Outgoing Ohanaeze President Urges new Leaders to Uphold Fear of God, Transparency
By Paschal Emeka, Abuja
The outgoing President of factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Barr. Ifeanyichukwu Obasi Nweze has advised the newly elected leaders of the organization in the nation’s capital to uphold fear of God, ensure transparent and sincere in leadership.
The outgoing President gave the advice after their election over the weekend in Abuja.
He said with the fear of God, transparency and sincerity, the sky will be their limit. Adding that they should shun advice from those who are always finding one way or the other to either enrich themselves with public fund; further advising them told to go into leadership with selflessness, explaining that God usually rewards selflessness in leadership.
The members of the Igbo socio -cultural organization has within the last weekend elected new officers to take over the mantle of its leadership in the FCT
Honorable Andrew Ugwu, the newly elected President of the organization has this to say: “As Ndigbo have elected me as their president for a period of four years. this to say, today Ndigbo have decided to elect me to be the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the FCT Abuja for a period of four years.
“My administration will usher in a lot of goodies, a lot of powers that will benefit Ndigbo. As you know too well, in Abuja Municipal Area Council, the 65% of investment here belongs to Ndigbo, yet we are not in government.
“For that, I will ensure that Ohaneze under my leadership will make sure that our people will be in government.
“It is very simple. You can’t give what you don’t have, Ndigbo here, we have over 70% population.
“Through our population we can negotiate and take power. In the year 1999 an Igbo man was the house of representative member, and it was as result of our population.
“I know the problems of division and the solution, I’m a bridge builder. We must have one Ohanaeze.
“You can see the declaration made by Ohaneze Ndigbo in the South East and everywhere that nobody should answer king of Ndigbo (Eze Ndigbo) and that is what we want our people to know and let them stop going against Ohanaeze law and declaration in the diaspora.
“No more Eze Ndigbo outside Igbo land, but the Ohanaeze Ndigbo permitted us to have an Igbo leader (Onyendu Ndigbo).
“At the moment, we are yet to have Onyendu Ndigbo in the FCT and my promise is that within my leadership, we shall produce one with peace and acceptability.”
The Woman Leader, Mrs Gladys Okoro, in her remarks, said: “Infact, I don’t believe in division. We are coming together, and with the help of God the incoming President will achieve it.
“We have been calling for meetings, inviting elders forums, youths, men and women. We are going to the other faction, trying to bring them together and they are heeding to it. They are going to accept. And all of them were ready to be one.”
Chief Emeka Victor, the newly elected Publicity Secretary, also had this to say: “People will call it faction, I believe there is one Ohanaeze. People will always come where there is number. And the problem that we have today is this is Igbo kings in the diaspora (Eze Ndigbo in the diaspora).
“And as far as I’m concerned, the whole traditional rulers in Igbo land have affirmed there is nothing like that. What we have is Onyendu.
“As far as one Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the FCT chapter is concerned, we have Andrew Ugwu as Onyendu or President.
“But I am telling you today, sir, that those faction you see, we are going to call them to follow one street, okay,” he said.
