New Ohanaeze President General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata (Middle), flanked by Senator Victor Umeh (right) and other members of his team.
….expresses support for Senator Azuta-Mbata-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Victor Umeh, does not hide his feelings when ever and wherever issues concerning the Igbo nation are discussed.
Basically the character stems on his political tutelage under the great Igbo hero/legend, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi, who was the defunct Biafra warlord.
However, in practice, Chief Victor Umeh explores democratic processes and rule of law enshrined in the Nigeria’s constitution in pursuit and projection of the Igbo struggle.
Therefore, it was not a surprise that he carved out time out of his ever busy schedule at the National Assembly to witness the election of the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, held at Old Government lodge, Abakaliki road, Enugu,on Friday, January 10,,2025.
Speaking to newsmen thereafter, Senator Umeh described the task before the new executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide led by Senator Mbata as very enormous.
He appraised the fact that the new leadership comprises of men and women of proven integrity and tasked them to strategize on ways of gingering eonomic development of Igbo land.
He assured they will receive full support from the political class to achieve targeted objectives to enhance development of the Igbo nation.
His words, “By all means, most of them are credible people. So we will give them full support and when some of them begin to err,we will rise to the occasion and call them to order. We have the capacity to do so”
Senator Umeh stressed that the clarion call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Many from incarceration is a great challenge which Senator Mbata leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide must continue,arguing that the IPOB leade was frantic in defending the Igbo cause and is being detained unjustly.
Senator Umeh said, “One of the issues they will tackle immediately is to join the clarion call for the release of the detained IPOB leader,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.We have done so much in that regard as Senators.Under the leadership of the senate of the national assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senators of the South East zone have gone to see the Attorney General of the federation.The courts in Nigeria have pronounced him to be released,but they keep going forth and back”.
Senator Umeh lamented that some Nigerians who were detained over allegations of treason like Sowore has been released. He pleaded that the same ‘nolie prosesecue ‘ strategy’s used for Sowore, should be used to get Mazi Nnamdi Kanu off the hook.
Senator Umeh stressed that to stem the tide of socio economic and political marginalization for which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is incarcerated is also a cause he believes and will never relent from.
He disclosed that as far back as 2018, he sponsored a bill to over haul the entire railway track in the entire South East zone and replace them with modern rail gauges but it never saw the light of the day.
Then again in 2024, he had the backing of 35
Senators to re-introduce the bill. But to his understanding the bill did not see the light of the day when it got to the Presidency. Whereas the Lagos to Maiduguri railine with brand new rail gauge and several others have been completed.
He is optimistic that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide,this time around must be focused in building and projecting Igbo interest outside politics and cautioned they must not delve into politics.
Answering questions on whether the South East Governor’s proclamation through the Imo state Governor Hope Uzodinma, to bankroll the activities and projects of Ohanaeze Ndigbo henceforth will result in hijack of the organization, Senator Umeh said the idea is to let the leadership of Ohanaeze not to be cash-strapped in executing some of it,s notable projects, adding that that the organization will not be hijacked by the governors.
