The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has picked former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara to lead a 20-man committee which will articulate a position for Ndigbo in the proposed restructuring of Nigeria.
Other notable members of the committee include: former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Julius Ucha, Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Prof. Charles Nwekeaku, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Chief Osita Chidoka, among others.
Inaugurating the committee on Wednesday in Abuja, the president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, urged members to give the assignment the seriousness it deserved.
He said, “I’m therefore of very strong believe that restructuring of Nigeria is a social, economic and cultural imperative. Many other groups in Nigeria have continued to make demands for secession from the country.
“Such demands have come from the Northern, Western and of course, Eastern part of Nigeria.
“Once the structure of Nigeria is right, all these demands and agitations will stop and Nigeria by God’s grace will be one of the greatest countries in the world.
“Today, I have therefore, a great pleasure and honour to inaugurate a committee comprising a very distinguished and illustrious Igbo sons and daughters under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo the former Governor of Enugu State to review past discussions, make wide contacts with Igbos as Igbo position on a restructured Nigeria.”
He said the task assigned to the team is very sublime and critical to the future of Igbo in Nigeria.
“I pray the Almighty God, who has led our people through past perilous times, guide you as you carry out this sublime duty of producing a structure that will make the Federal Republic of Nigeria a happy country for all of us.”
Iwuanyanwu, who reflected on past agitations before and after the Civil War, however dispelled long held notions about the position of the defunct Eastern Region during the Aburi Conference.
He said contrary to notions, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, who led the delegation to the Aburi conference with General Yakubu Gowon, never asked for secession from Nigeria but for restructuring to give component parts of the federation greater autonomy.
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