ByJoe Akwarandu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is yet to decide on the state(s) it would endorse to be created from the Igbo speaking areas of Nigeria, following several demands, the Secretary General of the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ambassador Okey Emuchay has said.
Ambassador Emuchay made the clarification following an advertorial in one of the national dailies, purporting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State.
The advertorial placed as an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Professor Chubikeya Achokawa, Chief Alexander Chikalue Okemiri, Prince Eze Ozobu, Prof. Obasi Igwe, and Justice Alpha Ikpeama on behalf of Ndigbo.
But the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary General said that the group of persons behind the misleading information has no authority to speak for Ndigbo, adding that there hasn’t been any decision on the states to put forward for consideration.
He said that the clarification on the said endorsement of Anioma state creation was necessary as “we are aware that the Igbo nation will surely be incensed and rattled by such an advertorial that did not pass through the Igbo cultural consensus”.
Ambassador Emuchay said that the characters engaged in futile efforts to usurp the authority of Ohanaeze have been told that “the Igbo problem is far beyond them” hence they should desist from arrogating to themselves the authority of speaking for Ndigbo.
“The egalitarian Igbo formed an Imeobi Ohanaeze and the Ohanaeze General Assembly where the major issues affecting the Igbo are deliberated upon before arriving at a resolution,” he said.
The Ohanaeze Chief Scribe made it clear that the demand for Anioma state was proper and “we do not in any way begrudge the legitimate and inalienable right of the Anioma movement led by Sen. Ned Nwoko”.
