From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo world wide,Chief Alex Ogbonnia,has commended the organisation’s current election for a new leaderdhip into the National Women and National Youth wings of the Organisation as worthdoing.He said the new leadership ofboth the Women eing and the Youth wing will complement the activities of the parent body,headed by Professor George Obioxor.
Chief Ogbonnia dropped this hints in a chat with news men after witnessing the conduct of the ekection of new executive of the National Youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,held at National secretariat of the organisation,located at No 7 Park avenue,GRA Enugu .
He disclosed that the elctions to produce new national leadership for both the Women and Youth wings of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,would have come immediately after the parent body’s election held earlier in the year but circumstances beyond the control of the organisation delayed it.. But expressed satisfaction that the two iare eventually conducted.
According to him,the parent body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo needs the vibrancy of the Youth wing to maximise it’s perfomance,disclosing that every of the Youth contesting for an elective position,holds a minimum of a bachelor degree from r ecognisedf institution in the country.Both the delegates and contestants are drawn from the seven Igbo speaking states of Abia,Anambra,Delta,Ebonyi,Enugu,Imo and Rivers state.
Reacting to the claims by the outgoing National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Mr Arthur Obiora that his tenure is yet to end since he was elected in 2018 for a four yea tenure which will end in 2022,Chuef Ogonnia said the claim is not true.He said the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo provides that election of the Youth wing and Women wings of the organisation follows immediately after election of the parent body.
He said the newly elected President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Professor George Obiozor must have to work with a new leadership of the national women wing and national executive of the Youth wing. He explained that the same process was applicsble during the tenure of the immediate padt executive of the organisation led by Chief Nnia Nwodo.
Arthur Obiora who is still contesting that he remains the National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo until 2022, said he went to court to challenge the election,but Ohanaeze spokes man,Chief Alex Ogbonnia said he is not aware of any court injunction to stop the election.
Meanwhile,Mr Damian Okafor from Ebonyi state was yesterday elected as the new national Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worlwide.He scored a total of 130 votes to beat four others,who were equally from Ebonyi state.,based on the fact that the position of National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was zoned to Ebonyi state,on the basis of rotational prinviple embedded in Ohanaexe Ndigbo constitution.
Franklin Onwuasoanya from Imo state emerged as the Deuty National leader while Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu from Anambra state emerged as the new national secretary of Yotuh wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worwide. Most of the officials emerged as consensus candidates of the positions zoned to their respective states.However,option A4 style of voting were still applied to ensure the acceptance of the vsrious candidates by the entire delegates.
The election for a new national leadership of the women wing will take place at the Ohanaeze National secretsriat,located at No 7 Park avenue,GRA,Enugu, today.
