NIGERIAN MILITARY'S 50 YEARS OF IGBO MARGINALIZATION, UNTIMELY , & QUESTIONABLE RETIREMENTS

Topic:Nigerian Army  Not Yet a National Army

Author: Joseph Aimienmwena

Full Text of Article:

'Citing several instances and names of prominent Igbo officers caught in the

web of marginalisation, the association reeled out names of such Igbo

officers that were marginalised as Cols Onyekweli, Ihenacho Nebo Oparaji,

Njoku and Nwobu, who they alleged, were all prematurely retired.

Others, according to the association, were Group Captain Ikpeazu, Brigadiers

Obi, Idegwuoha and Commodore Emeka Omeruah.

In the opinion of the association, the premature retirement of igbo

military officers was to prevent them from rising to the rank of senior

officers, thereby denying them the opportunity of holding strategic and

command appointments."

MILITARY historians agree that the Nigerian civil war brought in its wake a

number of problems for the Nigerian armed forces, which was relatively young

when the civil war broke out in 1967.

Prominent among the problems was the rapid expansion and indigenisation of

the military to ensure its combat-readiness against the background of the

exigencies at the time when the nation was drifting towards anarchy and

chaos occasioned by the political unrest in the old "wild west."

Perhaps, the greatest problem which occurred at the end of the war was the

gradual and systematic marginalisation of Igbo officers, many of whom had

fought on the side of the defunct Biafran Republic under the leadership of

Colonel Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Before the outbreak of hostilities on July 6, 1967, following the breakdown

of dialogue between the Federal Military Government led by General Yakubu

Gowon and Col. Ojukwu, statistics indicated clearly that the Igbos were

adequately represented in sensitive units within the armed forces.

For instance, when the Nigerian Army assumed a new status from the Royal

Nigerian Army following the attainment of a Republican status in 1963, the

most senior officer in the armed forces was the late Major-General Johnson

Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi. This was attested to by the eagle and a cross bar

insignia which adorned the shoulders of Aguiyi Ironsi, a veteran of the

Congo crisis.

Apart from Ironsi, other senior Igbo officers in the army included Col.

Hilary Njoku, Col. Alexander Madiebo, Col. Ude as well as Col. Emeka Ojukwu,

who was appointed military governor of Eastern Region.

There were also many other Igbo military officers of the rank of major or

its equivalent in the other arms of the armed forces. But at the end of the

war, these officers were prematurely retired, including some captains and

lieutenants. This trend of retiring Igbo officers who have not reached the

peak of their military careers has continued ever since. Even those who

enlisted into the force and were reabsorbed at the end of hostilities were

equally marked down and never got promoted.

For instance, the erstwhile Chief of General Staff, Ebitu Ukiwe, who was

enlisted into the force in 1961 was only a Commodore (equivalent of

Brigadier) in 1985, whereas the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who

was commissioned into the army in 1963 as second lieutenant was already a

Major General at the same period, when General Ibrahim Babangida seized

power from Major General Muhammadu Buhari on August 27, 1985. In what was

believed to be a reconciliatory gesture to the Igbos, General Babangida

appointed Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, a naval officer, Chief of General Staff.

But there was perhaps a serious error of omission with regard to the

appointment of Commodore Ukiwe to that exalted position. There were senior

major-generals or its equivalents in the other two arms including the then

Major General Sani Abacha, who reportedly had bluntly refused to recognise

the status of Commodore Ukiwe.

In spite of his position as Chief of General Staff, Ukiwe was perceived by

the late General Abacha as a junior and could not bring himself to submit to

someone he considered as his junior but who ironically enlisted into the

force before him, although he lost his seniority due to the war. But Abacha

in his lust for power, failed to realise the fact that appointment is

generally higher than rank. The unceremonious exit of Commodore Ukiwe

therefore, has raised more questions than answers with regard to the

marginalisation of the Igbos from the mainstream of military politicking.

Is it not astonishing that 28 years after the end of the civil war, Rear

Admiral Alison Madueke has become the only Igbo man to command an arm of the

military services, the Navy, no matter how brief it was.

Recently, a pan Igbo cultural organisation, Izu Umunna Cultural Association

of Nigeria (IUCAN), an affiliate of Ndigbo, rose from the meeting of its

delegates assembly from 19 northern states and Abuja and demanded that the

marginalisation of the Igbos in the armed forces by promotion and

appointment should be re-addressed by the present military government.

Citing several instances and names of prominent Igbo officers caught in the

web of marginalisation, the association reeled out names of such Igbo

officers that were marginalised as Cols Onyekweli, Ihenacho Nebo Oparaji,

Njoku and Nwobu, who they alleged, were all prematurely retired.

Others, according to the association, were Group Captain Ikpeazu, Brigadiers

Obi, Idegwuoha and Commodore Emeka Omeruah.

In the opinion of the association, the premature retirement of Ndigbo

military officers was to prevent them from rising to the rank of senior

officers, thereby denying them the opportunity of holding strategic and

command appointments.

The association debunked the statement from the Defence Headquarters that

there were no senior Igbo officers to occupy key positions in the military

arguing that it was a deliberate effort to hold them back.

The chief of army staff, which unarguably is the highest position in the

army has been elusive to the Igbos, whereas Major-General Ike Nwachukwu was

the only Igboman who occupied the position of General Officer Commanding

(GOC) of the Nigerian Army.

The main ground for arguing that the non-appointment of Igbo military

officers into command positions was deliberate is that many other military

officers had in the past been elevated to positions which their office

responsibilities had entailed. For example, then Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon was

catapulted to full General during the civil war; Murtala Mohammed had risen

from Brigadier to General when he staged his coup in 1975 while his

comrades-in-arm, Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma, became Lt.

Generals from their previous rank of Brigadier.

Similarly, Yar'Adua was made a Brigadier from Lieutenant Colonel, while the

present Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, attained his rank from

Major General, so there is nothing wrong in promoting Igbo officers to

assume command structures in the Army, Navy or Air Force. It is unfortunate

that Major-General Sam Momah and Air Vice -Marshal Canice Umeniwaliri remain

the highest ranking Igbo military officers, even though they are holding

political appointments as ministers.

SELF SERVING CRY OF MARGINALISATION BY THE ELITES: By Jaye Gaskia

Under the OBJ presidency a section of the Yorubal elites occupied those positions, what siginificant difference did it make to the ordinary Yorubas and other citizens who lived in the southwest?............Jaye Gaskiya

My take on this cry of marginalisation, is that for all intents and purposes, it is a cry that is even among the Yorubas, quite a sectional, and perhaps self serving one!
A section of the Yoruba elite who have lost out at home are now trying to whip up sentiments in order to win consessions at the center. I do not think that those who are gained ascendancy at home consider the Yoruba to be marginalised! What real significant difference would occupying any of those position by the political elite making the the claim, make in or to the lives of ordinary Yorubas? When under the OBJ presidency a section of the Yorubal elites occupied those positions, what siginificant difference did it make to the ordinary Yorubas and other citizens who lived in the south west?
In reality, has this so-called marginalisation led to the undermining in any way, much less fundamentally, the business interests of the Yoruba elites for example?
Is the south west being at this moment governed by non Yorubas? Has it at any time in its history been governed by non Yorubas? I can even make bold to stir the hornet's nest and make what may be considered, a controversial assertion: 'The Yorubas, within the context of the politics of Nigeria, have made progress whenever they have been autonous of the center because of being governed by parties who are in the opposition at the federal level; than when they have been governed by same party as that at the center or by parties in alliance with the governing party at the center!
This claim of marginalisation as in most of the cases of marginalisation pushed and politicised by the political elites, is at its heart very self serving. And in this particular instance of the Yoruba, at this moment in time, even more self serving than most!
We heard a lot from the political elite of the Niger Delta before GEJ's ascendancy about the marginalisation of the Niger Delta [which is true in reality; but by which the elite meant their exclusion from access to the spoils of the federal center]. So is it that the fundamentals of the Niger Delta has been radically altered since GEJ? Is that why the Niger Delta is 'No longer marginalised'? Will the marginalisation return the moment the Niger Delta elite lose their current first class access to the spoils of office at the federal center?
In reality, the real marginalisation is of the under-privileged non elites, whose slum dwellings are routinely demolished; who are routinely evicted from urban centers; whose livelihoods sources are routinely criminalised; and whose living conditions have been permanently made helish and unbearable. Or take the youth, among whom unemployment and unemployability has reached pandemic proportions! These are the real marginalised; and it is this truly marginalised citizens across the country who need to come together and organise themselves politically and autonomously of this light fingered thieving ruling class; in order to take the necessary political Action to Take Back Nigeria; and achieve our National Liberation and Social Emancipation.

STEPHEN OKECHUKWU KESHI WINS AFCON CUP FOR NIGERIA: PROOF FEDERAL CHARACTER IS PRIMITIVE & DOES NOT WIN THINGS !!!

Nigeria wins third Afcon title

Nigeria wins third AFCON CUP.

 

              

Sunday Mba scored a magnificent winner as Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the third time.
The dominant Super Eagles made the breakthrough just before half-time when Mba clipped the ball over Mohamed Koffi and then volleyed into the far corner.
Burkina Faso almost equalised when Wilfried Sanou forced a fingertip save from goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Ahmed Musa slipped as he looked set to score and Victor Moses almost poked home as Nigeria eased to victory.
It was a win that was fully deserved as Nigeria comfortably beat a tired-looking Burkina Faso, who struggled to make an impact in their maiden final appearance.
And perhaps it was one game too many for the Burkinabe, who had failed to win a single game on foreign soil in the Nations Cup before this tournament but shocked by going so far this time.
However, credit must go to Nigeria and their coach Stephen Keshi, who captained the Super Eagles when they last won the title in 1994 and becomes only the second man to lift the trophy as a player and as a coach.
It is also the first time for 21 years that a black African coach has won the cup - Ivory Coast's Yeo Martial was the last to do so in 1992.
After Nigeria and Burkina Faso played out a 1-1 draw in their group match early on in the competition, the Super Eagles had grown in stature and went into the game as favourites.
Burkina Faso, though, were buoyed by being able to name an unchanged line-up after Jonathan Pitroipa’s redncard in the semi-final was rescinded. while Nigeria brought in Ikechukwu Uche for the injured Emmanuel Emenike.
The Super Eagles, playing in their first final since losing to Cameroon on penalties in 2000, made the brighter start and Moses made a couple of bursts down the flanks that eased concerns over a hamstring injury that had made him a doubt for the game.
He was involved in the first good chances of the game, dinking in a free-kick which Efe Ambrose headed over and then winning the corner from which Brown Ideye shot high and wide after keeper Daouda Diakite had spilled the ball at the midfielder's feet.
Nerves were on show from first-time finalists Burkina Faso and they looked even more unsettled by the pace and directness of Chelsea winger Moses.

Enugu High Court SACKS Chief Victor Umeh as APGA Chairman.....as Merger builds up.

 The leadership of the crisis ridden All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA including the party’s national chairman, Victor Umeh was today sacked by an Enugu High Court presided over by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Innocent Umezuluike who declared the February 10th, 2011 election that gave Umeh and other members of the National Executive Council a second term tenure illegal, stressing that their re-election did not comply with article 18 of the party’s constitution.
>
> The judgement followed an action filed by an APGA member, Okuli Jude Ejike who contested that the 2011 re-election of Umeh and his National Working Committee at the party’s national convention in Awka Anambra State was unconstitutional and should be declared null and void.
>
> Umeh has however described the ruling as a pre-determined judgement from a confused judge. In his words: “this conclusion he reached today is one he actually reached before he commenced trial in this matter. Going by the orders he made it is very clear that he is confused in his judgment. He voided the convention of APGA that held on February 10, 2011 and sacked the entire executive elected with me because the election was declared a nullity.
>
>“And he turned around to make an order that the NEC of APGA is bound to meet to elect national officers of the party; it shows that he did not read the constitution of APGA. First of all of you remove the entire NEC; he has practically left the party without any leadership; so who is going to convene that meeting will elect officers of the party.
>
>“There was a prayer in the originating summons which he avoided and went into rhetorics; the plaintiff asked for an order that congresses shall commence from the wards, local governments, state and to national convention to elect officers of the party; he did not make any pronouncements on that prayer knowing that there is no way he can validly make such order.
>
>“Also, the national convention which he voided elected 29 national committee members of APGA; the plaintiff sued only me, who was elected national chairman; if he was challenging my election through that convention he was bound to join all those elected by the convention but he didn’t do so; that is why we have said that the suit before him was incompetent; necessary parties were not joined.
>
>“So the orders he made cannot be sustained on appeal; it clearly shows that he is desperately on a manhunt for the national chairman of APGA without thinking of the damage his pronouncements against me will do to the party. We have no confidence in the judgment and we are not moved; we knew that was what he was going to say; in-fact for two weeks now, exactly all he read out were the orders the people at Government House Awka were telling people he was going to make.
>
>“We are very happy to be out of his court; he has finished his business on this matter and the consolation is that there are two higher courts, the Appeal and the Supreme Court; until these courts adjudicate on this matter there is nobody who will step in as chairman of APGA. So nothing has been lost.
>
>“At a point when he started mishandling this matter I petitioned to the National Judicial Council (NJC) who in turn queried him; he replied to the query on November 7, 2012; the CJN sent to me his reply and asked me to make further reaction; and I will tell you that we have comprehensively reviewed his reply; he completely evaded all the allegations against him.
>
>“Remember that we even asked him to re-assign the case and also filed a motion for him to disqualify himself from the matter based on bias; he refused to say things about his actions in the judgment today; why he did not disqualify himself or re-assign the matter. So I don’t see how the matter has closed; the important thing to me is that we are out of Umezuluike’s court.
>
>“So I will go on appeal; put a stay on the execution of this judgment until the court of appeal reviews it; I also have right of further appeal to the Supreme Court. So the sponsors of this have nothing to celebrate. I urge my members to remain calm.”
>
>“By sacking the National Working Committee of APGA that was elected at the National Convention of 10th February 2011 which the court declared null and void, Justice Umezulike has completely decapitated APGA and left it without a leadership. This is like removing the head of a trailer and the body of the trailer can no longer move.
>
>“By this his judgement, there is no organ of the party left to execute the orders he made, therefore the orders are in vain. Nobody including Governor Peter Obi, the sponsor of this suit can derive any benefit from the judgment until the matter is determined at the two levels of appeal available; Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
>
>“Umezulike’s mishandling of this case is still being handled by the National Judicial Council which forwarded to me Umezulike’s reply to my petition last month for my further reaction which I submitted to the Chairman of NJC on February 5, 2011.”
> //

40 Unkown Floating Dead Bodies May Be MASSOB Members, Group Cries Out

As we had earlier unraveled in our penultimate publication, this mystery is turning out to be extra judicial killings by the Government which explains why not one community has cried out about missing persons because these folks have been earlier detained and their next of kins may not be aware of their whereabouts as of today 

View the photos when you continue but ***VIEWERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED***

Leaders of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have been urged to take a headcount of their members in the South East geo-political zone, especially the ones detained in various police formations, to determine whether it was not “their members that were criminally murdered and thrown into the Ezu River in Anambra State.”

In the same vein, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 9 has been called upon to investigate the origin of the corpses brought out of the river with a view to ascertaining the cause of death and the area where the act was committed.

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Total Peace in Nigeria, made the call on Tuesday.

It believes there was no way a huge number of people could be killed in any community and the community would not come out to speak, adding that it strongly suspects that the corpses belong to the MASSOB.

President of the NGO, Chukwuemeka Omenka, who spoke to newsmen in Umuahia lamented that the slow pace of investigation into the matter was making Nigerians apprehensive that a cover up was in the making.

“So many issues have cropped up in the country, especially those concerning innocent Nigerians and after a while the matter is totally forgotten and life goes on.

“The discovery of the over 40 corpses from the Ezu River should be a matter of concern for every Nigerian because no one knows what has happened.

“As an organisation, we are not unaware of the many members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra that have been detained over the years and are currently languishing in various prisons in the country simply because they came out to defend their God-given constitutional rights,” Omenka said.

Omenka reminded Nigerians that the number of corpses recovered from the river was so alarming that organisations whose members are in detention should not just sit back and watch, adding that the matter should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet as was done to other matters.

“We are concerned. We are worried, not because people have not spoken out, but because it is likely going to amount to nothing.

“We call on MASSOB to cross check with the police and also call on the police AIG to do the same on the number of inmates in police formations in the zone.

“We are aware of the no-love-lost between the police and MASSOB. This is why we are making this call today.”

Efforts to reach spokesman of the MASSOB proved abortive, as he did not pick his calls, but a member of the organisation who pleaded anonymity said they had been asked to do a thorough investigation into the matter and report to the headquarters.

It would be recalled that late last month, the community of Amansea in Anambra State woke up to the rude shock of several bodies floating on the Ezu River, their only source of drinking water, and then raised an alarm.

Already, Anambra State Government had carried out an autopsy on the corpses but nothing was revealed.

The National Assembly through a motion brought by Senator Andy Uba has asked its committee on police and other security agencies to wade into the matter and report back, just as Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Bala Nassarawa, said the command was also investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, Anambra State Commissioner of Health, Lawrence Ikeako, has confirmedthat autopsy on 19 corpses has been completed.

Four of the corpses that were buried by the side of the river and later exhumed havenow been properly buried, Ikeako added.

In an interview in his office on Wednesday, Ikeako also refuted reports that the autopsy was conducted at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. According to him, the autopsy was conducted at the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka.

However, according to him, final report of the autopsy will be released after the police pathologist had finished his own examination.

When reminded that a section of the human rights community would not trust police pathologist’s report, Ikeako said it is not common in medicine to falsify result of such exercise.

Also, global human rights watch, Amnesty International (AI), has alleged that hundreds of fatal police shootings and other organised killings in Nigeria are poorly investigated by relevant security agencies thereby making justice for victims and their families bastardised.

The AI in a report released on Tuesday added that such shoddy or deliberately perverted ways of handling crime often leave victims’ families anguished.

“This is because the bereaved are not being investigated effectively because of a failure of the Nigerian justice system.

“In Nigeria, ‘No Justice for the Dead’ illustrates the gaps in the investigation of deaths following police action in Rivers State where basic techniques of crime scene protection and investigation are not applied and autopsies and inquests are either not carried out, or are inadequate,” the report said.

It added that relatives are often left with no answers about the fate of their family members and rarely receive justice.

AI believes that Rivers State is representative of other Nigerian states where violent deaths at the hands of the police are not investigated adequately.

The traditional ruler of Amansea said the community had never witnessed such a gory sight before, while the Commissioner of Police in the state said the dead bodies remained a mystery as there had been no communal clash in Enugu or Anambra where many people were killed. He said investigations are ongoing...

The State Governor Peter Obi has cut short his trip abroad and is expected back today.

Residents of Amansea in Awka, Anambra State woke up yesterday morning Saturday January 19th to a horrifying sight; 40 dead bodies floating in a River in their community. People from the community and some neighbouring ones besieged the Ezu river yesterday to catch a glimpse of the dead bodies. The river is at the boundary between Enugu and Anambra states and the dead bodies were found at the old Enugu-Onitsha road axis of the river.

The corpses whose identities were unknown, were suspected to have been dumped in the river Friday night by unknown persons. 

GHANA OVER TAKES NIGERIA IN FRAUD WORLDWIDE

Ohaneze members throw punches over G.E.J N5 Billion "Carrot " to LOOK away in 2015 Presidency.

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.
-
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


Other MICRO FACTIONS FIGHTING FOR A SHARE OF THE CARROT >>>>>>>

PRESS RELEASE

IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA)

LAW SUIT AGAINST NEWLY ELECTED

OHANaEZE NDIIGBO LEADERSHIP IS AN ACT OF SABOTAGE

http://www.igboworldassembly.org/

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/index.php/write-for-us/13537-purported-ohanaeze-election-a-farce-chukwuemeka-onyesoh). The whole world is asking Chukwuemeka Ifeanacho Onyesoh and his cohorts to explain why they went to court stopping the new National Executives that replaced Amb Ralp Uwechue. If destruction is not in Chukwuemeka Ifeanacho Onyesoh’s agenda what else is the his motive?.

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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