Ohanaeze chieftain advises against infiltration by politicians

NAN-H-7
Ohanaeze
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Feb. 13, 2017 (NAN) Chief Enechi Onyia, a former Vice President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, has advised against the infiltration of the organisation by self-serving politicians in whatever guise.

Onyia, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, gave the in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

He said that such steps could derail the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation away from the original aspirations of its founding fathers.

The  blamed the organisation’s crises on past leaders, who enthroned reigns of impunity and acted independent of the constitution of Ohanaeze.

He said that the lingered crises in the organisation for years with parallel leadership had affected both human and material development of the area.

Onyia said that the organisation’s constitution remained sacrosanct and forbids card carrying members of political parties from holding elected positions.

“We are not a political party but a cultural organisation and would want to see a president general that will protect the interest of all people to give our suffering masses a new look.

“But politicians with their political slogan and tactics have infiltrated Ohanaeze and no longer looks like a cultural organisation,” he said.

Onyia, therefore, disclosed that Chief Ralph Obioha remained the recognised leader of the interim executive of the organisation, adding “as far as we are concerned, Ohanaeze election has not held.

“The only recognised leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo as we know it today is Chief Ralph Obioha, because there is no way we can recognise anyone not elected in line with our constitution.

“We are not after office but credibility and rule of law. We have had leaders who wanted to grease their pockets and aligned with politicians at the federal level while our people suffered.

“We want to put a stop to that because nobody will lead us without our consent,” he said

Onyia, however, said that the organisation was made up of intellectuals and honourable members who were too preoccupied with bigger things to exchange tantrums

He called on well meaning sons of the area to wade into the crisis, which he said, had held the organisation down for too long in order to secure the future of the people of the area.

He said that Imo Gov. Rochas Okorocha had done his best to ensure peace and unity in the organisation, but regretted that his efforts were derailed by those who never wanted the people to speak as one.

“When in February 2016, it became obvious that the Igbo nation was in disarray, Okorocha invited aggrieved members of the organisation and we had a peaceful accord,” Onyia said.(NAN)
EOA/KOO/OFN
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa//Felix Nwadioha