Why it is the turn of Rivers to lead Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo- Rivers stakeholders

As notable Igbo sons jostles to succeed late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the Igbos of Rivers State origin under the auspices of the Ogbakor Ndi-Igbo Na Rivers have expressed their readiness to lead the famous Igbo umbrella organisation, the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide.

According to them, Rivers is Igbo and Igbo is Rivers, hence, they have decided that the time have come to support one amongst them to lead the Igbo organisation.

To back words with action, the group have commenced nationwide consultations with critical Igbo leaders to back them in producing the next President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo.

Rising from their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the stakeholders in a communique signed by the Convener, Ogbakor Ndi-Igbo Na Rivers, Livingstone Wechie, insisted that it was the right of Rivers to produce the next President-General of Ohaneze.

They argued that despite being a statutory member state of Ohaneze, Rivers had yet to lead the organisation.

The communique which was also signed by the President of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo in Rivers, Dr. Lucky .A. Ekeji, Prof Steve Wordu Dimm Uche Okwukwu, Eze Fyneface Amaechi, Chief Jackson Omenazu and High Chief Igo Okparamma among other stakeholders said: “That pursuant to Article 11 of the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Constitution, it is granted to Rivers State as of right, to produce the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide come January 10, 2025.

“This is in keeping with the constitutional rotation of the office of the President-General of the apex organisation of Ndi-Igbo among the seven states.

“Rivers State is fully ready to take up this mantle to lead Ndi-Igbo Worldwide. Our sons and daughters are poised to actualize this statutory and historic assignment for the well-being and development of Ndi-Igbo all over the world.”

The stakeholders listed Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Oyigbo, Ikwerre, Emohua, Etche, Omuma, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Ahaoda East, and Ahoada West as local government areas, which are direct members of Ohaneze in Rivers.

“We have supported other states to produce the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide from Inception along with other offices and our allegiance has remained unshaken”, they said.

They recalled that the Rivers State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide in the time past produced the Deputy Secretary-General, National Financial Secretary, Secretary-General, and the Deputy President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo among others.

They said: “Now, therefore we appeal to Ndi-Igbo all over the world to stand by the Constitution of Ohanaeze and ensure that a free, fair, transparent, and credible election is conducted come January 2025 to elect National officers, President-General of Rivers extraction inclusive.

“We strongly believe that a strict adherence to the Constitution will bring about a harmonious, peaceful, and prosperous Ohanaeze now and in the future, particularly now that we as Ndi-Igbo face existential threats by internal and external forces opposed to our unity, survival, and development”.

Also, a Pan Igbo group, Anyi Anyi, proposed a symposium jointly with Ogbakor Ndi-Igbo na Rivers to discuss a wide range of issues bordering on the choice of a new leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

The National Coordinator of Anyi Anyi, Mr Anthony Okolo, said: “This fact must not under any circumstance be compromised or undermined as doing so will eclipse the Igbo identity in Rivers State”

Okolo proposed that the symposium should take place on December 7, 2024, and advocated wide sensitisation and consultation in the buildup to the symposium.