Razaq Bamidele
The pan Igbo ethnic organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide has spread messages of peace and unity at its Kano State chapter inauguration held on Sunday amidst massive turnout where the state was commended for favouring the Ndigbo in all spheres of human endeavours.
The inauguration of the Kano Executives of the Assembly was in its unrelenting efforts at reorganizing the Igbo community in the South East, across the states of Nigeria and globally to begin a new life as a people with love for one another and their country Nigeria.
The occasion, which was supervised by the organization’s President-General, Barr. Basil Onyeachonam Onuorah, was, attended by notable Igbo people and top business magnates from across the state as well as dignitaries from other tribes and faith, mainly Muslims, Hausa and Yoruba.
Recall that Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide’s mission for the same reason of repositioning for the good of Igbo people within the united Nigerian nation and successful transformation of the country for better received a boost at the inauguration. The President General, Bar. Basil Onyeachonam Onuorah, was represented by Director General, Strategic Planning and Implementations, Amb. Tony Chiemelu Obizoba.
Kano’s inauguration is more unique as the Eze Ndigbo, who is also a member of Kano Emirate Council and member Gen. Abdulsalaam Abubakar-led National Peace Committee, not only welcomed and supported the inauguration but also seized the opportunity of the event to collapse the old Ohanaeze Ndigbo group members into the new and now constitutionally recognised as Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide.
By so doing, Igbo are now one indivisible people in Kano State and Ohanaeze Ndigbo is one body under the state executive council overseen by the Basil Onuorah-led national leadership.
Chief Sunday Okafor, Obataobie, the Kano State Chaapter President was worn-in by the National Legal Officer, Barr. Amobi Nzelu, along with other members of his state executive council during the inauguration of the team generally believed to be capable of delivering well, considering the successes known with the new state President.
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Speaking during the event, the Director General, Strategic Planning and Implementations, Amb. Tony Chiemelu Obizoba, made the Igbo people in Kano, who were present in their large number, realize that they now have an Igbo socio-cultural organisation that would not only represent the people well but will also be accountable and transparent.
The Igbo on ground at the inauguration were told by the director general that, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which was first established in 1970, remains one and the same,” adding that, “What is different now is that, you have a leadership of the Igbo apex body, which has taken the all-important group from operating without legal backing, transparency and accountability to operating with legal backing, transparency and accountability.”
Obizoba, therefore, clarified that, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not for any political party as every member is free to belong to any political party but with single interest of developing the Igbo as a socio-cultural component of the Nigerian State.”
He said the Assembly is for one united Nigeria and that it is not out to operate as a different Ohanaeze Ndigbo but to now reposition the decades old ethnic nationality as a legally recognised group.
Amb. Tony Chiemelu Obizoba announced to the gathering that Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide is recognised even abroad as it is also registered in Washington D.C. known to the law and government of the United States of America, while arrangements, he said, were in top gear for its inauguration in Canada, soon.
Also at the event, Director General South East Economic Development and Infrastructure, Engr. Harriet Ada Chimezie, announced a palliative of 100 packaged bags of rice for identified women in needs, while assuring the Igbo in Kano that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is also out to intervene at every stage of need of the improved welfare of members across the country and beyond.
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In his submission, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Chigozie Kingsley Obi, Ezekwukunaeziokwu I, of Ihiala Local Government, Anambra State and Chairman, Catholic Men Organisation, Kano and Jigawa States, said Kano State has favoured the Igbo people.
In a press interview after the event, Chief Obi, asked to expatiate, said: “Kano has favoured Igbo people. If you look around within the Fagge Local Government, you will see it is all Igbo, the whole houses are all Igbo. Formerly, we used to know that you don’t live out of Sabon Gari. But today, it’s no more like that as Igbo have moved out of Sabon Gari.
Chief Chigozie Obi said he has moved around Nigeria and across the North and has seen that no part of the North is more developed and progressed than Kano.
He dismissed the wrong notion being given in the media about the North with regards to their relationship with people of other regions, tribes or faith.
Governor Umar Ganduje was praised for his hospitality towards all and sundry without discrimination.
“We must extend our sincere gratitude and happiness to His Excellency Governor Ganduje for the good work he has been doing in Kano. I am saying this without mincing words that in the whole nation, it is only in Kano that people can sleep with their two eyes closed. We have absolute peace here and it is as a result of the good work of the governor, assisted by all the heads of security agencies and the armed forces in the state.”
Okafor concluded on the note that he would run a leadership based on sincerity, transparency and accountability as President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide Kano State chapter.
