From Kenechukwu Amazuoke
Men of the Nigerian Police Force on Friday 11th of April 2014 averted a bloody clash between some Igbo youths and a group of young persons impersonating as the newly elected leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu.
This group headed by a self-acclaimed militant and opposition foot-soldier Chilos Godsent has against persistent warnings from previous and present Ohanaeze Ndigbo hierarchy refused to remove the prefix “Ohanaeze” from their name, chose the day of the President’s visit to Enugu to cause mischief as information from a reliable source said that they planned to spark off trouble along the popular Ogui road where the President will pass through on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium venue of the South-East rally.
However lick ran against them as their plans was leaked out to the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing who quickly alerted the security apparatus, resulting in the sealing of the earlier venue of their gathering at Gold Value Hotel located at the Upper Chime axis of New Haven. But bent on carrying out their act fictitious group moved the venue of their event to Peekay Gardens also in New Haven. Information filtered out to some patriotic members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth affiliate groups who immediately mobilised their members to storm the venue of the fraudulent inauguration, but were stopped by the timely intervention of the National Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Mazi. Okechukwu Isiguzo who mandated the National Vice Leader (Delta) Odozi Nwodozi to meet with the group and know the true position.
According to Isiguzo “they are Igbo young persons and we should not be seen as fighting amongst ourselves, hence we must dialogue with them. Remember, they are our brothers.”
Nwodozi arrived at the Peekay Garden venue of the event after police has whisked away the ring leaders including Chilos Godsent and Zulu Ofoelue. According to him, “On getting to the venue, I met Dr Mark Oduh and Dr. Sam Amadi among some rented crowd. And after speaking with them and informing them of the true position as regards the authenticity of the group and the event, i advised all present to depart as their safety cannot be guaranteed if some aggrieved youths come into the venue and choose the path of violence.”
Speaking further, the National vice Leader stated “From the look of things, Dr. Amadi and Dr Mark Oduh were not properly informed as immediately they got the true picture, they exited the scene.”
In a show of remorse, the offending youths under detention are pleading that they be set free and allowed to write an undertaking of good behaviour which will include putting a stop parading themselves under the name of Ohanaeze NdiIgbo.
Meanwhile, concerned Igbo persons concerned over the shameful acts of various youth groups misusing the name “Ohanaeze” are calling on the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to publicise the list of the authentic executive members of the pan-Igbo youth group Ohanaeze NdiIgbo Youth Wing.
It should be recalled that for the first time in the history of Ohanaeze NdiIgbo, elections were held for the youth wing where Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzo emerge as the national Youth leader defeating three other candidates.
