By Emeka Mamah
Enugu – Ohanaeze leaders in Enugu State have described as “nonsensical” reports that the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has brokered peace between the two factional leaders of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Gray Enwo-Igariwey and Dr. Ralph Obioha with the latter dropping his claim to the leadership of the umbrella association of all Igbo socio-cultural unions.

Some of the leaders who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the problems in Ohanaeze Ndigbo were fundamental and beyond both Enwo- Igariwey and Obioha.

Apart from this, they said that Igariwey had served out his term even as the position was rotatory between the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Enunu and other Igbo speaking areas of Delta among others.

According to them, Igariwey was now like a king without a kingdom as it was the turn of Enugu State to produce the new chairman of the pan- Igbo union.

A former minister who spoke on the issue said, “Okorocha is not serious about the issue. The problem in Ohanaeze is fundamental. Igariwey is from Ebonyi State. He has served out his term and it is now our (Enugu) turn to produce the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“In what capacity did Okorocha negotiate with Igariwey. He is like a bishop without a cathedral.

Dr Obioha has no claims to the leadership of Ohanaeze, so what type of factional chairman was he. Please, don’t mind Governor Okorocha, who sacked 3,000 workers claiming that someone asked him to do as a way of testing the waters for what he planned to do.”

The Public Affairs Officer of Nsukka Zonal Union, NZU, which is affiliated to Ohanaeze, Chief Patrick Ukwueze who spoke on the issue dismissed the reconciliation meeting, saying that both Okorocha, Igariwey and Izuogu wanted cheap publicity.

“Izuogu has no claims to the Office of President-General of Ohaneze. Although Ohanaeze is a vehicle that takes nobody anywhere, the truth has to be told. The problems in Ohanaeze are not about the two personalities who were said to have been reconciled. The problems are beyond Okorocha, Igariwey and Izuogu.

“Again it the turn of Enugu State to produce the next president – general of the association. Nobody extended his tenure by one year, as Okocha alone does not constitute Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Igariwey should not destroy a group which brought him to the limelight overnight,” Ukwueze said.

Others who spoke on the condition of anonymity condemned attempts by some politicians to destroy Ohanaeze Ndigbo using alleged sit- tight leaders like Igariwey, pointing out that neither Igariwey nor Izuogu was the president- general of the organisation.

There were reports that Dr. Obioha accepted Chief Enwo Igariwey as the President-General of the organisation and pledged to give him all the needed support and cooperation to enable him succeed at a reconciliation meeting brokered at Owerri, the Imo State capital by Governor Okorocha on Monday night.
It was gathered that part of the agreements at the meeting was that the tenure of Chief Igariwey was extended by one year, and that at the expiration of the one year, fresh election would be conducted to select new leaders for the body.
Similarly, all those suspended from the body while the squabble lasted, were also recalled, and all the court cases occasioned by the dispute would also be withdrawn.
According to a communique after the Owerri meeting, “A 17-member committee that would see to the implementation of all that was agreed including the issue of election was set up with Dr. Obioha as Chairman, while the governors will produce one member each.”
In his speech, Governor Okorocha expressed happiness that “the Ohaneze family is back as one.
“We have proven to the world that Igbos are their brothers’ keepers. The President of Ohaneze will soon address the Igbo nation. All Igbo must join hands with the Ohaneze leadership to move Igbo nation forward. With this peace, we are going to see a new kind of support for Ohaneze. The rest of the world will hear about the Igbo nation. The jinx has been broken.” Chief Igariwey and Dr. Obioha were quoted as saying in their respective speeches.