Igbo forum rejects Iwuanyanywu as Ohanaeze Ndigbo president-general

An Igbo socio-political group, Njiko Igbo Forum, has rejected the emergence of Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

The forum has been an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide since 1999.

Stating the Forum’s position in a press statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, Okechukwu Obioha, president of Njiko Igbo Forum, recommended Joe Nworgu, adding that he has the requisite experience as former deputy secretary-general.

Iwuanyanywu was nominated following the demise of the erstwhile president-general, George Obiozor, who passed on January 9, 2023.

The PUNCH reports that a delegation of the Imo Elders Council, led by the chairman, HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, had presented Iwuanyanwu to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Iwuanyanywu had during an interview on Channels Politics Today, accepted to serve, adding that he was pleased with by distinguished stakeholders of Ohanaeze to accept the position.

The statement by the forum rejecting Iwuanyanywu as president-general partly read, “Njiko Igbo Forum, rejects Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. As the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is demised and Imo State is unarguably the state to still retain the president-general, we strongly recommend Joe Nworgu PhD (Cambridge) who was one of the contestants for that position.

“We so do recommend Joe Nworgu PhD (Cambridge) as suitably qualified to take up the mantle of the leadership, having served dutifully as secretary-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and previously for several years been the deputy secretary-general.

“If Chief Dr Iwuanyanwu wants to be called the president-general, he is on his own and will not be recognised by us and l am sure by other affiliate organisations of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.”