IHEANACHO NWOSU

Ohanaeze, it would be recalled has been enmeshed in leadership crisis, following the controversy over the years prescribed by the organization’s constitution for the elapse of the tenure of Irukwu’s leadership.

While Prof. Irukwu’s executive insists that the constitution provides for four years, a group led by Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) contends that they have only two years legally provided for them.

Several prominent Igbo leaders including bishops and church clerics intervened and made efforts to resolve the crisis.

However, on August 12, five South East governors in Enugu, Enugu State met with the two parties and resolved among other things, that a new election that would produce the leadership of the body be held.

To that effect, an electoral committee headed by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien and composed of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Senator F. J. Ellah and Admiral Kanu was inaugurated.

Accusing Kanu and his group of violating the peace agreement, Irukwu who was flanked by state chairman of the organisation said the plans by the group to hold election on November 4 was a clear violation of the resolution.

While he expressed readiness to hand over to a new leadership of the organisation, he insisted that due process must be followed in line with the recommendation of the governors.

He argued that Prof. Edozien, currently in the United States of America was not aware of the planned election by the Kanu led group wondering how such election could take place without the knowledge of the chairman of the electoral committee.

The Ohnaeze President recalled that state chairmen of the organisation had raised alarm over the inclusion of Admiral Kanu in the electoral committee, fears, he said he allayed because of the calibre of personalities in the committee:

According to him "when the South East governors announced the membership of the committee, our members were generally pleased with the choice of HRM, Prof. Edozien..."

He continued: "However, most members at the state and national levels, familiar with the role played by Admiral Kanu in this crisis situation expressed serious reservations concerning his membership of the Electoral Committee."

Irukwu submitted that Senator Ellah had to resign from the electoral committee because of his observation of some indecent steps, wondering that this petition sent to the Electoral Committee over the resignation by seven state chairmen of the organisation was not responded to.

Appealing to South East governors and notable individuals from the zone to call Admiral Kanu and his group to order, he said the unity of Ndigbo should be paramount.