By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT: The Branch of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Social Cultural Organisation in Rivers State, the Indigenous Igbo Council, has threatened to pull out of the prestigious cultural group if the body deliberately continues to marginalize its body in the state.

IIC also vowed to threaten the forthcoming election of the body in which the Presidential slot is zoned to the state if people who are not registered members of the body in the area were not disqualified from contesting.

The Vice President of the IIC, Okere Azubuike, disclosed this during a press conference in Port Harcourt ahead of the Ohaneze NdiGbo election.

Speaking while fielding questions from pressmen in the state, Azubuike, said if the demands of the body that the Presidential and the Vice Presidential seats of the body be zoned to the state that the members of Ohaneze Ndibo in the state would pull out.

He said: “If our demands are not met, it might be difficult for us to unify the Igbos of Rivers State with the South-East brothers.

“So, if after going through our press conference today, they refuse to yield to our demands, we may likely distance ourselves from the election and whoever they force on us, because centrally, our demand is that they should allow Rivers people to decide who takes the lead in Ohaneze Ndigbo.”

Speaking further, President of IIC, Chimenu Amadi. noted that it is only those who are registered with the IIC that should be allowed to contest, claiming that Chief Mike Okiro, is not a registered member of the body in Rivers State, rather, Imo State and should be disqualified from contesting.

Amadi said: “As long as the Indigenous Igbo Council is concerned, we have a forum here in Rivers State. It is only those that are in our forum, that are registered members that we recognize and so far so good, we have all these contestants in the forum, they are members of IIC, except for the candidacy of Mike Okiro, who is not a member.

“And I don’t know why he’s not a member. If you are an indigenous Igbo of Rivers State, you should be a member of IIC. If you are not a member of IIC, what are you doing with the election of Rivers State.

“That is the just the reason why he should be disqualified because IIC is the body housing the entire indigenous Igbos of Rivers State beginning from Ekpeye, Ndoki, Ndoni, Egbema, Etche, Ikwerre and including Opobo. So, if you are not in this forum, it means that you are not with us.

“This is why we are saying those that are with us should be given a level playing ground to contest without any bias. Those that are not with us, automatically, should be disqualified from the process.”

Amadi, earlier in a press statement signed my leaders of the sections of IIC in the state, had noted that the state has been marginalized for long, stating that it was time for the leadership of the body to right the wrongs against the forum in Rivers State.

He said: “The Ohanézè Ndigbo is at a pivotal moment in its history, as the much-anticipated election for the position of President General approaches in just few days.

“The decision to zone this prestigious position to Rivers State does not only represents a leadership transition but also marks an important milestone in our shared history, signaling a commitment to reconciliation and healing.

“It brings hope for the restoration of lost ties and a renewed sense of purpose for all Igbos, especially those of Rivers State extraction.

“Therefore, the entire Igbo nation looks forward to a crucial moment of unity, progress, and strengthening the bonds that have been tested by the passage of time and the scars of the Nigerian Civil War.

“The Indigenous Igbo Council of Rivers State is deeply disturbed by recent efforts to undermine Rivers State’s rightful place in this election through questionable maneuvers including the sudden, unexpected, but subtle emergence or a candidate with a controversial state of origin, raising legitimate questions about his candidacy.”