The Igbo sociocultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo has disowned the embattled self-styled Prime Minister of Biafra in exile, Simon Ekpa.
According to the group, the only person it recognized as leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Ohanaeze also dismissed insinuations from some quarters that there is leadership vacuum in the body since the demise of its late President, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
While dismissing the insinuations, the group pointed out that the next President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo would come from Imo State. This, it stated is in order for Imo State to complete its slot allocated of the president.
This was disclosed by the Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, at a press conference, on Saturday.
The Vice President, therefore, called on all Igbo-speaking States to allow Imo State to complete its slot in the socio-cultural presidency.
He said, “All these emergency leaders emerging here and there have not come to our notice. Sometimes, when you listen to Nnamdi Kanu, we still support him and believe that if he is released, he will tell us who his boys are.
“Because it is not a one-man movement, we still interact with him, and he is part and parcel of us. He is an Igbo son.
“This issue of Simon Ekpa is unknown to me and to Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo. What we are concerned about is the release of Nnamdi Kanu. And if he is released, it would help us in Igbo land a great deal.
“In a structure, you must have an arrowhead. There are many setups within the IPOB issue. And many people have started claiming that they are Mr. IPOB. But the IPOB that we know is Nnamdi Kanu.”
“Why should we be so concerned about his arrest in Finland when he has destroyed the economy of the Southeast?”
“You and I know that if his views represent what would bring Biafra, we know that no one would want to be part of that kind of Biafra.”
“We should be very cautious and consider the lives of his brothers and sisters. And because Nnamdi Kanu has been consistent, he is the leader of IPOB.
“Simon Ekpa says he is a content creator, so how can we take him seriously? He should go to Nollywood and deceive people. We look at Simon Ekpa as a Nollywood star, as he claims. And it is only in Nollywood that we see content creators,” Okeke-Ogene said.
Speaking on the leader of the Ohanaeze, the VP said all leadership positions in every wing and organ of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo are zoned to States, not individuals.
According to him, currently, the position of the President is zoned to Imo State. But the late Chief Iwuanyanwu did not complete the tenure of Imo State.
Okeke-Ogene, therefore, acknowledged that Chief Iwuanyanwu’s death created a significant vacuum in the leadership structure. He, however, assured that Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, as an institution of repute, remains intact and undivided, with no leadership crisis.
The Vice President also urged the Southeast Governors to collaborate more effectively to enhance security measures that will improve crime-fighting efficiency and sustainability.
source: Daily Trust
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