A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pat Anyanwu, has submitted that the process that produced Prof. George Obiozor as the Imo State consensus candidate for the position of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was flawless.
While some of the aspirants to the coveted leadership position including Prof. Goddy Uwazuruike have criticized the process, describing it as a ‘jamboree’, Anyanwu, a founding member of Ohanaeze Youth Council, insists the decision reflected the will of Imo people.
He regretted that it will be unfair to ridicule the decision of Imo people just because of personal ambition.
Anyanwu noted that the decision to nominate Obiozor was taken in concert with leaders and principal stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of the state.
“This has been the tradition over the years; leaders of every state to which the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership is zoned to, will meet, consult and produce a candidate for the region. It was the same for the outgoing President-General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo and those before him. This makes the transition seamless and less rancorous”, he stated.
According to Anyanwu, before Obiozor was nominated, a meeting of Imo leaders and stakeholders was convened at the instance of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who is the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders’ Council.
He said a 20-man committee from the stakeholders’ meeting, was formed to screen the aspirants and select the state’s nominee for the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and that the aspirants to the position were part of the process.
Anyanwu continued: “The process was open and participatory, and the leaders involved are respected and responsible personalities in Imo State. So, it smacks of crass insensitivity and a disservice to good conscience to attempt to lampoon the selfless service rendered by illustrious Imo sons just because of their ambitions. It needs no saying that all the aspirants are eminently qualified but only one President-General is needed for Ohanaeze Ndigbo. So, it will be utterly unfair to talk down on the process that produced Prof. George Obiozor as the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General nominee from Imo State.”