By Fidel Ozugha
Nze Fidelis Chukwu has been named the new President-General (PG) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The new PG was announced through a communique issued after the Imeobi and General Assembly meeting held in Enugu on Saturday,15,2024.
The communique signed by Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Ambassador Okey Emuchay after the Imeobi and General Assembly meeting, stated that the tenure of the new PG would be brief. This is because he is coming to complete the tenure of Imo State at the Ohanaeze Worldwide. Under this condition, Nze Chukwu has only 27 days to serve as the Ohanaeze PG since his tenure will terminate in January 10, 2025.
Emergency of the new PG was the outcome of incomplete tenure challenges the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization faced by the death of Prof George Obiozo in 2022. The vacuum his untimely demise created led to swearing-in Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu on April 30, 2023. The burial of Chief Iwuanyanwu who died on July 25, 2024, on November 1, 2024, created yet another vacuum in Imo State assessing the Presidency.
According to Amb. Emuchay, “In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imo Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by Mr. C. J. Ihemedu, presented Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of the four-year tenure allotted to Imo.”
He said the motion to adopt Chukwu as replacement for late Chief Iwuanyanwu, was moved by the Chairman of the Imo Council of Elders, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and was seconded by Chief Simon Okeke.
“In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imeobi adopted the nomination of Chukwu as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and the motion was unanimously adopted through a voice vote by the Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
‘The State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Rivers expressed delight over the nomination of Chukwu as the new President-General until January 10, 2025,” Emuchay added.
Secretary Emuchay further stated in the communique that Chukwu was sworn in as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by the national legal adviser, Mr Joseph Ojobu, and the assistant legal adviser, Dr Peter Aneke.
He said the Southeast Governors’ Forum, represented by Gov. Peter Mbah, charged the new President-General to ensure that the forthcoming Ohanaeze election should be both transparent and credible.
