… Inaugurates 20- man committee to draft Igbo resolutions
….To be chaired by Okwesilieze Nwodo
From Idu Jude, Abuja
In line with calls for the restructuring of Nigeria, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to articulate the views of the South-east.
President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, at a brief ceremony on Wednesday, stated that inaugurating the 20-man committee has become necessary to heed the call for true democracy in Nigeria.
Chief Iwanyanwu further informed that leaders of all socio-cultural groups across Nigeria have met to agree that there is no going back on restructuring the country hence the inauguration of the committee.
“It is upon this premise that I have called the meeting of these selected men for this sublime task of ensuring that the position of the Igbo is presented and on time, and I am sure that all the regions are doing the same.
The former Presidential candidate under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) remarked that restructuring Nigeria has been a quest that many Nigerians have misconstrued.
“Well, let me take you down memory lane because many people have always thought that restructuring Nigeria means secession, it is not so. That was what led to the Nigerian Civil War because many failed to understand the meaning. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu never opted for secession but rather for restructuring. He craved true federalism, a system of government where there is respect for human rights. where the power cannot be centralized at the top and it is in history that the Nigerian President is the most powerful person on earth”.
He, however, revealed that in 2018, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo held a conference, in Awka, Anambra State where restructuring was highlighted as a must achievement.
” Today, I have therefore a great pleasure and honour to inaugurate a committee comprising a very distinguished and illustrious Igbo sons and daughters under the leadership of Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State, to review all past discussions, make wide contacts with the Igbo both home and in the diaspora and produce what we will present to the entire leadership of Igbo as a position on a restructured Nigeria,” he said.
Other members of the committee include Adolphus Wabara, Sen. Julius Ucha, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, Sen. Anthony Agbo, Hon. Onyema Ugochukwu and Chief Chinyiaka Ohaa.
Also on the committee are Sen. Ben Obi, Dan Nwanyanwu, Ambassador Humphrey Orjiakor, Dr.Obinna Ejiofor, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Professor Echefuna Onyebeadi, Professor Okey Ikechukwu and Prof. Charles Nwaekeaku.
Others are Chief Ostia Chidoka, Engr. Ebele Okeke, Prof. Ostia Ogbu, Hon. Goodluck Opia and Prof. Chukwu.