Ohanaeze denies parallel Secretary General

Says Igbo deserve better deal in Nigeria

Secretary General of the Prof. George Obiozor-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Okey Emuchay, has disclaimed public statements credited to Okechukwu Isiguzoro as the Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, urging members of the public to ignore such statements, and to accept, as authentic, only statements issued by him.

Emuchay, who addressed journalists, yesterday, in Umuahia, Abia State capital, said there is only one Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which is led by Obiozor with him (Emuchay) as Secretary General.

He noted that the “Obiozor-led executives were duly elected on January 10, 2021, in a transparent election held in Owerri, Imo State, with notable sons and daughters of Abia, and other states of the South East and South South in attendance.”

Emuchay, however, said that about three weeks after the election of Obiozor-led executives, Isiguzoro and two others, he named as Chidi Ibe and Uche Okwukwu, from Imo and Rivers states, organised a press conference where they laid claim to being leaders of Ohanaeze, alleging that, after the conference, they have continued to move around, claiming to be speaking and representing the Igbo organisation.

Emuchay wondered how the same Isiguzoro, who he said, was a delegate, and voted in the January 2021 election, which produced Obiozor and other executives, would turn to become an elected Secretary General.

Emuchay consequently announced disclaimer to statements credited to Isiguzoro as the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, and urged the public to disregard such statements, noting that they did not emanate from him, or by authorised members of the Obiozor-led executives.

Emuchay said: “The only authentic voice of the apex Igbo organisation is the one led by Obiozor as the President General, Okey Emuchay as the Secretary General and other executives from seven states of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta and Rivers states.”

Meanwhile, when contacted, Isiguzoro declined reacting to the development on the basis that the Ohanaeze matter is still before the court to decide.

In a different matter, Emuchay said that having contributed, and is still contributing to Nigeria’s development, Igbo deserve, what he called, better deal and attention in Nigeria, and should be accorded their rightful place in the polity.

He, therefore, urged that the needful should be done to remedy the anomaly, including supporting Igbo to produce the next president of the country. He stressed that Igbo rightly deserve justice, equity and fairness in the scheme of things.