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Describing the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Sen. John Mbata, as a respected elder statesman and accomplished Nigerian, whose test of character and integrity is not only exemplary but also reflected in his people-oriented and inclusive leadership when he held sway as the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly; between 1999-2007.
In a press statement he signed at his most revered Obiukwu, Obigbo, Obieziokwu royal palace in Ghana and made available through his Director on Media Strategy & Communications, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, Ezeigbo Ghana, Ihenetu, who recently played host to His Imperial Majesty, King Dr. Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, said, “I congratulate you on your emergence as the new President -General of the Pan- Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a large testament of your acceptability by Rivers people, South East governors and leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. May I also seize this medium to commend Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu and his team for a successful leadership transition and urge the new executive to uphold the principles of their predecessors in fostering peaceful coexistence and national cohesion”.
Recognizing the critical role of socio-cultural organizations in nation-building; Ezeigbo Ghana, Amb. Ihenetu, passionately appealed to the John Mbata- led Executive to focus more on bridge-building, peaceful coexistence, and promoting dialogue among the different ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, while wishing the newly elected officers success as they take on this challenging leadership task to serve Ndigbo both at home, and in the diaspora.