The newly elected President of the apex Igbo socio- cultural body, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Barr. Basil Onyeachonam, says his mandate is to ensure that the organisation fulfils the dreams of the founding fathers.
Barr. Onyeachonam who disclosed this in Awka during his maiden press briefing as the President General, noted that the time had come to make Ohaneze Ndigbo serve the common interest of Ndigbo.
He pointed out that the organisation, which had existed since 1976 without being registered as a corporate body, has now been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to exist legally as a lawful organisation, which is meant not only to represent the interests of Ndigbo but to be accountable to them.
"It is a thing of joy to announce to Ndigbo all over the world that Ohaneze Ndigbo for the first time is now registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria with the registration number RC N0:144918. We are all witnessing its inauguration today as a lawful organisation with corporate identity.
"As the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, we will provide the much needed unity, direction, guidance, advice, mentorship to our youth and political way forward to Ndigbo"
The new President General stressed the need for Nigerians to give Ndigbo the opportunity to produce the next president of Nigeria come 2023.
"The unity of Ndigbo is paramount and sacrosanct in actualising the Igbo Presidency come 2023. The Igbo people have reached a crossroad and it's for us to decide which is the right course to follow. We are confronted with with routes leading to diverse goals, but as we see it, there is only one road that we can safely recommend for us to tread and it is the unity of Nigeria and Igbo Presidency come 2023"
He equally called on the federal government to consider Ndigbo strategic governmental positions coupled with equitable distribution of national resources and development projects.
Barr. Onyeachonam while calling on the federal government to address the genuine agitations by Ndigbo, urged the President to sit up to tackle the growing security concerns across the country, especially in igboland.
"We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the ongoing construction of the second Niger bridge. The project is visible and we hope that it will be concluded as promised. The ongoing rehabilitation of Enugu airport is also commendable.
Onyeachonam also pledged that the welfare and well-being of every Igbo man and woman will not be comprised.
"We will provide financial assistance to our people in dire need of help. Those in critical need of paying medical bills should endeavour to contact us via www.ohaneze ndigbo.org. We will also render free medical and legal services to any deserving indigene of igboland anywhere in the world within the resources available. Ohaneze Ndigbo television station and Ohaneze Ndigbo motors would soon be launched officially by our company, Ohaneze International Limited, also registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees and traditional ruler of Igbariam,.Igwe Dr N.N Kelly, appreciated God for bringing back the glorious old time of Ohaneze Ndigbo, when passion for common good was the driving force.
" As the chairman board of trustees of this organisation, I called on Ndigbo all over the world, to join hands together and make Ohaneze Ndigbo great again. I am one of the founding members of Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1976 after the nigeria civil war. I and some Igbo patriots came together to discuss the way forward for Ndigbo with the good intention to unite them under a common umbrella. This initiative was welcome by our people considering the massive displacement of our people. It was unfortunate that the organisation later lost its principle focus and degenerated into a political tool in the hands of greedy politicians, which created room for the creation of several igbo organisations die to lack of confidence in the affairs of Ohaneze".
Igwe Kelly went down the memory lane as he narrated how the journey leading to the inauguration of a new executive started.
" On the 25th of November, 2019, some notable Igbo leaders visited my palace to discuss way forward on how to restructure Ohaneze Ndigbo and give it a corporate legal status instead of merely existing as a pressure group and a political tool in the hands of few individuals. Many of the founding fathers are late. It remains myself and few others. Ohaneze Ndigbo has not been registered before at the Corporate Affairs Commission not recognized by some notable international bodies as a corporate personality. The organisation today is recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ohaneze Ndigbo is not a factional Ohaneze but a main one which is being restructured to exist legally as lawful organization".
Igwe Kelly appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to act now before it is too late on ugly security situation in Nigeria which affects Ndigbo mostly. Why has the federal government refused to give listening ears to the lawful agitations of our people? I believe in the unity of Nigeria where there is fairness, peace and unity"
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