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OHANAEZE NDIGBO WORLDWIDE MOURNS THE PASSING OF CHIEF AYO ADEBANJO

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed deep sadness over the passing of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a renowned elder statesman and nationalist. In a condolence letter to Chief Christy Ayo Adebanjo, the President General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, described Chief Adebanjo as a “prototype of the detribalized Nigerian” and an “outstanding elder statesman, distinguished patriot, nationalist, bridge builder.” Senator Azuta-Mbata stated that Chief Adebanjo shared several common values with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, including his commitment to justice, fairness, and equity. “We considered him a caring bosom friend, beloved brother, a father, and a staunch ally for the unity and oneness of Nigeria,” Azuta-Mbata said. The President General noted that Chief Adebanjo’s enduring legacies and commitment to fairness and good governance would remain evergreen in their memories. Azuta-Mbata also highlighted Chief Adebanjo’s role as a founding member of the Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) and his advocacy for fairness and good governance. The President General concluded by urging Chief Adebanjo’s family to bear the irreversible departure with courage and prayed for his soul to rest in perfect peace. “May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace! Adieu Pa Ayo!” Azuta-Mbata said.

WIKE DENIES BEING IGBO, SAYS IKWERRE PEOPLE ARE DISTINCT FROM IGBOS

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected suggestions that he is an Igbo man. This comes after his kinsman, ex-Senator John Azuta Mbata, an Ikwerre man, was elected President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on January 10. Despite the Ikwerres sharing significant linguistic and cultural similarities with the Igbos, Wike maintains that they are distinct from the Igbo ethnic group. During a live media chat, Wike stated that Mbata has the right to associate with any group he chooses, but his emergence as Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General does not make the Ikwerre people part of the Igbo ethnic group. Wike drew an analogy, saying “just the way every northerner cannot be described as Hausa, the Ikwerres who live in the same region as the Igbos, should not also be called Igbos.” This statement underscores Wike’s assertion that the Ikwerre people maintain a distinct identity separate from the Igbos. The Ikwerre people, also known as Iwhuruọnha, are an ethnic group native to Rivers State, Nigeria. They inhabit the upland region of the state, sharing borders with Imo State to the north, Emohua to the west, Etche to the east, and Obio-Akpor to the south. The Ikwerre language, part of the Igbo language cluster, distinguishes vowels by quality, nasalization, and tongue root. Historically, the Ikwerre declared themselves an ethnic nationality distinct from the Ibos and Ijos in 1965. They made efforts to revert to their original names for villages, communities, and landmarks. Culturally, the Ikwerre are mainly farmers and small-scale fishermen, with cordial relationships with their neighbors and established trade relationships with their coastal neighbors. The Ikwerre founded the Ogkabor Ikwerre Convention in 1963, a socio-cultural organization that promotes their unique identity and heritage.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES JOHN AZUTA-MBATA ON ELECTION AS OHANAEZE NDIGBO PRESIDENT GENERAL

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his election as the president General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Azuta-Mbata, a former senator, who represented Rivers East in the Senate from 1999 to 2007. He was elected as President General of the preeminent Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group at its meeting in Enugu on Friday. In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, revealed that President Tinubu also congratulates the group on the successful leadership transition and enjoins the new leaders to uphold the principles of their predecessors. Onanuga stated that the President recognises the critical role of socio-cultural organisations in nation-building; hence, his commitment to promoting dialogue among our ethnic nationalities. President Tinubu wishes the newly elected Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General success as he takes on this onerous yet noble and lofty task. Onanuga quoted the President as saying that he is committed to promoting dialogue among Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities, acknowledging the vital role socio-cultural organisations play in nation-building. As Azuta-Mbata begins his tenure, Onanuga reiterated the President’s call for the new leaders to uphold the principles of their predecessors, ensuring a seamless transition and continued progress for the group.

SIR MIKE MBAMA OKIRO: THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR OHANAEZE NDIGBO PRESIDENCY

The search for the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo has reached its climax, and one name stands out among the rest: Sir Mike Mbama Okiro. As a former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Okiro boasts an impressive resume that makes him the perfect candidate for the job. With his wealth of experience and exceptional leadership skills, Okiro is poised to take Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo to greater heights. Comrade James Okoronkwo, a renowned journalist and human rights activist, has thrown his weight behind Okiro’s candidacy, urging stakeholders to disregard the campaign of calumny against him. Okoronkwo’s endorsement is a testament to Okiro’s impeccable character and his ability to drive positive change. Okiro’s track record is replete with achievements that demonstrate his capacity for effective leadership. As Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, he handled sensitive situations with tact and wisdom, earning him widespread recognition and respect. His subsequent appointment as Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 is a testament to his exceptional abilities. As the tenure of the current President-General, Nze Ozichukwu, comes to an end, the battle for the next President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo is heating up. However, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups is confident that Okiro’s leadership skills, philanthropy, patriotism, and humility make him the ideal candidate to reengineer the organization and promote the unity and well-being of Igbos worldwide. In these critical times, when Igbo land is facing insecurity and exclusion, Okiro’s candidacy offers a beacon of hope. His impressive background, coupled with his passion for the welfare of Ndigbo, makes him the perfect candidate to steer Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo towards a brighter future. The time to act is now, and the choice is clear: Sir Mike Mbama Okiro is the ideal candidate for the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo.