Steer Clear of Partisan Politics, Uphold Core Principles of Ohaneze Ndigbo –General Collins R.U Ihekire rtd OMC (Rwanda) JP

A retired Major General and a remarkably outstanding Military Officer, Major General Collins Remy Ugo Ihekire Rtd, former Force Commander, AMIS, Darfur, Sudan, former Commander Training and Doctrine Command NA,has called on the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Ozichukwu Chukwu to do away with politics and all forms of political interference towards the election of President General of the organization.

General Ihekire, who was the former Executive Secretary of Niger Basin Authority, a Sub Continental Development Organization made of nine countries with headquarters in Niamey, Republic of Niger, made the call in a thought-provoking article where he described some of the current actions and narratives in the upcoming election and the process of choosing the President General as unfortunate.

Ihekire, who is the National Leader, OGBAKO NDIGBO NILE, maintained that unless the current abnormal act of using political machinations instead of cultural precepts to select the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that the needed legitimacy and credibility as a people-chosen leadership shall continually elude the organization, hence he called on the Ozichukwu Chukwu led administration of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide to steer clear of all political alignments surrounding the process and possible outcome of the election.

The argument is that the buying of form for the election is to reduce the number of contestants, which is devoid of reason and wisdom. The scientific method of reducing the contestants is by setting out and strictly adhering to eligibility criteria for those wishing to contest and then follow up with screening.

Major General Ihekire

The elder statesman and Clan Chief of Ikeduru, Ugwumba Ikeduru appealled to Ozichukwu Chukwu to follow Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution of electing one out any three candidates of undisputed background provided Rivers State Chapter of to contest for the election as it is their turn to produce the next president General of the organization.

According to General  Ihekire, the struggle is for the soul of our kith and kin in River State and not about an individual.

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CHANGE MUST COME TO OHANAEZE NDIGBO WORLDWIDE 

A lot of people seem to forget that prior to 1914, there was no Nigeria. Every ethnic nationality had its own system of government, and looked after themselves accordingly until they were brought together in the Ist January 1914 Amalgamation.

In 1960, Nigeria was granted political independence with a structure and political arrangement which allowed the regions, not necessarily ethnic nationalities to govern themselves and achieve much social and economic progress for their peoples, before the military intervened in the governance of Nigeria.

Shortly before the civil war started, Gen Yakubu Gowon enacted a Decree Number 8 of 1967, which gave the federal government authority to interfere in the internal affairs of the twelve states that he created. The Decree and it’s implications imbued the federal government with extraordinary importance and significance, and it became the center of attraction for every ethnic group, because the fortunes of the regions and ethnic groups were now a function of the ethnic group in power at the center and calling the shots in government.

Due to this escalation of central power, political parties began to swing towards sociocultural groups through which they educate, sensitize and mobilize their ethnic nationalities to strategize on how to capture power at the center. Hence the Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide, each of which try to use their politicians to influence the government and power at the center.

But, if the truth be told nobody can look back and point to any tangible achievements by the Ohaneze Ndigbo.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has not been able to articulate the Igbo interest in Nigeria, which it can pursue, using it’s foot soldiers in the political arena, as done by the Arewa Consultative Forum, the Afenifere, and other sociopolitical groups.

This anomaly the Igbo should correct, and the organ to achieve this must be a strong and formidable organization, but unfortunately this has not been the case, because rather than the Ohanaeze to direct the political affairs of Ndigbo, it is the politicians who now direct the affairs of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

I was born, and I am a nationalistic Igbo. As the sage, the revered Chief Awolowo once said, he is first Yoruba before being Nigerian. I am Igbo before being a Nigerian. Being Igbo has never distracted me from my duties to the Nigerian state, and this can be attested to by my meritorious service to the nation as a military officer and commander. However, I want the good of the Igbo nation at every point in time. I want the Igbo to be part and parcel of the Nigerian State as a whole, not as dismembered parts.

This is what led me in 2020 to hold a press statement recommending and appealing that the Ohanaeze election of 2021 be based on cultural and not political considerations. If it was a prophecy, perhaps I have been proved right, because till now, the Ohanaeze has been in court after that election.

Between January 10, 2021, and today, the Ohanaeze has not made any meaningful contribution to Ndigbo. Ohanaeze has not been able to negotiate the release of Nnamdi Kanu just as the Afenifere negotiated the release of Igboho and Sowore. Also, just like the Fulani and other Northerners negotiated the release, pardon, and rehabilitation of the Boko Haram terrorists despite the blood in their violent hands.

The same political intrigue is playing out again. If we want the survival of the Ohanaeze, which will translate to the survival of Ndigbo as a nation, we must do all we can to depoliticize the body, especially partisan politics. My 2021 press conference is even more relevant today as it was at that time because I have always advised against permitting Ohanaeze to become a tool of political scheming by professional politicians.

Additionally, the rationale for purchasing forms for offices is difficult to establish. The argument that it is to reduce the number of contestants is devoid of reason and wisdom. The scientific method of reducing the contestants is by setting a criteria for those wishing to contest the office. Even if it is to raise funds, the job is a sacrificial service to kinsmen; which office they seek do not have any constitutional renumeration. Should people pay for offices that have no renumeration? That is a contradiction that must be corrected immediately. Screening for eligibility of candidates should start with those who obtain the forms even without cost because they are for service, not business.

Recall, I had earlier during the 2021 election under the leadership of former PG Ogbonia Nwodo called for the election not to be seen as Cheese game but as a cultural organization.

I also intimated them of the formation of Ohaneze Ndigbo and the reasons why it was formed which is socio-cultural and not political and I hereby call on the present leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Ozichukwu Chukwu not to allow himself and the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation not to be hijacked by the politicians as usually obtainable as the Organisational structures differ.