Ohanaeze stays true to her demand for power devolution.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the leading Igbo sociocultural organization, has reaffirmed its demand for the country’s restructuring and the formation of new states in the Southeast.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, made the announcement on Wednesday in Enugu during the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Retreat, which has as its subject “Ako Bu Ije” (Development with Wisdom).
Iwuanyanwu demanded a reorganization of Nigeria in which authority would be transferred from the federal government to the state governments, claiming that Ohanaeze was unhappy with the 1999 Constitution as modified.
He claimed that by doing this, the state would be able to grow somewhat autonomously and unhindered by the federal government.
He declared, “It will allow us to develop the zone by building our own seaports, railroads, and other infrastructure.”
The Igbo Leader bemoaned that the southeast had lost trillions due to insufficient states, similar to those in other geopolitical zones, while advocating for the development of an additional state in the zone.
“We are assembling Igbo lawyers to pursue it,” he said, threatening to challenge the federal government if it did not grant the region a new state equal to other zones in the nation.
He went on to say that they would recognize the state wherever it was established in Igboland.
In addition, the Igbo leader criticized the Project Development Institute (PRODA) for being merged with another science institute, pointing out that the institute was founded on the lessons learned from the Nigerian Civil War.
“Ohanaeze fully supports the Oronsaye report’s implementation, but we will ask all Igbo everywhere to make sure PRODA doesn’t merge with any other institutions,” he declared.
In a statement, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, accompanied by his deputy, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, praised Igbos working in a variety of roles for their support and selflessness.
The zone’s business and people needed to work toward economic unification, according to the governor.
He claimed that the economic team at Ohaneze was faced with a formidable challenge: getting political leaders in the Southeast to collaborate on developing a shared market that would draw investors to the region.
The fact that the ports at Onitsha and Oguta in Imo State are not operational defies belief. We ought to do actions that will help us become free.
“Enugu is known for its coal, and an engineer told me that if you heat coal to a temperature of a thousand degrees, it will melt and last longer on a road than bitumen and asphalt that are used in road construction,” the man said.
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, advocated for equitable chances, new hope, and technological and entrepreneurial development in Igboland in a paper presentation titled “Education: Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Igboland.”
She urged the Igbo people to recognize themselves and follow their aspirations for higher achievements.
Rear Admiral Allison Madueke Rts., the event chairman, stated earlier in the welcoming speech that it was time for Igbos to take action and improve the zone.
Speaking on the subject, the chairman emphasized that it was time for Igbos to reflect on their mistakes and make apologies, saying that “when you move without wisdom, you get injured.”
“We need to change our tactics and approaches with the wisdom given to us,” Madueke stated, praising Iwuanyanwu for organizing the session.
