Governors of the South East and other Igbo leaders yesterday rallied behind elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as he assumed office as the new president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The governors, led by the host and governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Anambra State counterpart, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, participated in the Ime-Obi sitting of Ohanaeze at the old Government House Lodge, Enugu.
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Iwuanyanwu was formally presented and ratified as the new leader of the apex Igbo sociocultural group by Imeobi, the highest decision-making body of Ohanaeze.
The chairman of the South East Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi, his Imo and Abia states counterparts, Senator Hope Uzodimma and Dr Okezie Ikpeazu were represented by their deputies, Barr Kelechi Igwe, Prof Placid Njoku and Sir Ude Oko Chukwu respectively.
Also present at the event were governor-elect of Enugu State, Peter Mbah; former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi; former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; former Presidents-General of Ohanaeze led by Chief Nnia Nwodo, former minister of health, Prof ABC Nwosu, among others.
In his acceptance speech, Iwuanyanwu described the event as a remarkable day in his life, saying it is a day when providence and the love of his people, Igbos propelled him to the position of president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. He said all through his life, he had done his best to serve Igbos both in time of war and time of peace.
Iwuanyanwu also stated that he did not nurture the ambition to be the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, noting that “instead I had the ambition of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I contested for the Presidency on three occasions but I did not succeed. I took my losses in good composure knowing full well that as a Christian, all powers and promotion come from God.
“But today, destiny has placed squarely on my shoulders the duty of leading the Igbos as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. I therefore have a duty to valiantly defend Igbo course and I promise Ime-Obi and all Igbo people that by the grace of God I will not fail them”.
The elder statesman explained that he had carefully examined the present circumstances of Ndigbo and had decided among other things to focus on education, agriculture, industrialisation, electricity, power generation, health etc as core of his assignments during his tenure.
On the security situation in South East, Iwuanyanwu described it as very disturbing and expressed his belief that there is very urgent need for a peace summit in Igboland.
On Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) he said Nnamdi Kanu is very crucial for any key discussion, adding that it is not possible to negotiate any peace while he is in prison.
“It is also important to note that the judiciary has discharged and freed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It will be the joy of many Igbo people and Nigerians to see Mazi Nnamdi Kalu released from detention. There is also a report that his health is deteriorating. I feel it is important that he is released to have access to his medical doctors so that he does not die in the prison,” he said.