1.The Communique from the South East Governors Forum agreed that the request from Imo State to complete its term of office on the 10th January, 2024 should be accepted; however they underpinned their acceptance with the statement that all transactions associated with the process must adhere to the constitution of Ohanaeze. Unfortunately, the adherence to the constitution of Ohanaeze,during the Ime Obi/ General Assembly meeting, was hardly observed.
2.The meeting that was held on 14th December,2024 was neither an Ime Obi meeting nor a General Assembly meeting primarily because there was neither a quorum for the Ime Obi (membership of Ime Obi is about 91) nor that of the General Assembly (membership,which is about 594).
Hereagain, only about 57 people attended the irregular combined meeting of Ime Obi and the General Assembly.
Ndiigbo in Rivers are deeply worried about these misguided developments.Indeed ndications are beginning to emerge that there are hidden agendas that are associated with the consuming quest by the Imo State to do things unconstitutionally.
3.The irregular meeting was to be chaired by an Acting President General as outlined in the Ohanaeze constitution; article 13 of Ohanaeze constitution provides “In the absence of the President-General and the Deputy President-General, the Vice President, whose state is next in alphabetical order,shall act.”Consequently, Dr Kingsley Dozie,as the acting President General from Abia state,should have chaired the irregular meeting.Unfortunately, he was not allowed to guide the deliberations of the meeting.
4.The proposal by Imo State to be given an opportunity to replace the late immediate Past PG, despite its acceptability, unfortunately the proposal was presented to an unconstitutional body. It was rather curious, pertinent & instructive to observe that the communique of the SEGF did not allude to the request by the Rivers state Ohanaeze to be allowed the liberty to replace its Late Deputy President-General; similarly, the irregular constituted meeting also refused to allow Chief Jackson Omenazu’s insistence, at the meeting, to allow Rivers State Ohanaeze to replace the position of its DPG. We will resist the attempt to be treated like orphans because we are not less Igbos than our brothers in the SE region.
5.The invocation of doctrine of necessity is allowed to safeguard or mitigate some unforseen situations in life. But, ” A doctrine of necessity that is not embedded on justice is tantamount to doctrine of malice and confusion” as quoted by Chief Omenazu during the meeting.
6.Finally,it is instructive to note a fundamental mistake that was made by the newly(replaced) elected PG at the irregular meeting when he announced that the constitution of the membership of the Electoral Committee would be considered in a meeting on Sunday,15th December,2024 by the NEC.The Rivers State Ohanaeze would not accept any electoral committee constituted by NEC.Every State must be allowed to submit names of competent,qualified &
experienced candidates,wherein Ime Obi will grant approval to the composition,inclusive of its chairman & secretary.
7.In conclusion,Rivers state will not accept to emback on an important journey of this magnitude;which is to provide leadership to 80 million Igbos with a poisoned chalice.
Ndigbo ekele Kwan unu-dum
High Chief Omenazu Jackson.
Chairman, Elders council Ohanaeze Ndigbo Rivers/Bayelsa States
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