Ohanaeze Ndigbo faults IPOB over Anambra election

John Nwodo, the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

By Oye Chijioke (Asaba)

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,   John Nnia Nwodo, has condemned the declaration made by the leader of Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, that there would be no election in Anambra State in November.

Nwodo described the statement as shocking and disturbing during a visit to the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rita Maduagwu, in Awka.

The leader of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo said that they acknowledged the marginalization and unfair treatment of Ndigbo, which had given rise to self-determination movements in Igbo land.

He cautioned that leaders of the movements must not arrogate to themselves the supreme leadership of Igboland.

“These statements by the groups could be provocative, misleading and unproductive. Anambra people cannot be denied the opportunity to choose their leader,” he said.

According to him, Anambra is still part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing, “Some want Biafra while others want restructured Nigeria.

“But the fact is that we are still parcel of Nigeria. The approach to reform the laws must be lawful. The Igbo language must be civil, respectful and lead to consensus building. The Igbo must resist any attempt to turn division among the people.”

He said that the Inspector general of police had taken public notice of Nnamdi’s comments inviting a possible invasion of Anambra by the Nigeria Police which lead to daily extortion on the highways.

He described Anambra State as being enterprise with distinction that is unparallel and outstanding in the entire Igboland, adding that “today, Anambra State has the lowest poverty index in Nigeria and the highest growth rate of manufacturing outfits in Nigeria. The state has the highest growth of import substitution endeavors in rice and vegetable production in Nigeria and the state has the lowest loan exposure and one of the four states with the capacity to meet its monthly obligations to its workers timorously.”

Below is the full speech

ADDRESS TO ANAMBRA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BY PRESIDENT GENERAL OF OHANEZE NDIGBO CHIEF JOHN NNIA NWODO ON THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017.
Mr. Speaker sir,
Honourable members of Anambra State House of Assembly.
I am delighted to be here in this honourable house to share thoughts with you on a number of issues confronting our people in this state and Igbo land as a whole.
Anambra State is outstanding amongst the various states in Igboland.   I have in fact held in many quarters that Anambra claims more than 50% of blessings the Almighty God showered on Igbo people. Let me give a few examples.
1. The only Igbo man that has been president of Nigeria ( even if ceremonial) H.E. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi  Azikiwe is from Anambra.
2. The only Igbo man that have ever attained the exalted office of elected vice president of Nigeria Dr. Alex Ekwueme is from Anambra.
3. An Anambra son, Dim Odimegwu  Ojukwu is the only Igbo man to have been referred to as Head of State of Republic of  Biafra.
4. Of all Igbo states, no state has produced two Senate presidents ( Dr. Nwafor Orizu and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo) except Anambra state.
5. Similarly no Igbo state is yet to beat the record of Anambra state in producing two speakers of the Federal House of Representatives namely Chief Edwin Umezuoke  and Chief Agunwa Anakwe.
6. In the international political arena the only Nigerian that has occupied the office of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth is from Anambra State, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
In all fields of learning and enterprise Anambra’ s distinction is unparalleled. In ICT Philip Emeagwali, in Literature , Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Chimamamda Adichie stand out significantly.  I shall  not bore you with more names in commerce and industry and other fields of endeavour.  But suffice it to say that Anambra state is outstanding in Igbo land.
Today Anambra has the lowest poverty index in Nigeria. Today Anambra has the highest growth rate of manufacturing outfits in Nigeria.  Today Anambra has the highest growth of import substitute endeavours in rice and vegetable production in Nigeria.  Today Anambra is the state with the lowest loan exposure in Nigeria with capacity to meet its monthly publications to its workers timeously.  Today Anambra and Lagos are the only states involved in the building of new cities planned to meet the standard of any modern city in the world.
It’s edge over Lagos is that it is also building along with this modern city , an international airport with the capacity for passengers and cargo haulage. In Onitsha every village in Igbo land is represented in burstling and highly competitive commercial transactions.
Anambra is important to the Igboland. Anambra is important to Ohaneze.
News that reached us in the past few days that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB has declared that there will be no election in Anambra state in November is shocking and disturbing.  I hereby countermand that declaration as President of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.
Whereas Ohaneze understands the marginalization and unfair treatment of Igbos which have given rise to self-determination movements in Igboland, leaders of these movements must  not arrogate to themselves the supreme leadership of Igbo land. Statement of the kind of  credited to Nnamdi Kanu are provocative, misleading and unproductive.  Why should Anambra people be denied the opportunity to choose their own leader? Why should any of us who are not from Anambra , no matter how highly placed, descend to the arena and dictate for Anambra people when to vote , Whether to vote or who to vote for?
Anambra, nay Igbos, are still part and parcel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Yes, we are not happy with our treatment in Nigeria.  Yes, some of us want Biafra. Yes some of us prefer a restructured Federal Republic of Nigeria. But the fact remains that we are still part and parcel of the present federal Republic of Nigeria, bound by its laws, no matter how repressive or unjust.  Our approach to reforms of our laws even if it leads to self-determination or restructuring must be lawful.
We must convince other Nigerians of our points of view, we must strive to make others share our convictions.  Our language must be civil, respectful and leads to consensus building. We must resist any attempt to turn division amongst us, as to which way we must go, becoming a source of altercation between us. As we speak very many of our people living in Northern  Nigeria are in complete awe and consternation regarding how safe they will be after October 1st. Other Northerners living among us here are also worried.  The Inspector General of Police has taken public notice of Nnamdi’s comments inviting a possible invasion of Anambra by the Nigerian police, increasing the already existing siege of our people which leads to daily extortion on our highways. All these developments have arisen out of unguarded utterances.
I find no venue suitable for the statements I make here. Every constituent part of Anambra state is represented here. I believe that the honourable members here are competent enough to carry the Ohaneze message to every nook and cranny of Anambra state.  We are happy with the peace that exists here. We are happy with the steady progress Anambra has registered over the years. The next election can only improve not retard it.
I thank you for your kind attention.
JOHN NNIA NWODO
PRESIDENT GENERAL
OHANEZE NDI IGBO.

 

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