‘They don’t speak for us’ — Ohanaeze disowns youth council

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has disowned the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide.

The group said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide is not known to the organs and structures of the group, adding that it is a “strange, non-existent, mischievous contrivance for narrow personal interests”.

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, in a statement issued by Alex Ogbonnia, the group’s spokesperson, said the youth council is not recognised. 

Iwuanyanwu said the activities of the group is of grave concern to every Igbo adult.

He added that the youth council belittles the purpose for which the Ohanaeze leadership was created.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo and indeed the eminent sons and daughters of Igbo land have pleaded with such mercenaries to desist from lowering the hallowed image of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to their levels,” he said.

“This group has been reminded to no avail that Ohanaeze represents the Igbo history, emotions, collective consciousness and solidarity that should not be dragged to the mud and should not always place the Igbo in line with their unguarded youthful impetuosity.

“We, at various times, informed the unsuspecting public to ignore the mischief makers and media navigators who leech on the invaluable footprints of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to issue press releases for perverse and illicit pecuniary interests.”

The president-general said the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo had also taken legal action.

He said that Uchenna Mogbo, the high court judge, had issued an injunction restraining Okwu Nnabuike, leader of the youth group, and others from parading themselves as representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“Since the court order on March 12, 2023, which is still subsisting, these cohorts have continued to impersonate the group in most despicable forms,” he said.

“Curiously, Okwu Nnabuike has refused to honour the several invitations from security operatives.

“We appeal to the media to be circumspect in what they publish about Ohanaeze and to seek clearance from Ohanaeze leadership before going public.”