Ohanaeze : South-South youth wing backs ex I-G, Okiro, to succeed Chukwu

The South-South youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has backed former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, to succeed the organisation’s incumbent President-General, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu.

Coordinator of Ohanaeze Youth Wing South-South zone, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Wednesday.

Our correspondent reports that Chukwu, whose tenure will end on Jan. 10, 2025, was appointed to lead the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation following the death of former P-G, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imo Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by Mr C J Ihemedu, presented Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of four year tenure allotted to Imo, which was cut short by the deaths of Prof. George Obiozor in 2022 and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in 2024.

Arthur-Ugwa said that with the ceding of the position of P-G to Rivers, the South-South youths of Ohanaeze found it most appropriate to back Okiro, whom he described as “eminently qualified for the coveted position “.

Ugwa

He added that youths of the south-south, having understudied Okiro’s precedence, consider him as the right peg for the right hole, and would therefore readily support his emergence.

“ We the Ohanaeze South-South youths consider Okiro as a father figure, a mentor, leader and achiever whose leadership track records, charisma and love for nation speak volumes.

“ We therefore believe that given his vast experience, exposure and contacts, he possesses the capacity to fill the shoes left by our former leaders, if given the opportunity.

“ As Rivers prepares to produce the next P-G, we pledge our moral support for Mike Okiro, and promise to rally around him and purchase the nomination form”, he said.

He thanked all leaders of Ohanaeze for promptly and unanimously agreeing to bring Chukwu on board, and expressed optimism that he would bring the organisation together and ensure a smooth transition of power.

He however urged the P-G, Chukwu, to establish a reward system for the efforts of the association’s past leaders such as Chief Nnia Nwodo, as well as Obiozor and Iwuanyanwu, now late.