No Recognized Ohanaeze Leadership in Lagos Pending Court Cases – PG Mbata Declares

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, has declared that there is currently no recognized leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State pending the determination of court cases.

Senator Azuta-Mbata, who was represented by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, made the declaration on Tuesday in Lagos during the launch of a book titled “Ohanaeze at 50” to mark the 50th anniversary of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

Oji, speaking on behalf of the President-General, commended the author for documenting the history and evolution of Ohanaeze in the last 50 years, describing the book as a timely chronicle of the Igbo struggle for unity, justice and equity in Nigeria.

He said the national leadership has commenced moves to restore peace, unity and order in the Lagos State chapter, which he described as strategic due to its large Igbo population, businesses and investments.

According to him, Lagos remains the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and hosts the largest concentration of Ndigbo outside the South-East, making stability in its Ohanaeze chapter crucial to the welfare of Igbo people.

He noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is guided by the Igbo principles of “Njiko Ka” (unity is strength) and “Igwebuike” (strength in numbers) and has continued to pursue peace and reconciliation in its chapters across Nigeria and in the diaspora.

“We have intervened and are resolving long-standing crises in our chapters in Lagos, Abuja, London and Ireland,” Oji quoted the President-General as saying.

He stressed that peace within Ohanaeze structures is critical to the credibility of the organisation as the apex body of Ndigbo worldwide, adding that without internal cohesion, Ohanaeze cannot effectively speak for or defend the interest of the Igbo nation.

Speaking specifically on Lagos, Oji reiterated that there is no executive in the state until all pending court matters are resolved.

“For now, there is no Ohanaeze executive in Lagos until all matters in court are resolved. Our PG, Senator Azuta-Mbata, has set up a committee to reconcile the factions and restore permanent peace to Lagos State Ohanaeze,” he said.

He explained that the committee will engage all aggrieved parties and stakeholders to achieve lasting peace and pave the way for a legitimate and constitutionally recognised leadership that will be acceptable to all.

He added that the committee has been mandated to ensure transparency, fairness and strict adherence to the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the reconciliation process and subsequent election.

He warned that anyone parading himself as President of Ohanaeze in Lagos does so at his own risk and may face sanctions from the national body.

The “Ohanaeze at 50” book launch, which attracted prominent Igbo leaders, captains of industry, traditional rulers, and members of the Igbo community in Lagos, is part of activities marking the golden jubilee of the organisation, celebrating five decades of its role in promoting Igbo unity, culture, welfare and socio-political advancement in Nigeria.

Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the intervention of the national leadership under Senator Azuta-Mbata would end the protracted crisis and usher in a new era of unity, peace and progress for Ndigbo in Lagos State.