The crises brewing in the Ohanaeze Ndigbo took another dimension as it appears that the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have swallowed the socio-cultural organization. This is as a result of the emergence of two factional leaders of the group heavily backed by Gov Hope Uzoimma and erstwhile Governor Rochas Okorocha.
There are indications that the fight for the soul of Ohanaeze is already tearing the apex Igbo socio –cultural organization apart as there were pointers to another Ohanaeze faction that held its own election at Awka on Saturday. The Ohanaeze election officially was scheduled to hold on Sunday but by Saturday a faction purportedly supported by Okorocha held its own version of the election in Enugu.
In the election, a former Imo State commissioner under the Rescue Mission administration, Engr Chidi Ibeh (MFR) emerged as the president general. Richard Ozobu organized led the election committee.
The suspended secretary-general, Barr Uche Okwukwu (Rivers) was elected the deputy president general while Okechukwu Isiguzoro (Abia) emerged as the secretary general. Ozobu had told media hounds that the election was conducted through Zoom application because of the ban on large gathering as a result of the dreaded Covid-19. Confusion at the time of filing in this report had trailed the election conducted by a former Ohanaeze helmsman Chief Garry Igariwey in which it was reported that Prof George Obiozor emerged as the president general.
Protests against Obiozor raged high when it was discovered that he had been endorsed by the Imo State government with Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in tow as the consensus candidate. This attracted some protests from other candidates who called for a level playing ground. The governors of the South East states in a statement forty eight hours to the Owerri election threw their weights behind Obiozor who they indicated was their preferred candidate.
However, about 24 hours to the election, Joe Nwaorgu who had dutifully served the organization as well as Prof Chidi Osuagwu and Chief Chris Asoluka pulled out from the race. They alleged imposition and interference. Not satisfied with the conduct of the proceeding according to them they called it quits. Observers noted that the outcome of the election will go a long way to determine the continued existence of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group. Some are of the views that the issues playing out now may sign post the end of the group.
