Former Senator representing Rivers East at the National Assembly, Chief John Azuta-Mbata, has emerged the President-General (PG) of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide. His election took place at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly meeting held in Enugu on January 10. He succeeds Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, who was appointed to complete the tenure of late Chief Emmanuel lwuanyanwu from Imo State. We commend Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the peaceful election that produced the new leadership. The seamless exercise is heart-warming given the initial fears that the exercise would end up in rancour.
The exercise was witnessed by the governors of Enugu, Imo, Abia and Anambra states, and other stakeholders from Rivers and Delta states. Prince Okey Nwadinobi from Abia State was elected the National Deputy President, while Chief Emeka Sibeudu from Anambra State, emerged the new Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. Other members of the Executive are Chidera Anieke from Enugu State, who was elected National Treasurer, Ezechukwu Ezechi from Imo State, National Publicity Secretary, while Okey Ugwu from Ebonyi State was elected National Legal Adviser. The position of the Deputy Secretary General goes to Delta State.
In his acceptance speech, the new PG pledged to lead by example, and called on the governors and members in the states that constitute Ohanaeze Worldwide for support and collaboration to move the organisation forward. We commend the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and urge them to work together with the governors to tackle the mounting challenges facing Ndigbo.
For quite some time, it has not been possible for Ohanaeze Ndigbo to speak with one voice on any national issue. We call for an Ohanaeze that will work together as a team and speak with one voice on issues. The era of having factions in the organisation is gone for good. We call for a more pragmatic and responsive organisation this time around. Good enough, Mbata comes to the leadership of the organisation with lots of experience in diverse spheres of life.
With the peaceful conduct of the Ohanaeze election, there is hope that the new leadership will meet the hope and aspiration of the people. The widespread feelings of excitement that trailed the exercise stemmed from the peaceful and orderly transmission of power to Rivers State in line with the rotational principle of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The outcome of the election has also demonstrated inclusivity within the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
We believe that the election has also marked the end of the needless identity crisis among Ndigbo. Ndigbo everywhere should see themselves as one people. The President should work to bring Ndigbo together, irrespective of their geo-political zones.
There is no doubt that Mbata’s vast experience in governance and public service will bear in his managing the organisation and tackling critical issues affecting Ndigbo, such as unity, socio-economic development, security and political representation. These are apparently the major challenges facing the Mbata-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
It is good that Mbata has pledged to lead by example. Extending a hand of fellowship to the governors of the constituting states and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo members is a step in the right direction. We enjoin the Igbo all over the world to cooperate with the new leadership in moving the organisation forward.
Born in January 1960, Mbata holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan. He served on the governing council of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology in Port Harcourt. He was elected Senator representing Rivers East on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999. He was also reelected to the Senate in 2003. In the Senate, he held key positions on Senate committees, including Defence, Finance and Appropriation, Works and Housing.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Azuta-Mbata on his election. He also lauded the smooth leadership transition within the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and commended the organisation’s commitment to continuity.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has also hailed Senator Mbata on his election. The South-East governors and their counterparts from Rivers and Delta states have also congratulated the new Ohanaeze President. The South-East Senate Caucus has equally done so. We congratulate Mbata and wish him a successful tenure.