Ohanaeze Ndigbo

Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Formation	1976
Headquarters	Park Avenue, Enugu
Membership	5 states (+ Igbo indigenous communities in Rivers, and Delta states)
Official language	Igbo, English
Budget	Primary Contributors - Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Website

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria. The group represents all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria. Igbos by census, represent one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Although the group is not a political party, part of its objectives of creation is to foster unity among its members in order to better allow them to be representative within the political scenario of Nigeria. The policy is under review as there are some very important issues confronting ndi Igbo, some of which are even threatening their growth which the umbrella group needs to address urgently,

History

After the Nigerian civil war, some prominent Igbos gathered to proclaim the need to unify Igbos under a common umbrella body

. This initiative was much welcomed considering maximum displacement of the Igbos during the war and its aftermath. An organizational assembly was created, referred to as the Igbo National Assembly (INA). This organization was later banned by the Federal Military Government at the time, probably due to the Government's fear of a grand suspicious agenda being cultivated by the Igbos via the organization; hence, the creation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in 1976.

Professor Ben Nwabueze, a foremost constitutional lawyer, assembled prominent Igbo leaders to form the organization of which he emerged the Secretary-General of the organization spanning a period of 20 years.

The organization was effectively championed and supported by the Kingsley Mbadiwe, Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, Dr. Pius Okigbo, and Chief Jerome Udorji (who served as the first Secretary General), among other notable Igbo personalities.

Current National Executive Committee

CHIEF Barr. John Nnia Nwodo) — President General
DIG Hillary Opara mni (rtd) — Deputy President General
Elder Barr. Onuoha Udeka (rtd)2 — Vice President General (Abia)
Chief Charles Odunukwe — Vice President General (Anambra)
DR. Sylvanus O. Ebigwei, MON. — Vice President General (Delta)
Prof. Chigozie N. Ogbu, OFR — Vice president-General (Ebonyi)
Hon. Igochukwu Okparanma — Vice President—General (Rivers)
Barr. Uche I. Okwukwu — Secretary-General'
Dr. Solomon N. Ogunji — Deputy Secretary-General
Chief Chuks Muoma, SAN — National Legal Adviser
Emeka Festus Ogwu — National Treasurer
Chief Chief Alphonsus Duru — ' National Financial Secretary
Barrister Uche Achi-Okpaga — National. Publicity Secretary.
Chief Eric Ebeh — Asst. Nat. Treasurer
Chief Barr. Okeagu Ogadah — Assistant National Legal Adviser
Elder Chris Eluemunoh — Asst. Nat. Fin. Secretary
Comrade Chuks Ibegbu — Asst. National Pub. Secretary
Elder Justice R.C. Ajuzieogu — State President (Abia)
Chief Damian Okeke (Ogene) — State President (Anambra)
Hon. Henry Uche Nwaokobia — State President (Delta)
Comrade Boniface Offor — State President (Ebonyi)
Chief Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia — State President (Enugu)
Dr. Ezechi Chukwu — State President (Imo)
Igo Okparanma (VPG Rivers) — Ag. State President
Eugene Ibeabuchi — Admin. Secretary

Political crisis

It was the quest to hang on to power and the politicisation of the group that erupted in what analysts regard as an unresolved crisis in Ohaneze Ndigbo during the tenure of Prof. Irukwu from Abia State . This actually led to the breakdown of the association.

References

ohanaezendigboenugu.org

External links

Nwanosike Onu (2 October 2009). "Ohaneze Ndigbo: The twists, the turns". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved 2010-04-04.

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