On Tuesday, Igbo leaders, political figures, and traditional rulers came together in Lagos for the public presentation of a new book on Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The event marked 50 years of the organisation and came with one clear message: the time for unity, reconciliation, and institutional renewal is now.<\/p>\n
The book is titled Ohanaeze at 50: The Burden of Memory, the Politics of Relevance \u2013 A Critical Biographical Reflection of an Igbo Institution<\/em>. It was written by Agbeze Ireke Kalu Onuma.<\/p>\n At 602 pages, it is not a traditional history of the organisation, and it is not a celebration. The author describes it as an independent look at Ohanaeze’s achievements, its shortcomings, its internal contradictions, and its chances for renewal.<\/p>\n Onuma said his decades of involvement in Ohanaeze gave him a view of how the organisation works that went beyond what the media reported.<\/p>\n The gathering drew some of the biggest names in Igbo leadership, including:<\/p>\n Others in attendance included Elder Dr Uma O. Eleazu, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Elder U.K. Eke, Prof. Okey Anueyiagu, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, and Elder Peter Nwankwo.<\/p>\n The event gave those present a chance to reflect on Ohanaeze’s role in preserving Igbo identity, speaking for Ndigbo, and navigating the political and economic realities the people face.<\/p>\n Speaking as Special Guest of Honour and Chief Host, Governor Otti called for a transformational change in how Ohanaeze operates as it marks its 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, Deputy Global Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, represented the President-General, Senator Azuta Mbata. He praised the author’s contribution and spoke about plans to restore peace and order in Lagos, which he called the “capital of Africa”.<\/p>\n He said Ohanaeze, guided by the Igbo principles of Njiko ka<\/em> and Igwebuike<\/em>, had pursued peace and reconciliation within its own structures.<\/p>\n “Still standing on the Igbo ethos of Njiko ka and Igwebuike, we have, most importantly, pursued peace with vigour and sincerity. We have intervened and are resolving long-standing crises in our chapters in Lagos, Abuja, London, and Ireland,” he said.<\/p>\n “We believe that peace within Ohanaeze structures is critical to our credibility as the apex body of the Igbo nation.”<\/p>\n Oji also stated that there is currently no recognised Ohanaeze President in Lagos, pending the resolution of matters before the courts.<\/p>\n “For now, there is no Ohanaeze executive in Lagos until all matters in court are resolved. Our PG, Senator Mbata, has set up a committee to reconcile the factions and restore permanent peace to Lagos State Ohanaeze,” he added.<\/p>\n The Obi of Onitsha urged Ndigbo to take a critical look at the state of Igbo leadership. He called for greater unity and cohesion, and for a clearer understanding of the challenges facing the people.<\/p>\n He said the book serves as a mirror for Ohanaeze, honestly examining its internal failings and raising the questions Ndigbo must answer to chart a better path forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Tuesday, Igbo leaders, political figures, and traditional rulers came together in Lagos for the public presentation of a new book on Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The event marked 50 years of the organisation and came...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWho Was There<\/h2>\n
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Otti Calls for a Shift<\/h2>\n
Peace Within the Organisation<\/h2>\n
A Mirror for the Organisation<\/h2>\n