By Godwin Ngwu
Oyo state chapter of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Ndidi Nzeako has stated that the body has withdrawn from the proposed peaceful unification of Ndigbo in the state being midwifed by the Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Igbo Matters, Honorable Innocent Nwosu Tallest at the instance of the state Governor , ‘Seyi Makinde.
Speaking during a press conference at the Ohanaeze secretariat in Ibadan, Chief Nzeako said that there is no way the body will continue with the purported peaceful unification since the body language and attitude of the organizer Honorable Tallest is inconsistent with what they were told before they agreed to send their five representatives adding that they were informed that it was a forum for the peaceful unification and not for political purposes as it has turned out to be.
He reminded Honorable Tallest that there was no way they would be part of the ongoing exercise which is being channeled to a new Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Oyo state questioning the need for another Ohanaeze when they, the Igbo Community Development Association (ICDA) which is an affiliate and legal representative of the parent body is already in existence in Oyo state.
The Oyo Ohanaeze boss explained that there is no way that there can be two Ohanaeze when they were already on ground saying ” this is unacceptable and unlawful” stressing that Ohanaeze is the only registered and affiliated body in Oyo state recognized by the Ohanaeze headquarters in Enugu, Enugu state
He pointed out that they were the parent body in Oyo stare which other groups such as Igbo General Assembly (IGA) and the Igbo Community Of Oyo state broke away from to form splinter groups observing that they were the one which should absorb the ones which went away on their own volition because of reasons best known to them and not the other way round.
Chief Nzeako advised Honorable Tallest to come clean with the Igbo peaceful unification project as the way and manner he is carrying on with it leaves much to be desired positing that the idea of saying that it was for one thing and doing another by labeling it another Ohanaeze and asking for people to buy forms and contest for elections into executive positions smacks of deceit and lies which will not be acceptable to Ohanaeze that is composed of many town unions representatives.
He said further that Ohanaeze is town union based and not state in contrast with what Honorable Tallest is proposing arguing that the idea of asking people whom they do not know their background and pedigree to stand for elections into executive positions is not how Ohanaeze operates .
