Press statement:
April 14, 2018
OHANAEZE YOUTH WING REMAINS FOCUSED, NEVER
The lies of alleged ban of Ohanaeze Youth Wing, OYW said to be in 2016 by the Ime Obi, the apex body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo been disseminated by the Suspended and embattled President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Chief Nnia Nwodo has come to the alarming notice of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, OYW; and we hereby, decried such as false and gross misinformation and as well, antics of a man whose antisocial life and one-man showman leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has seen him bitten more than he could chew. Therefore, could not articulate well what he does; let alone citing well what happened in the tenure of his predecessor, Chief Gary Igariwey.
We challenge Nnia Nwodo to answer the public outcry over the impromptu elections he slated for both the Youth and Women wings of Ohanaeze Ndigbo because the two wings has respectively and jointly disassociated its self from his political bent trying to push them into working for his anointed presidential candidate from the Northeast without a recourse to 2015 miscalculation on presidential candidates.
It is too appalling for Nwodo to suddenly go lying about Ime Obi suspension of Ohanaeze Youth Wing in 2016 when nothing like that took place. The allegation that women wing, also does not exist since 2017 on a flimsy excuse that the tenure of its current Calista Adimachukwu led National Executive expired last year tells well that Nnia Nwodo’s has been running authoritarian Ohanaeze Ndigbo and is shameless, for how could he lead all this while without the Youth and women wings and only turned around calling for elections now they protest his lack of respect for institutional order and Ohanaeze Ndigbo guiding principles?
However, to put the records straight Ohanaeze Youth Wing, earned the wrath of the erstwhile President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Gary Igariwey when we in 2016 it declared the former Governor of Rivers state and the Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Ameachi “Igbo Man of the Year”. Some gullible members of the NEC, Ohanaeze Youth Wing were instigated to fight the Mazi Okechukwu Isisguzoro led Executive and we lost a year and half to crisis. After reconciliatory was set up and headed by Prof Atammuo, the aggrieved party made peace with the Isiguzoro’s OYW leadership before we again failed out with Igariwey when he made attempt to commission the uncompleted Ohanaeze Secretariat built by the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and we again resolved our difference and the rest is history.
Thus, we challenge Nnia Nwodo to produce video clips/signed evidence of Ime Obi suspension of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing in 2016, as he alleged. While quarreling and protesting and normalizing relationships are expected in leadership and followership folds, for the best to come up. It is unfortunate and reprehensible that Nnia Nwodo, by alleging Ohanaeze Youth’s 2016 suspension never wanted the youth organ and now wants his own apron-tied Ohanaeze Youth that would rival the Isiguzoro’s OYW leadership; and in likewise, manner, prefers a puppet women wing against Mrs. Calista Adimachukwu’s. A handy question: When did it occurred to Nwodo that there were no Ohanaeze Youth and Women wings that he now sells forms and wants to elect new leaderships?
At this junction be it asked: how could the Igbo’s eminent body, Ime Obi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo thought of banning Ohanaeze Youth Wing, for assuming without conceding alleged offense committed by few leaders since two years and still counting i.e. silencing youths’ voice instead of resolving depute or disciplining any recalcitrant? And Nnia Nwodo came on board Ohanaeze Ndigbo Presidency and felt comfortable with such a scenario while laying claims to democratic alternatives to now suddenly woke up from his slumber declaring elections in the Youth and Women Wings? What do we tell self-estranged President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo that Ndigbo and the reading public no longer believes what comes out of his mouth?
Answer: We find solace in the Great Zik of Africa’s eloquent submission for the Nwodo’s kinds: “When a man behaves less than a man; pity him, all you can”. Therefore, Ohanaeze youth and Women wings cannot be distracted by the antics of a drowning man, Nnia Nwodo and selfish political dispositions preferring a particular presidential candidate from the Northeast. Finally, we warn that Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths may join politics of who wins and or rules 2019 but not Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s. Thus, for Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Nwodo attempting to foist a Northeast presidential candidate on Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo nation; thereby, making a repeat of 2015 presidential miscalculations is a hasty choice and as well presenting another recycling of the same old wine in new bottle not be palatable in our mouths. No going back in the battle to recover Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the Igbo’s and pan social leadership!
In the next few days a New leader,President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo will replace the suspended Nnia Nwodo,and Save Ndigbo from unnecessary trauma.
Dated: April 14, 2018
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
President, Ohanaeze Youth Wing
Mazi Okwu Nnabuike
Secretary General, Ohanaeze Youth Wing
Comrade Achuonye Obinna
Vice President, Ohanaeze Youth Wing
