Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is currently in Lagos for a three-day visit. During this time, he will meet with Igbo leaders as well as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to discuss issues that are affecting Igbo in Lagos, which is the economic capital of the country.
During an interview that took place on Wednesday after one of his engagements with Igbo leaders in Ikoyi, he discussed a variety of topics, including his ascension to the position of leader of Ohanaeze, his goals for the Igbo people, the rising tide of insecurity in the South-East, and the steps that the Federal Government can take to stem the tide.
Regarding the issues that surrounded his election as the leader of Ohanaeze
A few months ago, I was chosen to serve as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which essentially makes me the leader of all Igbo people. To tell you the truth, at over 80 years old, it was a very challenging thing for me to accept, despite the fact that I could see that my people were very passionate about having me serve them. Everyone in authority came up to me and voiced their full backing and confidence in my abilities. In addition to that, each of the five governors of the South-Eastern states came to me and told me they supported me.
In addition, each of the seven presidents of Ohanaeze in the different states, including Rivers, Delta, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi, were present. All of these things led me to the conclusion that I did not have a choice. My faith leads me to believe that any gift that an individual possesses comes directly from God. In light of this, if your people ever ask you to serve them in any capacity, and you fail to do so, you will not be being fair to God, the creator, who has given you the gift.
Resistance from within his immediate family
My wife and children were against the idea that I should accept it. Having said that, I was tasked with convincing them. Some people predicted that I would pass away, but I assured them that it would not be untimely if I did so at the age of 80.
The very first official trip through the South-West
Where have I been lately? This is my first official trip to the South-West region of Nigeria, and I am very excited. I am here in the South-West to meet people who speak the Igbo language. Yesterday evening (Tuesday), I went to what we call Ime-obi, which is a gathering place in Igbo culture where important decisions are made. There, I met with the elders. A gathering was held at the residence of one of our more senior members, Cmdr. Ebitu Ukiwe, retd. The gathering was very productive overall.
My loved ones were waiting to greet me with warm smiles and hugs when I arrived at the airport. Everyone from the Ezes to the presidents of the town union lined up. Because of the nature of the system we use, I have just finished a meeting with the Ezes. The system requires that we organize ourselves regardless of where we are. Because we are able to get together at a moment’s notice, the Igbo people have been able to achieve a great deal of success over the course of their history. People who I have met here today are very important figures in the lives of Igbo residents. The town union is a component of our organizational structure. It doesn’t matter where I go; I always run into these same people, and they always tell me how things are going. I am essentially on my first official tour to the South-West here, and so far everyone seems to be enjoying themselves immensely. Because of the trust and confidence that my people have placed in me, I am experiencing a great deal of happiness right now. I have made up my mind, and I pray to the Almighty God to empower me to be of service to them, and to assist me so that I do not fall short of the standards they have set for me.
What kind of plans do you have for the Igbo people?
I have familiarized myself with the geography of Igboland, and I have also conducted very in-depth research on topics such as agriculture, our mineral resources or natural endowment, and our intellectual capacity. On the basis of all of these factors, I have no doubt that we have a great deal of potential ahead of us. I am dead set on transforming Igboland; I believe that by the plan that I am making, I will transform agriculture, the industrial base, and commerce because our people are naturally inclined toward trade, which is a significant part of our wealth. This is because trade is one of the most important aspects of our culture.
Because we are present in all of Nigeria’s local governments, I believe that the Igbo community makes a greater contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than any other ethnic group does. I say this without the slightest fear of contradicting myself. There is not a single local government in Nigeria that does not have Igbo representation at this time. No matter where they are, they continue operating their businesses, which may involve the buying and selling of various commodities or even farming. No matter what they do, they comply with the local tax laws, construct homes, and coexist peacefully with the local population. I think they are making positive contributions to Nigeria.
The positive contributions that our people are making to Nigeria is a source of immense pride for us. Many Nigerians who value their nationalism recognize its value.
The identity of the President of Ohanaeze in Lagos State is not entirely clear at this time. Is Chief Sunday Ossai the current leader of the organization?
We have our constitution. Prior to his passing, Professor George Obiozor served as the chairman of the board. The position of Secretary General is held by Ambassador Okey Emuchay. They handed over Sunday Ossai to me in my capacity as President of the Lagos branch, but they did not inform me of any controversy surrounding the situation. According to the information that I was given, Solomon, the previous man in charge, who I do not know and whom I have never met, had finished his four-year term. Ohanaeze is the target of this man’s desire to create instability because, most likely, he has been led to believe that he will receive support from influential individuals. This is the inference that I draw from interactions with other people. I would like to make it perfectly clear that the position of President of the Lagos branch of Ohanaeze was handed over to me by Sunday Ossai by the previous President General of the organization.
Recent events have provided us with an extremely unfortunate experience. Some people are doing everything they can to undermine Ohanaeze, which is the hope of the Igbo people, due to their own personal interests. It is our hope that this will lead to growth and unity. A young child runs up to the microphone and declares that he is the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Okey Emuchay, a man who has served Nigeria in a variety of capacities, is currently the Secretary General. A man with impeccable academic credentials and credentials in the civil service, he is a man of impeccable standing. It is not possible for Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo to select just anyone to serve as its Secretary General. You have Dr. Alex Ogbonnia to fill the role of Publicity Secretary. All of these con artists who deceive the general public ought to be reported to the authorities for committing fraud.
Is recognition given to the Ezes in Lagos?
Igbo culture incorporates the idea into their way of life. Igbo people have always held the belief that leadership is important. We are of the opinion that it is impossible to overcome the challenges of life without banding together under the guidance of an authoritative figure. It’s possible that humans, society, and the economy all contributed to the problems. The fact that Igbo people always stick together, regardless of whether they are in Nigeria or elsewhere, has been the single most important factor in their survival. It has been beneficial to us in many different areas. The Ezes are among the people who have supported me throughout my tenure as President General, and they have faith in my leadership. Their position cannot be challenged because we rely on them to provide leadership and because we require their status.
In your capacity as President General, how do you intend to make certain that the Igbo are afforded the level of safety and security that they deserve in Lagos?
Before 1914, when Nigeria was united into one country, Igbo people had begun migrating to Lagos. When the Igbo people first arrived in Lagos, there was no Ikoyi and the majority of what is now Ikoyi was riverine. There was no such place as Victoria Island, and Lekki did not exist.
The Igbo have contributed to the progress that has been made in Africa and in Lagos. Igbo people have lived in this area ever since the construction of the very first railroad lines. There is simply no way that anyone can talk about the growth of Lagos in an honest manner and exclude Igbo from the conversation.
When you talk about Lagos, you should know that some Igbo have called the city home ever since their grandparents first settled in the area, which was as far back as 1914. The reality of the situation is that we people of Igboland have a distinct personality that sets us apart from other people. We are aware that there is a home for us, and that home is located in Eastern Nigeria. Everywhere we go, people are aware that we are guests, and we have never tried to assert ownership over anyone else’s land. Every single Igbo man who owns a piece of real estate in Lagos does so in a lawful manner.
We are not here to deliver a sermon claiming that God bestowed upon us the right to own land in Lagos. It was purchased by us. Not only have the people of Igboland developed the lands there, but they have also built houses. Humans are responsible for the construction of everything you see in Lekki, Victoria Island, Lekki, and everywhere else. Igbo people were among those who came to Lagos in search of economic opportunity and helped to found the city. People from the north and people from other tribes are included in them. Igbo arrived, made investments, and contributed to the development of the area without losing sight of the fact that they are guests. Every Igbo man is taught from an early age to respect the laws of the community in which he lives, and Igbo people have consistently done so throughout history.
Recently, we have begun to hear all of these stories. I believe that we are capable of solving the problem, and the only reason that we are appealing to them is because it is a new phenomenon to ask people to leave. As a result of my conversations with prominent Lagos natives, we do not have any concerns regarding this matter. The influential people in Lagos do not share this point of view. I’m writing to let you know that Ohanaeze, which I lead, is currently collaborating on this matter with the five governors of the South-East region. Hope Uzodimma informed me that the governors of the South-East region would get together with their colleague, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I was relieved to hear that they were able to have a productive meeting with the governor of Lagos State, during which they formulated a communiqué. Lagos State governor did very well. In point of fact, most people are content.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo voted for Peter Obi because, according to our interpretation of the zoning arrangement, the election was supposed to be ours at that point and we felt that it was appropriate for us to do so. There is nothing personal that we have against Tinubu. We gave our support to Peter Obi because we felt that the time had come for us to shine, and we had faith in his ability to succeed. We have many Igbo in the All Progressives Congress, APC, who cannot be stopped, and today Tinubu was sworn in as President of the party.
Peter Obi is currently before the court, and the decision will not be made by us but rather by the judiciary. I just found out that the governor is in Abuja; I will make an effort to see him, but even if I am unable to do so, it is sufficient for me to know that Governor Uzodimma has interacted with him. What we do not want is for properties that belong to Igbo people to be demolished, nor do we want the tax burden placed on them to increase.
A great number of rumors are currently circulating everywhere, but I do not believe that these things are true because I do not believe that any government that is capable of right thinking can do that. I am able to assure you that there is not a problem with us at this time. I have let the Igbo know that I have had conversations with influential Lagosians. I have also assured the Igbo people that they are secure and that they do not face any difficulties in the state of Lagos. The Igbo people are content there, and they intend to remain.
What kind of program do you have in place for people of other tribes who already live in the south-east or who plan to move there?
I have a programme. In the region of Igboland, I intend to establish additional towns and commercial centers. We hope that people from other tribes will visit Igboland and set up businesses here. We have contributed to the growth and development of Lagos as well as other parts of Nigeria. During the time that I am serving as President General and as the leader of the Igbo, I am extending an invitation to other individuals to come and participate. They ought to come to Igboland and help develop it. They need to go to Ohanaeze and tell them about any problems they are having. We are going to step in and make sure that investors who are interested in investing are given land, and we are going to encourage them to invest.
Do you not believe that the security situation and the problem with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will act as a barrier to potential investors?
In the south-eastern part of the country, we do not have any safety concerns. We have said’release Nnamdi’ because the young people are supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, which is the excuse that they give.
When we take a close look at the situation, we have not identified any wrongdoing on Kanu’s part. In point of fact, the judge has recommended that he be set free. As leaders of the Igbo people, we do not understand the rationale behind his continued detention. These individuals are using it as an excuse for their decision to stay inside all day. We believe that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu is an effort to work in concert with certain groups that have the goal of destroying the economies of the states located in the South-East region. We are making a request to the Federal Government that they release Kanu because, if he is released, it will allow us to identify the true criminals and agitators in the situation.
Because we have not been informed that Nnamdi committed any crime, I believe that President Tinubu will be able to free him. This is one of the reasons why. Even though he was not found in possession of an AK-47, he is still being held for questioning. Nnamdi Kanu is ill, and his passing in custody would bring about a significant increase in the difficulty of our situation. Every Igbo leader, including the five governors of the South-East, has discussed the possibility of his release.
If any Nigerian leader has any respect for the Igbo people, I believe that leader will release Kanu because, once he is released, there will be less of a problem with the security of the country. I would like to assure you that the South-East, also known as Igboland, is not in a worse condition than other regions.
Even though there are security issues throughout the country, Nnamdi Kanu should be set free so that we can focus on addressing our own problems. There are people who are responsible for the instability in the North, and they have even gone to the prison in Abuja to release everybody, but nobody has brought any charges against anyone.
They had even kidnapped people while they were riding the train and held negotiations with those individuals. Nnamdi Kanu was not involved in any of these activities at any point in time.
