Following unceasing disturbances in the North, the apex Igbo
socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has met with the Igbo
living in the troubled region to feel their pulse. At the meeting that
featured members of all Igbo organizations in the North, Ohanaeze
assured the people of its unalloyed position to always protect them
wherever they live.The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe
Nworgu, who disclosed this to Oriental News in an interview, said that
whatever affects one Igbo man affects the other, adding that Ohanaeze
was determined to protect her people.
He also denied that any member of the Movement for the Actualisation
of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) wrote to Ohanaeze to intervene
over the crisis rocking the organization .
Nworgu also called on the Igbo to come out during the celebration of the Igbo day slated to begin in Anambra on September 26.
Excerpt:
Recently, Ohanaeze Ndigbo met with Igbo groups across the country in northern Nigeria, what issues were placed on the front burner at that meeting?
We went to Northern Nigeria to have an interactive session with Igbo organisations in the Northern part of Nigeria. First and foremost, we went to meet with them, to give them a sense of belonging; that Ndigbo are one people and whatever affects one Igbo affects the rest of us. So, we went to felicitate with them, to console them for the losses of lives and property suffered over the years through incessant and serial destruction of Igbo lives and Igbo property. To tell them that Ohanaeze stands with them both in their sorrow and in their joy. That was our mission. We also had in mind to discuss with them the security situation in Northern Nigeria and how they perceive the dangers they are facing. Ohanaeze also pressed on Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria to register en masse and prepare themselves for the 2015 election; we said that every person should register where they reside and not to rush back to the East to register and that was agreed upon. We discussed Igbo day. Igbo day is 29th September, on that day we will take stock of our essence. We will examine our past, evaluate our present and project and forecast into the future, into the well-being of Ndigbo. We hope that Ndigbo will participate fully in this year’s Igbo day. It was unanimously passed that they will partake fully. We also talked about Ebola and the need for everybody to follow the rules and regulations prescribed by the Federal Ministry of Health in tackling Ebola. We were satisfied with our outing and they told us that this is the first time that the parent body, the apex Igbo body was coming to have an interactive session with the organisations in the North. The organisations comprised: Ohanaeze, Igbo Delegate Assembly, IDA, Izu Umunna, Jos, and then Igbo community organizations; all of them came including ‘Ndi Eze bi na uzo ije’ that is their own local ‘Ezes’ in their respective areas of domicile; all of them came in large numbers. We were very satisfied.
What was the general perception of the people who came, particularly on this danger occasioned by insurgency in the North?
They saw it as a national threat and we all agreed that all Nigerians must support President Jonathan and the Armed Forces to bring to a halt this menace. Whatever the objective is, it is an assault on the nation and all patriotic Nigerians must confront it together, hoping that soon, the menace will become something of the past. They also did not like the use of such dastard and murderous act for politics and wanted all politicians to remove politics from these national threats.
Why didn’t Ohanaeze deem it right to advise them to return home going by the causality level, you know that a lot of Igbo people have been killed in the North since this insurgency started?
There are two views; one view is stay where you are the Federal Government owes you a duty to protect you and your property. The second view is come home. The two views were considered and left to individuals to use their own gauge to measure the danger to their person and respond appropriately.
2015 is a stone throw, has Ohanaeze taken a decision on whom to back in the presidency in 2015 because there were some publications recently that insinuated that Ohanaeze might back Johnathan?
Ohanaeze may back Jonathan; may, but Ohanaeze has not decided and Ohanaeze has not made a statement as to its position on the presidential election come 2015.The processes are on, consultations are going on and we are following developments with rapt attention; when the chosen time comes the President General of Ohanaeze will make the Igbo position clear without any equivocation. Our position will be publicly declared by the President General of Ohaneze, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey.
But this particular publication we are talking about was also credited to the President General?
Ohanaeze has not taken a position on 2015 as to who to back or who not to back. When the time comes Ohanaeze will make a statement through its President General.
The Ebola crisis that you also mentioned did Ohanaeze in any way try to relate with the governors in the Southeast on the need to protect the states?
The governors are doing their best in terms of sensitization; Ohaaneze is watching and we are satisfied with what the governors are doing.
On the Igbo day, in the past we have noticed that this Igbo day has become an Ohanaeze affair; hardly will you see the governors attending it. So are you people expecting any difference in the September 29th edition of the Igbo day?
We are being hosted by Anambra State in this year’s Igbo day. The governor of Anambara State His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano is positively disposed as a true Igbo son to play his role and he has already played his role. So, we want Ndigbo to come out en masse on that day to remember our dead, particularly our Biafran dead ones and all other Igbo people who have died in the series of attacks on Igbo people and looting of their property and to hear the presidential address to the Igbo nation. We are totally grateful to the Anambra State governor who has put his lieutenants at our disposal to have a great Igbo day come 26th to 29th September this year.
Beside Governor Obiano who has agreed to play a role, what about the other four governors?
I will not comment on other four governors of the South East except the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum who has been very supportive of Ohanaeze, that is, T.A Orji. He has been very supportive of Ohanaeze.
Recently, there has been this crisis in MASSOB and accusing fingers were pointed at Ohanaeze. Some of the members of MASSOB were saying that they called on Ohanaeze to intervene and the apex group looked the other way?
The issue is being confused. There is a group that called itself Igbo Hebrews, they are the people, I saw a publication saying that since their members were detained that Ohanaeze has not made any comment and that they have lost confidence in Ohanaeze. This group is not MASSOB. We are in good terms with Uwazuruike, the leader of MASSOB. But this other group, my take on this is you cannot say you have lost confidence in an organisation you never related to. If they had told Ohanaeze that they were going to undertake the project that they undertook that brought altercation with the Nigerian Police and government, Ohanaeze would have advised them to the contrary. But they never discussed it with the Ohanaeze and Ohanaeze does not know anything about their project; so what is the logic in turning around to say we have lost confidence in people you did not consult?
No, it was not that group that we are referring to, we are referring to the MASSOB of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the members said they wrote to Ohanaeze?
I am the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, I do not have any letter from that group. No, if anybody claimed that he wrote to Ohanaeze I am the Secretary General, I should have received the letter. I have not received such a letter.
They did not tell you that some commanders of MASSOB took over their headquarters?
I have been following the thing in the press. Nobody has sent any letter to Ohanaeze to intervene.
What message do you have for the Igbo nation as we look forward to the Igbo day?
Ndigbo must on that day come out to foster Igbo unity, the bottom line is Igbo unity. Our message this year is “Ojemba chetakwa ala Igbo.” We used it as theme last year but because it is highly topical and in the present circumstance in Nigeria it is highly a necessity that “Ojemba chetakwa ala Igbo”. Go East, go West, home is best. “A na esi na ulo mara mma puwa na ezi” that is our message. “Ojemba chetakwa ala Igbo”.
Nworgu also called on the Igbo to come out during the celebration of the Igbo day slated to begin in Anambra on September 26.
Excerpt:
Recently, Ohanaeze Ndigbo met with Igbo groups across the country in northern Nigeria, what issues were placed on the front burner at that meeting?
We went to Northern Nigeria to have an interactive session with Igbo organisations in the Northern part of Nigeria. First and foremost, we went to meet with them, to give them a sense of belonging; that Ndigbo are one people and whatever affects one Igbo affects the rest of us. So, we went to felicitate with them, to console them for the losses of lives and property suffered over the years through incessant and serial destruction of Igbo lives and Igbo property. To tell them that Ohanaeze stands with them both in their sorrow and in their joy. That was our mission. We also had in mind to discuss with them the security situation in Northern Nigeria and how they perceive the dangers they are facing. Ohanaeze also pressed on Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria to register en masse and prepare themselves for the 2015 election; we said that every person should register where they reside and not to rush back to the East to register and that was agreed upon. We discussed Igbo day. Igbo day is 29th September, on that day we will take stock of our essence. We will examine our past, evaluate our present and project and forecast into the future, into the well-being of Ndigbo. We hope that Ndigbo will participate fully in this year’s Igbo day. It was unanimously passed that they will partake fully. We also talked about Ebola and the need for everybody to follow the rules and regulations prescribed by the Federal Ministry of Health in tackling Ebola. We were satisfied with our outing and they told us that this is the first time that the parent body, the apex Igbo body was coming to have an interactive session with the organisations in the North. The organisations comprised: Ohanaeze, Igbo Delegate Assembly, IDA, Izu Umunna, Jos, and then Igbo community organizations; all of them came including ‘Ndi Eze bi na uzo ije’ that is their own local ‘Ezes’ in their respective areas of domicile; all of them came in large numbers. We were very satisfied.
What was the general perception of the people who came, particularly on this danger occasioned by insurgency in the North?
They saw it as a national threat and we all agreed that all Nigerians must support President Jonathan and the Armed Forces to bring to a halt this menace. Whatever the objective is, it is an assault on the nation and all patriotic Nigerians must confront it together, hoping that soon, the menace will become something of the past. They also did not like the use of such dastard and murderous act for politics and wanted all politicians to remove politics from these national threats.
Why didn’t Ohanaeze deem it right to advise them to return home going by the causality level, you know that a lot of Igbo people have been killed in the North since this insurgency started?
There are two views; one view is stay where you are the Federal Government owes you a duty to protect you and your property. The second view is come home. The two views were considered and left to individuals to use their own gauge to measure the danger to their person and respond appropriately.
2015 is a stone throw, has Ohanaeze taken a decision on whom to back in the presidency in 2015 because there were some publications recently that insinuated that Ohanaeze might back Johnathan?
Ohanaeze may back Jonathan; may, but Ohanaeze has not decided and Ohanaeze has not made a statement as to its position on the presidential election come 2015.The processes are on, consultations are going on and we are following developments with rapt attention; when the chosen time comes the President General of Ohanaeze will make the Igbo position clear without any equivocation. Our position will be publicly declared by the President General of Ohaneze, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey.
But this particular publication we are talking about was also credited to the President General?
Ohanaeze has not taken a position on 2015 as to who to back or who not to back. When the time comes Ohanaeze will make a statement through its President General.
The Ebola crisis that you also mentioned did Ohanaeze in any way try to relate with the governors in the Southeast on the need to protect the states?
The governors are doing their best in terms of sensitization; Ohaaneze is watching and we are satisfied with what the governors are doing.
On the Igbo day, in the past we have noticed that this Igbo day has become an Ohanaeze affair; hardly will you see the governors attending it. So are you people expecting any difference in the September 29th edition of the Igbo day?
We are being hosted by Anambra State in this year’s Igbo day. The governor of Anambara State His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano is positively disposed as a true Igbo son to play his role and he has already played his role. So, we want Ndigbo to come out en masse on that day to remember our dead, particularly our Biafran dead ones and all other Igbo people who have died in the series of attacks on Igbo people and looting of their property and to hear the presidential address to the Igbo nation. We are totally grateful to the Anambra State governor who has put his lieutenants at our disposal to have a great Igbo day come 26th to 29th September this year.
Beside Governor Obiano who has agreed to play a role, what about the other four governors?
I will not comment on other four governors of the South East except the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum who has been very supportive of Ohanaeze, that is, T.A Orji. He has been very supportive of Ohanaeze.
Recently, there has been this crisis in MASSOB and accusing fingers were pointed at Ohanaeze. Some of the members of MASSOB were saying that they called on Ohanaeze to intervene and the apex group looked the other way?
The issue is being confused. There is a group that called itself Igbo Hebrews, they are the people, I saw a publication saying that since their members were detained that Ohanaeze has not made any comment and that they have lost confidence in Ohanaeze. This group is not MASSOB. We are in good terms with Uwazuruike, the leader of MASSOB. But this other group, my take on this is you cannot say you have lost confidence in an organisation you never related to. If they had told Ohanaeze that they were going to undertake the project that they undertook that brought altercation with the Nigerian Police and government, Ohanaeze would have advised them to the contrary. But they never discussed it with the Ohanaeze and Ohanaeze does not know anything about their project; so what is the logic in turning around to say we have lost confidence in people you did not consult?
No, it was not that group that we are referring to, we are referring to the MASSOB of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the members said they wrote to Ohanaeze?
I am the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, I do not have any letter from that group. No, if anybody claimed that he wrote to Ohanaeze I am the Secretary General, I should have received the letter. I have not received such a letter.
They did not tell you that some commanders of MASSOB took over their headquarters?
I have been following the thing in the press. Nobody has sent any letter to Ohanaeze to intervene.
What message do you have for the Igbo nation as we look forward to the Igbo day?
Ndigbo must on that day come out to foster Igbo unity, the bottom line is Igbo unity. Our message this year is “Ojemba chetakwa ala Igbo.” We used it as theme last year but because it is highly topical and in the present circumstance in Nigeria it is highly a necessity that “Ojemba chetakwa ala Igbo”. Go East, go West, home is best. “A na esi na ulo mara mma puwa na ezi” that is our message. “Ojemba chetakwa ala Igbo”.
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