‘You are too old for April fool jokes’ – Isiguzoro tells Iwuanyanwu

A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro has again told Igbo elder, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to rescue himself ...

A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro has again told Igbo elder, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to rescue himself from his recent announcement as the new President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

Some Imo Elders’ Council members had presented Iwuanyanwu to Governor Hope Uzodinma as the replacement for the late Prof George Obiozor.

But his emergence has been rejected by several Ohanaeze affiliate groups.

In a statement on Sunday, Isiguzoro, who is the Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said it was disappointing for Iwuanyanwu to be parading himself as Ohanaeze president.

He said being over eighty years of age, “Iwuanyanwu is too old for this ‘April Fool’s Joke’.

He said, “firstly, being a member of the Imeobi Ohanaeze for over three decades, a one time Chairman of the highly respected Ohanaeze Strategy and Planning Committee, as well as involved in various Ohanaeze constitution drafting committees, he should not allow himself to be dragged into illegalities by adversaries of Ndigbo.

“His parading himself as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo or even claiming to have been so selected by Imo Council of Elders is contrary to Articles 11, 12 and 13 of the Ohanaeze constitution.

“In Imo State, none of the known members of Imeobi/Ohanaeze elders like Prof Uzodinma Nwala, Dr Joe Nwaorgu, Prof Chidi Osuagwu, Archbishop AJV Obinna, Chief Mike Aham, SAN, was present at the so-called Imo elders’ meeting where Iwuanyanwu was selected.

“This implies that those there were hand-picked by Douglas House to run errands and are therefore on their own.”

Isiguzoro further queried: “Again, why does he want to answer Ohanaeze PG through the back door? Is he afraid to stand for election at the Ohanaeze General Assembly because of the fact that he is the most unpopular Ohanaeze member from Imo State alive today based on his unenviable track record as a typical Nigerian politician rather than an Igbo patriot?

“Why does he enjoy illegalities? His parading himself earlier on as Chairman, Ohanaeze Elders’ Council is contrary to the Ohanaeze constitution which expressly states that ‘the President General shall be the Chairman of/preside over all organs of Ohanaeze’.

“Moreover, the office of the President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not a retirement home for tired Igbo politicians.

“Rather, at this turning point in the history of the Igbo nation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo needs a PG who has the soundness of mind and body, as well the goodwill and integrity to lead from the front.”

He said it was for the above reasons that Ohanaeze stakeholders and affiliates, including Ala-Igbo Development Foundation, ADF, Global Igbo Leaders, GIL, Njiko Igbo, among others have rejected Iwuanyanwu.

“We wish to state that the only way forward is the Implementation of the Resolution of the Igbo Archbishop, Bishops and Pentecostal Clerics Peace Committee Report.

It was reported that Ohanaeze has remained factionalized ever since the election that brought the late Obiozor in.

However, top clergymen from the region had advocated for a harmonisation of the two groups but their recommendations were not implemented until Obiozor passed on.

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