From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Just a few weeks after the burial of Emmanuel Iwuanyawanu, the 11th President General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, the Rivers State chapter of Igbo socio-cultural group (also known as Ogbakor Ndi Igbo Na Rivers) has said it is its turn to produce the next helmsman in January, 2025.
The group explained that the rotation aligned with Article 11 of the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Constitution, which stated that the office of the President-General should be shared among seven member states ; Anambra, Abia, Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Rivers.
This was contained in a communique after a meeting held on Monday 18th November 2024 in Port Harcourt and signed by the Convener of Ogbakor Ndi-Igbo na Rivers), Livingstone Wechie,
alias Rivers State Igbo Stakeholders and National Coordinator, Anyi-Anyi, Anthony Okolo.
Wechie said Igbo of Rivers State extraction has consistently supported other states in producing the President-General and national officers, without problem.
“We strongly believe that a strict adherence to the Constitution will bring about a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous Ohanaeze now and in the future, we so appeal. May God help us all,” Wechie said.
According to him, Rivers State has previously held key positions within Ohaneze Ndigbo, including Deputy Secretary-General, National Financial Secretary, Secretary-General, and Deputy President-General, adding that experiences garnered over the years was enough for them to produce the next President-General.
He said the election process in January 2025 should be free and fair as it “is crucial in ensuring the legitimacy of the next President-General. By adhering to the Constitution, Ohaneze Ndigbo can maintain its unity and strengthen its representation of Igbo interests.”
Also, National Coordinator of Anyi Anyi, Barrister Anthony Okolo, proposed that a symposium should be held on Saturday 7th December 2024 at a venue yet-to-be determined, for all stakeholders to deliberate on the election process.
Okolo said: “This fact must not under any circumstance be compromised or undermined as doing so will eclipse the Igbo identity in Rivers state.
“I suggest a crucial symposium be organised to bring Rivers Igbo stakeholders together to place this right forward and advocate its enforcement. This slot is for the collective good of Ndigbo worldwide.
“The event of this magnitude requires wide consultative visits to critical stakeholders in Rivers State and some town-hall meetings in strategic communities, while nothing will be left to chance in the area of security.
“Security agencies, particularly the Rivers State Command of the Nigerian Police, are to be invited to ensure the maintenance of law and order.
“The programme will produce a communique to assert the right of Rivers Igbo to produce the next President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.”