Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide held its 3rd Convention, Past Leaders and Stakeholders Meeting in Enugu on Saturday, 10th June. The event attended by most Ohanaeze and Igbo Youth Veterans, past leaders and critical stakeholders was also an opportunity to honor some comrades who started the Ohanaeze and Youth struggle in Igboland.
The convention also discussed various range of issues affecting Ndigbo in Nigeria, including security,economy, politics, Biafra agitations and good governance.
While welcoming the delegates, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Rt Hon Chima Obieze said that the convention afforded Ndigbo the opportunity to chart a new course by evaluating issues that borders on the Security, Economy, Politics, Governance and the activities of those who felt the system has infuriated them.
The Pioneer Founder of Ohanaeze Youth, Wings and Popular Organs, and former Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Barrister Capeoo Emejulu Okpalaukwu gave the history of Igbo struggles, Ohanaeze struggles and the Biafran arms of the struggle. He mentioned the Comrades who are still in the course and those who have fallen by the wayside, and reiterated calls for Tinubu to appoint Service Chief of Igbo Extraction. Okpalaukwu is also the leader of Isi Ebubeagu Ndigbo.
The Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC, and Igbo, Student Youth Leader since 1991, Rev Obinna Akukwe while highlighting their efforts in Ohaneze Ndigbo since year 2000, told the convention that in 2015 himself and Barrister Okpalaukwu met top military brass and blocked the initial attempt by the security agents to brutally crack down on Biafra agitators from November 2015 till end of the year. He said that the arrangement led to the military giving the Biafran agitators free reign until some irresponsible persons went to attack the Naval Facility at Onitsha, leading to the first ever casualty in the IPOB Struggle. He said that irresponsible activism led to crackdown on Biafra agitators and said that the angle of bloodshed in the struggle is distracting it from local and international sympathies. Rev Akukwe is also the Director Media and Communications General Assembly of all Igbo Christian Organizations and Ministers GAAICOM
Hon Chika Temple (EX-South East President NYCN) in his submission disagre4eed with the notion from Rev Akukwe that South East is disorganized. He referred to the massive support Ndigbo gave Peter Obi at the polls and their acclaimed successes all over the world as evidence that Igboland is not in tatters.
Prince Tony Anioke , Pioneering Financial Secretary of Ohanaeze Youth Wing condemned those using the name of the body to collect money, and said that unless unity is achieved, there can be no forward movement in Ohanaeze.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing. Barrister Obasi Onu called upon all veterans to help reposition Ohanaeze to take collective actions to the benefit of Ndigbo. He asked all stakeholders to ren in the erring members.
The Secretary General of the Youth Wing, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu asked the veterans and stakeholders to join hands to bring justice, unity, peace and youth restiveness within Igboland. He harped on the deteriorating security situation in Igboland and called for urgent action.
The body resolved to support efforts by Chief Iwuanyanwu to reposition Ohanaeze Parent body. The body also condemned the proliferation of persons using the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to dupe persons and governments and asked the veterans to act as bridge to bring the malaise to an end.
