The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo sociocultural body, stands resolute in its commitment to restoring peace, unity, and integrity within our organization as we approach the Ohanaeze elections in January 2025. The lingering crisis that has haunted Ohanaeze Ndigbo since 2021 cannot, and should not, be allowed to continue unaddressed. It is imperative that we lay bare the historical events that have contributed to our current state of disarray, acknowledging past grievances in order to pave the way for a harmonious and unified future.
SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE
The roots of division within Ohanaeze can be traced back to pivotal events and unresolved internal disputes that emerged in 2017 due to the actions of then Former President General, Nnia Nwodo, and Former Secretary General, Barrister Uche Okwukwu. A potential political opportunity arose when allegations surfaced that former President Buhari was amenable to creating an additional state for the Southeast before the 2019 elections. This prospect prompted Nnia Nwodo to establish a State Creation Committee, purportedly to advocate for Igbos’ interests. However, controversy soon ensued, highlighting a fundamental clash of ideologies. Nnia Nwodo’s personal preference for the creation of Adada State was met with unanimous opposition from the Ohanaeze National Executive Council (NEC), which voted for ABA State. The ensuing discord laid the groundwork for the factionalism that has stunted our progress.
Compounding this fractious environment was Barrister Okwukwu’s principled objection to Nnia Nwodo’s unilateral endorsement of Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential elections. Maintaining that Ohanaeze should remain neutral in a contest between two fulani candidates, Okwukwu stood in stark opposition to the direction Nnia Nwodo sought. This culminated in an unconstitutional suspension of Okwukwu on January 31, 2019, clouded in a veil of legality yet ultimately overturned through judicial means. However, the damage had been done, and the rift only widened, deepening the crisis within our apex Igbo sociocultural organization.
THE ORIGINALITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL BREACHES AND ILLEGALITIES IN OHANAEZE
One cannot overlook the blatant constitutional breaches that have plagued our organization since 2017. The former leadership’s decisions undermined the foundational principles established in the 1976 Ohanaeze Constitution, choosing to prioritize the whim of Southeast governors over the autonomy and integrity of Ohanaeze. The artifice of external political influences infiltrating our organization eroded our legitimacy, leading to a fracturing of our core unity. The wrongful replacement of Barrister Okwukwu by Uche Achi Akpoga, executed in violation of Articles 10 and 11 of the Ohanaeze Constitution, served as a catalyst for ongoing illegitimacy, resulting in the parallel elections of 2021—one led by Chidi Ibeh in Enugu State and the other by George Obiozo in Imo State.
It must be emphasized that since 2017, our organization has suffered due to the lack of proper constitution of Imeobi membership. This absence not only signifies a leadership vacuum but also symbolizes the unresolved tensions between the factions led by Nnia Nwodo and Barrister Okwukwu. The eventual 2021 elections crystallized these divisions, bringing forth the Obiozo-Iwuanyanwu-Ozichukwu-Emuchay faction, which famously clashed with the Chidi Ibeh-led group, emphasizing the overarching need for genuine consensus.
OBIOZO/IWUANYANWU/OZICHUKWU VS. CHIDI IBE/ISIGUZORO-LED OHANAEZE NDIGBO
The factional divide between the Obiozo group and the Chidi Ibeh faction presents a stark illustration of the complexities present in Igbo leadership. Although the Obiozo faction benefited from the support of specific Southeast governors and elites, their legitimacy is consistently met with fierce rejection at the grassroots level. Conversely, the Chidi Ibeh faction has rallied significant public support, shedding light on the crucial yearning for authentic representation and accountability within Igbo leadership’s structural framework.
COLLEGE OF IGBO BISHOPS: MEDIATION EFFORTS
In the aftermath of the contentious 2021 elections, the College of Igbo Bishops, a revered spiritual body, sought to mediate the disputes between the warring factions led by Chidi Ibeh and George Obiozo. Under the esteemed leadership of His Grace, Retired Catholic Archbishop Dr. A. Obinna, alongside Anglican Archbishop Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma and Methodist Archbishop Dr. Chibuzo Opoko, this distinguished body convened meetings with both factions. They put forth a series of recommendations crafted to resolve the rampant crisis in Ohanaeze. Regrettably, both Obiozo and Iwuanyanwu rejected these peace initiatives, opting instead for intimidation and aggressive strategies against the Chidi Ibeh-led faction. Such conduct stands in stark contradiction to Ohanaeze’s foundational principles and tarnishes our esteemed legacy.
A CALL FOR PEACE AND UNIFIED 2025 ELECTIONS
Recognizing the urgent need for reconciliation, a recent conclave of the Ohanaeze Imeobi and Elders Council convened on December 17 and 18, 2024, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. A unanimous resolution emerged: we must extend a sincere hand of fellowship and peaceful coexistence to Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu and Chief Emuchay’s faction. This gesture is paramount in fostering a unified approach toward the upcoming January 2025 Ohanaeze elections. Despite the Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze’s commendable efforts to initiate dialogue and address existing grievances, there remains an unsettling reluctance from the Ozichukwu faction to embrace this olive branch.
We call upon all reputable Igbo organizations globally—including the Joint College of Igbo Bishops and Traditional Rulers, The Global Igbo Leaders, Anya Ndigbo Group, World Igbo Congress, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Europe, Izu Umanna Group, Ndigbo Lagos, Aka Ikenga Group, United Igbo Elders Council, World Igbo Assembly Group, Council of Igbo States in Europe, Ogbako Ndibo Nile Group, and Association of Igbo Town Unions—to mobilize in support of a peaceful resolution of factional strife and advocate for a unified Ohanaeze election in 2025. Together, we must seek to amicably resolve these disputes, leveraging honor and respect to restore our organization.
Our organization is acutely aware that this hesitance stems from vested political interests—especially as some non-Igbo external detractors, with complicity from local collaborators, seem resolute in negotiating Ohanaeze’s integrity for their political leverage ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. Hence, we implore every Igbo son and daughter, both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, to urge Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu and Chief Emuchay’s faction to accept the extended olive branch. Only through unity can we bring an end to the protracted crisis that has befallen us and chart a fortified path for the future.
Signed:
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
Secretary General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
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