…. declares interest for Secretary General’s position
By Maurice Okafor,
A frontline activist and Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, Rev Obinna Akukwe, has called for the postponement of the Ohanaeze election scheduled for Friday, January 10, at the national headquarter of the organisation, No 7 Park Avenue, Enugu.
Rev. Akukwe advocated that the postponement will enable a peace truce to be reached among the four aspirants for the post of President General namely; Chief Mike Okiro, Dim Uche Okwukwu, Chief Jackson Omenazu, Chief Fyneface Amaechi to avoid what he described as ‘cataclysmic implosion’.
He welcomed the zoning of the next President General position to Rivers state, stating that it is line with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution. He, however, cautioned against monetization of the election.
He called for non-adoption of Option A4 strategy for the election, even as he raised fears that the use of Option A4 will lead to hijack of the election by those he referred as foreign merchants whom he alleged will sell the positions to the highest bidders.
Rev.Obinna Akukwe made the clarion call as he declared interest to run for the position of Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, zoned to Anambra state.
Speaking to leaders of Igbo Mandate Congress and concerned Igbo clerics in Abuja on Monday, January 6, Rev. Akukwe who is also an investigative journalist-cum human rights activist, said he is in the race for Secretary General to reposition the apex body of all other Igbo socio-political organizations to serve the interest of the Igbo nation.
He said : “Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be for Ndigbo. A situation whereby the people listen to the the sit-at-home command of some persons despite pleas to the contrary by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and shuts down markets and stalls, losing billions in revenue everyweek is not good for Ndigbo.
“Ohanaeze have lost relevance in the eyes of the common man. The Igbo masses see them as a bunch of thieves collecting stipends from Hausa, Fulani, to sell them at every juncture. “
He said if elected, he will use his position of Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to assist in returning the body as a grassroot movement to enjoy the confidence of the masses.
Checks revealed that Rev Obinna Akukwe has worked as the Director Media and Communications of General Assembly of all Igbo Christian Organization and Ministers, GAAICOM, a body of Igbo Cleric and Bishops led by Apostle Dr PCJ. Macjossy, pioneered the tenure extension of Ohanaeze Leadership from two years to four years during the tenure of Ambassador Raph Uwechue in September 2011.
Rev Obinna Akukwe was also the Media and Publicity Secretary of Special Task Force for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a body of clerics and traditional rulers who worked with Chief Iwuanyanwu on Kanu’s release till suspiciously took ill after visiting the detained IPOB leader in detention.
