The highest Igbo socio-cultural association, Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Tuesday failed to swear-in the newly elected national youth leader of its youth wing, Arthur Obiora, as other officers of the women and youth wings of the body took oath of office in Enugu.
Daily Trust recalls that one of the contestants to the National Leadership of the Youth wing, Tony Uche Chukwudi Ezekwelu appealed to the parent body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Nnia Nwodo to reject the emergence of Mr Arthur Obiora as the new National Youth Leader, alleging that he was over aged.
He pleaded that in his place, they should return him as the truly elected new National Youth leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, having satisfied the requirements.
But, speaking after the inauguration, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nwodo explained that Obiora was skipped following allegations against him by some of the people who contested the election with him.
Nwodo advised the new leadership of the youth and women wing to be honest in their dealings and use the opportunity of their positions to demonstrate love and hard work for the interest of Ndigbo. He noted that they should always adhere strictly to the constitution of Ohanaeze which requires them to be non-partisan.
Nwodo said that Ohanaeze would organize Igbo summit on May 21 to take a common position with regards to restructuring of the country to have a true federation.
The newly elected officials and their supporters from the seven Igbo-speaking states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Delta and Rivers States, who arrived venue of the event, Toscana Hotel Enugu as early as 10am and waited till 6pm before Ohanaeze officials led by the President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo came to inaugurate them.
Following the stepping down of Arthur Obiora’s inauguration, his deputy, Dr. Kingsley Dozie Lawrence was designated as Acting national youth leader pending the resolution of petitions against Obiora.
It will be recalled that new leadership emerged in the executives of the Women and Youth Wings of Ohanaeze Ndigbo two weeks ago.
In the elections conducted for the two wings, Dr. Gladys Nwafor, wife of former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Late Dr. Chuma Nwafor, emerged the National Women Leader while Mr. Arthur Obiora from Anambra state, emerged as the national youth leader.
While Mrs. Nwafor, a former Federal Commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), representing Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Imo states was returned unopposed, Obiora from Anambra state polled a total of 147 votes out of 187 to emerge as the Igbo youth leader in an election conducted at Ohanaeze’s national secretariat in Enugu.
Speaking on behalf of the women wing, the new women leader, Mrs. Nwafor pledged that the women will be loyal to the parent body even as she promised to make a difference in the leadership of the women.
The Acting national youth leader, Dozie Lawrence expressed gratitude to Ohanaeze and promised that the youths will not disappoint them.