Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has disclosed its readiness to compile the data of all Ndigbo in and outside Igbo land, with a view to ensuring their protection and well-being.
It said it was created for the protection of the interest of Ndigbo, adding that it has not said anything that was “not in the best interest of Ndigbo” to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ohanaeze, in a statement on Wednesday, singed by Chuks Ibegbu, said that apart from the data collation, it would also explore opportunities at all federal ministries and agencies with a view to ensure that Ndigbo was properly represented and positioned.
Ohanaeze also revealed that the affiliation of Igbo groups all over the world to the apex Igbo body would soon commence.
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has called on Ndigbo outside Igbo land to invest at home as a fallback position, even as he also called on them to promote Igbo language and heritage wherever they are.
He reiterated the call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and for federal presence in Igbo land adding that a situation where the South-East geo-political zone has only five states and 95 local government areas is no longer tolerable.
This was just as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization expressed dismay at utterances recently credited to the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, that it was opposing President Buhari.
Ohanaeze said, “This is the figment of his imagination. Ohanaeze is there to protect the interest of Ndigbo and will always shout if Ndigbo are sidelined in the scheme of things. Ohanaeze has not told or said anything that is not for the best interest of Ndigbo to Mr President.
“It is very uncharitable for Okechukwu to compare the immediate past regime of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its decisions then with the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s present leadership, ably led by Chief Nwodo. As an Igbo son, we expect Okechukwu to join Ohanaeze Ndigbo in its determined role to advance the Igbo cause. He should seperate facts from propaganda.”
