‘We have not endorsed creation of Anioma State’ – Ohanaeze

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Friday, distanced itself from those who endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State.

A faction of Ohanaeze had written to President Bola Tinubu endorsing the creation of Anioma State.

The advertorial in some national dailies (not Newspot) was signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Professor Chubikeya Achokawa, Chief Alexander Chikalue Okemiri, Prince Eze Ozobu, Prof. Obasi Igwe, and Justice Alpha Ikpeama on behalf of Ndigbo.

However, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okey Emuchay, said it’s unthoughtful for a faction to endorse the creation of Anioma State when there are other demands like Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, and Orlu states.

In a statement he signed, Emuchay said: “The attention of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to an advertorial in the Vanguard Newspaper of December 5, 2024, to the effect that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State. The Open Letter to His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purports that “the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, representing all the Igbo speaking peoples in the 13 states of the major and minor indigeneity in Nigeria, as well as the millions in the Diaspora, writes…”

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“We are aware that the Igbo nation will surely be incensed and rattled by such an advertorial that did not pass through the Igbo cultural consensus.

“We have pleaded with the above characters that the Igbo problem is far beyond them. The egalitarian Igbo formed an Imeobi Ohanaeze and the Ohanaeze General Assembly, where the major issues affecting the Igbo are deliberated upon before arriving at a resolution.

“It must be clearly stated that we do not in any way begrudge the legitimate and inalienable right of the Anioma movement led by Sen. Ned Nwoko.

“We commend the courage and steadfastness of the Distinguished Senator Nwoko but a situation where we have other demands for state creation, such as Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, Orlu states, etc; it is very unthoughtful, harebrained and a huge embarrassment to the Igbo nation for a few persons to use the hallowed name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to issue a far-reaching press release without adequate consultations with the Igbo stakeholder.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Imeobi Ohanaeze will soon be convened to constitute an electoral umpire for the January 2025 Ohanaeze election. During the meeting, Ohanaeze will review the state of affairs in Nigeria and other matters affecting the Igbo.

“Within the week, Ohanaeze had issued a statement to debunk a press release to the effect that Ohanaeze is in a deep crisis. In the release, we reiterated that the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR and that any other press releases emanating from elsewhere should be taken for what it is.

“We once again plead with the above characters to desist from desecrating the sacredness of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization; reminding them that the Igbo all over the world owe a profound emotional attachment to Ohanaeze Ndigbo. For emphasis, Ohanaeze represents the soul, passion, history, culture, cosmology and politicality of the Igbo. Thus, it is inconceivable that any meaningful Igbo will become the willing tool for destabilizing the Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Once more, we urge all sons and daughters of the Igbo nation to remain calm.”