It was dramatic on Tuesday as former information minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo emerged the President-
General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Other contestants for the position included a law Professor, Simon Ortuanya, Former Vice Chancelllor,
Prof. Chiweyite Ejike and Chief Joel Ifeanyi Ezugwu.
However, before voting commenced, Ezugwu and Ortuanya announced their decision to step down for
Nwodo, describing him as a man of wisdom and competence, well qualified for the position.
Following the development, Nwodo was left with only Chiweyite, a pioneer Vice Chancellor of then
Anambra State University of Science and Technology, ASUTECH, to contend with.
At the end of the election held at the Ohanaeze Secretariat in Enugu, he emerged victorious with a
wide margin, having polled 242 votes, while
Prof. Chiweyite trailed far behind with 13 votes. There were 6 voided votes.
The seven Igbo speaking states, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Delta and Rivers, as well as other
affiliate groups, including pro-Biafra groups, the MASSOB, and the IPOB participated in the election
with specified number of delegates.
In his pre-election speech, Nwodo had assured of his readiness to entrench transparency and
accountability in running the Ohanaeze affairs.
He had declared that as a two-time former minister, he never he had never been summoned by any
commission of inquiry to account for any missing fund, adding that his wife equally lived above board
while she served as a Justice of the Appeal Court.
“I will not use this position to make money; if I am asked to die for you, I will do so”, he vowed.
Nwodo equally pledged to hold a meeting with the IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups, stressing that “if
we allow them to be killed on daily basis, their blood will be on our head.”
Earlier, the stage for the election was set after Chief Ejiofor Onyia, Ohanaeze Vice President General
had supported a motion moved by Chief Chris Asoluka for the dissolution of the Enwo Gari-Igariweh
National Executive Council.
It was gathered that former minister, Alison Madueke, who earlier purchased form for the position of
President-General did not present himself for screening. It was learnt that he stepped down following
pressures from some quarters.
Some of the Igbo leaders present at the election included Former Senate President, Ken Nnamadi, Chief
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former Governor Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, traditional rulers, among others.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof. Anya O. Anya had in his speech charged the new
executive to restore Ndigbo to the path of growth.
“We must learn lessons; we must keep our plan among ourselves; we must learn to talk less; to keep
others wondering what must be in our mind”, he declared.
NairaNaijaNews.com reports that out of the 17 positions, 13 were returned un-opposed.