Some persons under the auspices of Concerned Ohaneze Ndigbo Stakeholders and Youth Leaders Coalition, Saturday, kicked against the ‘selection’ of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as a replacement to the late President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor.
The stakeholders in a statement signed by Chief Tony Uche Ezekwelu and 25 others, argued that although Imo State where the late Obiozor hailed from has the right to nominate someone as a replacement, it must follow the constitution of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide.
Obiozor, who was representing Imo State in the apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation died last year, barely two years after he was elected to serve a four-year tenure, while the news of emergence of Iwuanyanwu as a replacement came out few days ago.
The concerned ohaneze stakeholders therefore, called on the national executive committee and Imeobi Ohaneze Ndigbo to insist that the replacement of the demised President and that of another dead Deputy President from Rivers State, should follow constitutional requirements which among other things, stipulated election.
They said they were interested on rule of law because “As stakeholders, we have watched with disappointment, how some partisan political interests are trying to hijack the Ohaneze electoral process and unilaterally impose a new President General on Ohanaeze without regards to the extant constitution. This is very wrong and should not be allowed to become a bad precedent in Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”
But when contacted, the Deputy National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo (from Anambra State), Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, said there was no need for people to hit up the system because of the emergency of Iwuanyanwu as replacement for Obiozor.
“It is left for Imo state to produce a replacement to late Professor Obiozor. When Imo people do this, they will then forward the name to Imeobi for ratification. Those fanning the ember of controversy on the issue should have a rethink and allow the sleeping dog to rest,” he noted.
