Ohanaeze  lauds Buhari over appointment of Araraume as chairman, NNPC Board

COSMAS  CHUKWU and CLEMENT NNACHI /abakaliki

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for the appoinent of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the Chairman Board of Directors Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd.

The Apex-Igbo Socio Cultural Organization equally extolled the President for appointing another daughter of Ndigbo Mrs. Margaret Chuba Okadigbo as member, Board of Directors, NNPC Limited.

In a Statement issued at the weekend by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide Mr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, expressed profound gratitude for the two appointments.

*People of the South East of Nigeria are highly elated by the above appointments*

The Statement expressed the hope that the appointment was a beginning of a new dawn.

*That the two appointments offered to the two eminent Igbos came shortly after the Igbo Stakeholders met with Mr. President at Owerri, Imo State on September 9, 2021*

According to the Statement, *this is a signal that the visit to South East by President Buhari  was yielding quick signs of benefits to the people of South East.

*This kind disposition by Mr. President is a source of motivation to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in their quest and aspirations for a peaceful united Nigeria buttressed by equity, justice and fairness*

The Statement opined, it is hoped that Mr President will continue on this path of honour and reflective national peace building.

Ohaneze Ndigbo reiterated that  the remaining period of President Buhari administration can be used to take some far reaching decisions for the good of the citizenry.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Youth Wing  rose from an emergency meeting in Enugu. wherein they deliberated on some salient issues affecting the organization, Igboland and Nigeria generally.     In a communique issued at the end of the meeting which was signed by Nazi Chika Art Adiele, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World wide Youth wing, hey intended to “keep abreast the general public and relevant authorities of some developments within the Wing, as follows; That following a properly convened National Executive Committeewoman meeting of the Wing, a vote of No Confidence was passed on the former leader of the wing, Engr. Damian Okafor, and he was consequently suspended indefinitely.” The communique added that “This suspension was predicated on the following misdeeds;

    a. Gross Misconduct  b. Gross Incompetence  c. Public Embarrassment   d. Dishonesty   e. Abandonment of Duty  f. Dereliction of Duty  g. Disrespect to other NEC members  h. Violation of the Constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and   I. Absolute loss of confidence on his leadership by NEC members.”

    The Youth decided that in line with the Constitution of the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Worldwide,” that the National Deputy Youth Leader, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones is ratified by the NEC as the Acting National Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide-Youth Wing”.

  This decision according to Nazi Chika Adiele was affirmed by majority of the NEC members,hear him “That out of 24 member National Executive Committee, 22 members voted in support of all the resolutions, viz; Vote of No Confidence on Engineer Damian Okafor and his indefinite suspension as Leader of the Wing and ratification of Onwuasoanya FCC Jones as the Acting National Youth Leader.”

    The Youth Wing reasserted its unwavering loyalty and support to the parent body, “the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Whorl DW, ably led by our father, His Excellency Ambassador Professor George Obiozor ,also known as Ugwumba.

    The NEC had consequently set up an eight -man Committee to investigate the allegations against Engineer Damian Okafor and report back to the National Executive Committee, within two months, on further recommendations and findings.  The communique disclosed that “this Committee has Chief Arthur Ugwah, the National Financial Secretary, who will serve as Chairman and Comrade Akadiro-Orji Chisaokwu Phil, the National Ex-officio, as Secretary of the committee.

The Youth Wing also announced a disclaimer as well as a caveat; ” That we advise organizations and individuals who may wish to have any dealings with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide – Youth Wing to take note of this crucial leadership change and henceforth, stop dealing with Engineer Damian Okafor or any of his acolytes or representatives on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing”.     Addressing the press at the end of the meeting, the Acting National Youth Leader,Nazi Onwuasoanya FCC Jones ,who was introduced and cued in by Mazi Chika Adiele lamented the emergent security situation in the South East. describing it as a grand design to destroy the economy of the zone pointing out that Igbo’s are known for their reticence, industry and entrepreneurial skills.

Onwuasoanya commended the South East governors who had assented the Anti Open Grazing law while calling on others yet to do so to fast tract the process, or if the law already exists to commence its implementation. He regretted that peaceful agitation by the youths of Igboland against perceived injustice and neglect meted on the Igbo people had been infiltrated and hijacked by miscreants and criminals to wreak havoc on the people of the zone, consequently he called on the government at all levels to address these nagging  issues which he said the miscreants had capitalizing to visit mayhem on the people in the name of agitation.

 On the continued detention of IPOB leader and consequent Sit-At-Home protest in aid of his release, the Acting Youth Leader aligned the Youth position with that of the parent body which had demanded expeditious and transparent trial in accordance with extant laws.

  He lamented the recent orchestrated targeting, harassment, arrest and demonization of Igbo youths as cybercriminals by the EFCC insisting that Igbo’s are known for hard work and entrepreneurship even as he urged the anti graft agency to stop this illegal action forthwith and release those in their custody.              He wondered why EFCC should be chasing and harassing innocent persons, especially Igbo youths whereas known looters of the economy are left scot free.

  Similarly, the youth leader contended that unless the Federal Government makes a genuine effort to convince citizens that it was really fighting terrorism, one can safely view and accuse the government as the sponsor of terrorism, wondering why over 300 indicted sponsors of terrorism were reportedly released on the orders a government officials who had tacitly refused to publish their names.

 Onwuasoanya equally urged the government to address the issues of the roads in the zone.

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