Front-line member of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi has claimed that the tenure of the President-General and Secretary-General of the organization, Chief Enwo Igariwey and Dr Joe Nworgu, respectively, was a disaster to Ndigbo.
The nationalist, who spoke at his Ukpor country home in Anambra State, expressed optimism that the organization will come out stronger after ongoing consultations that would enthrone new leadership before the year runs out.
While condemning the conduct of the duo of Igariwey and Nworgu during the last general elections, he called them sit-tight leaders, who refused to leave office even when their tenure had elapsed because of what they hoped to get from then President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Amaechi, “Recall that I took the initiative during the last general elections when I noticed that the tenure of the Igariwey leadership of Ohanaeze had expired and they insisted on remaining in office because of the money they wanted to grab from the then President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to the detriment of Ndigbo. With the support of other elders and leaders of Igbo land, we formed the caretaker committee headed by Chief Ralph Obioha.
“Eventually, we issued a statement in an advertorial which I personally signed, asking Ndigbo not to obey the order of Igariwey, that they should vote for Good- luck Jonathan; instead, they should vote according to their conscience.
“So, the Igariwey leadership is poor, myopic and not adequate. And since after the elections, there have been consultations because Ohanaeze needs to be re- organized with a new leadership.
“We have made mistakes but not for money. We need to cure ourselves of this propensity for wealth. We shouldn’t worship money as God. We have to do a proper re-thinking. There are consultations going on now and we hope that something good will come out”.
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