergy and collaboration) and we are committed to working with, collaborating with, partnering with all genuine Igbo political, economic and social expression vehicles. By presenting a platform to leverage Igbo Diaspora as a strategic partner on Igbo issues, we aim to advance the Igbo agenda as never before done in our post-war history.
Our goal is clear, Ndi-Igbo must speak with one voice and one accord; we must seek to do and be done equitably, by all means expedient or warranted; we must wage struggles as necessary; we must conclude peace as always necessary; we must establish and prosper our economies; we must promote our welfare; we must tell our stories; and we must celebrate our culture and history.
This is IWA’s commitment to Igbo leaders and friend of Ndiigbo who share our vision to attain and perfect that elusive global Igbo Union. It is in that light that IWA wishes to use our platform, to seek program partners, to assemble committed Igbo leaders, and to reflect on how to leverage Igbo’s Diaspora presence as a new instrument in the struggle against Igbo adversaries.
God Bless you
Long live IWA
Long live Ndigbo
Long Live Nigeria
Thank you
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