BY PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), apex youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo have described the so-called “Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide” led by Mr. Basil Onuoha as a group of profiteers whose intent is to defraud Ndigbo and the general public.
The observation was made Enugu on Saturday 20th March 2021 after a critical stakeholders ,national executive council meeting and Local Govt. Convention/Inauguration held at Oji River, the body to x-ray the motive behind the creation and registration of the new group by few individuals.
The Council said it noticed that the inconsequential group of people that registered the organization at the Cooperate Affairs Commission(CAC) lacked the basic knowledge of Section 40 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria(1999) as amended.
They however advised Ndigbo to be wary of their antics.
Speaking on behalf of the group, OYC national president, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka noted that among these fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution, such as right to life, right to dignity of the human person, right to personal liberty, right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly and association were listed.
Comrade Igboayaka further pointed out that the Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides amongst other things that: Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.
“From the foregoing, it will be seen that the right to freedom of association, being one of the rights mentioned in the said provision, was made to nothing by Mr. Basil Onuoha and Co.
“In light of the above, where can one hinge the assertion that Ndigbo met and collectively decided to register their existence to the Cooperate Affairs Commission. By Implication the action of Mr. Basil Onuoha and Co that the existence of Ndigbo which the identity of their organization lie in ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo’, now means that Ndigbo exist by the power of Cooperate Affairs Commission Act,” Igboayaka revealed.
He added that: “It’s regrettable that some corrupt elements in Alaigbo have employed the Igbo quest for political and economic emancipation as an avenue for self-gratification and fraudulent activities.
“Arewa, Oduduwa, Ijaw Elders Council and other ethnic sociocultural organizations derives its existence through the fundamental human right as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, therefore, why will Ohanaeze Ndigbo be subjugated under the Act of Cooperate Affairs Commission?” Igboayaka queried.
He regretted that: “It’s unfortunate the liberal nature of Ndigbo warranted Mr. Basil Onuoha and Co to go and register their private company with the name ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide’ and start parading themselves on the windows and corridors of power in Abuja with Femi Adesina, other politicians in Nigeria who may welcome Mr. Onuoha and their Ohanaeze Ndigbo private company. These set of people should be careful not to cause internal tribal crisis.
“It’s obviously clear that Mr. Basil Onuoha and Co are in a pathway to sell Alaigbo and mortgage the future of Igbo youths under teleguiding of Ohanaeze Ndigbo affair with the cooperate affair Act which if allowed they’ll have the right to withraw the operation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo any time. Godforbid! This conspiracy can’t see the light of the day in Igbo land,” Comr. Igboayaka maintained.
At this point, Ohanaeze Youth Council have re-examine the implication of registering the group Ohanaeze Ndigbo by Mr. Onuoha and found out that it’s a gallow of social and cultural death of the new generation of Igbo extraction in Nigeria, therefore, Mr. Onuoha’s plans to mortgage the socio-cultural heritage of Ndigbo are hereby rejected by over 30 millions Igbo youths.
Comrade Igboayaka stated that Mr. Onuoha and Co are not wiser than the founding fathers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo who have someone like Chief Ben Nwabueze, a legal guru of high repute, whose vision was not creating Ohanaeze Ndigbo under the control of Cooperate Affairs Commission but Ohanaeze Ndigbo with the framework of constitutional backing, basically on the fundamental human right, which all the constituted authorities, traditional rulers, Political office holders and religious leaders of Igbo extraction are totally in support of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by the erudite Prof. Amb. George Obiozor.
“In the light of the foregoing, OYC insists that Mr. Basil Onuoha and Co should seek withdrawal of the (CAC) certificate and render apology to Ndigbo, Igbo youths in particularly and to unborn generation of Igbo extraction for this act of deceit within eight (8) market days or be ready to contend with Igbo youths all over the globe.
“If Mr. Basil Onuoha and Co have a genuine selfless course for Ndigbo, they should key into one unified legitimate Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Prof. George Obiozor and table ideas or programs geared towards socio-political cum economic development of Alaigbo,”Comrade Igboayaka concluded.
This release was signed by Chukwuemeka Chimerue Ucheagu,
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the OYC National President.
March 20, 2021
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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