The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has denied reports that the organization is enmeshed in a leadership tussle following the death of its President-General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Ohanaeze said its National Executive Committee, NEC, under the leadership of Secretary-General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, has been carrying out administration duties seamlessly since Iwuanyanwu’s death.
The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Alex Ogbonnia, was reacting to a report that Ohanaeze has been thrown into a leadership row following Iwuanyanwu’s death.
The report claimed that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization has returned to the old path of tenure and zoning arguments among member-states.
However, in a statement released on Saturday, Ogbonnia said, “The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) passed quietly on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
“On July 30, 2024, the NEC of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was officially briefed by the Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, and a condolence book was opened in honour of the late President General. All the States President were asked to ensure that condolence books were opened in honour of the late icon.
“The Chairman, South East Governors Forum, and the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, has been officially briefed on behalf of the governors.
“Very soon, the Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be briefed about the demise of the former President General. It is therefore very ill-advised and strange for an Igbo to begin to claim the position of the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, even when the burial committee for Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo is yet to be constituted.
“There is no leadership row or tussle in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at present and there is not likely to be one in the near future.
“The NEC comprises erudite scholars, technocrats and veterans of diverse fields such that functions of the umbrella Igbo body are being fulfilled, most seamlessly on a daily basis by the appropriate structures under the administrative competence of the Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay.”
