Ohanaeze wants to establish data base of Ndigbo

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural group in South East Nigeria, has revealed its plan to capture the data of its people home and abroad to ensure their protection and well-being.

This was even as the group led by Nnia Nwodo, reinstated its call for the release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group while denying that it is against administration of President Muhammad Buhari, maintained that there was no way it will keep quiet when Ndigbo are being treated with neglect and their rights trampled upon.

Ohanaeze made this known in a statement released Wednesday and signed by Chuks Ibegbu.

The statement read, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo will soon compile the data of Ndigbo overseas and outside Igbo land with a view to ensuring their protection and well-being.

“It will also explore opportunities at all federal ministries and agencies with a view to ensuring their proper representation and fair positioning.

“The affiliation of Igbo groups all over the world to the Apex Igbo body will also soon commence.

“The President General of the Organisation Chief Nnia Nwodo has called on Ndigbo outside Igbo land to invest at home as a fall-back position. He also called on them to promote Igbo language and heritage wherever they are.

“He reiterated on the call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and for federal presence in Igbo land.

“A situation where the South East has only five states and 95 local government areas is no longer tolerable.”

The statement further noted, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo is dismayed by the recent utterances of the DG of the Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu claiming that the group is opposing President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is the figment of his imagination. Ohanaeze is there to protect the interest of Ndigbo and will always shout if Ndigbo are side-lined in the scheme of things. Ohanaeze has not told or said anything that is not for the best interest of Ndigbo to Mr President.

“It is very uncharitable for Osita Okechukwu to compare the immediate past regime of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its decisions then with the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo present leadership ably led by Chief Nnia Nwodo.

As an Igbo son, we expect Chief Okechukwu to join Ohanaeze Ndigbo in its determined role to advance the Igbo cause. He should separate facts from propaganda.”

Ohanaeze, under the leadership of Nwodo, has on several occasions lamented what it tagged as “second class treatment” of Ndigbo in the present Buhari-led government.

Gsent Talks....Taking You Further