Gov Oti in Lagos for unveiling of Ohanaeze at 50
Calls for Ohanaeze Renewal, Warns Against Partisan Politics
The future of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should not be defined by political affiliations or the ambitions of individuals, but by its ability to unite, represent and serve the interests of the Igbo people, Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, have said.
The call came in Lagos on Tuesday during the unveiling of Ohanaeze at 50 – The Burden of Memory, The Politics of Relevance: A Critical Biographical Reflection of an Igbo Institution, authored by Agbeze Onuma.
The event, which brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, academics and prominent Igbo stakeholders, became an occasion for a deeper conversation about the future of the organisation and whether it still speaks effectively to the aspirations of the people at the grassroots.
Otti, who was the special guest of honour, said Ohanaeze’s 50th anniversary should be more than a celebration of its history, describing it as an opportunity for honest reflection, institutional renewal and generational transition.
“At 50, an institution deserves celebration, but it also deserves reflection. What has Ohanaeze become? What should it be? And what must it do to remain relevant to generations of Ndigbo yet unborn?” Otti asked.
The governor said the book challenged Ohanaeze to examine its relationship with the people it claims to represent and to build institutions capable of responding to the changing needs of younger generations.
He said the future of Ndigbo could not be secured by nostalgia alone, stressing the need for technology, innovation, stronger engagement with the global Igbo diaspora and the conversion of cultural identity into economic, intellectual and institutional strength.
“The future of Ndigbo cannot be secured by nostalgia alone. It must be built through institutions that understand the aspirations of young people, embrace technology and innovation, engage the global Igbo diaspora, and translate cultural identity into economic, intellectual, and political strength,” Otti said.
For the governor, the central question is whether Ohanaeze can build an institution strong enough to outlive individual personalities and political seasons.
He said, “It asks us to think about what remains undone. It asks whether our institutions are sufficiently responsive to the times in which we live. It asks whether leadership is keeping pace with the aspirations of our people.”
The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, took the conversation further, urging Ohanaeze to return fully to its socio-cultural role and deliberately stay above partisan politics.
Achebe recalled that he had raised similar concerns with the author during an interview in 2010, warning that divisions among the Igbo could weaken their collective influence both within Nigeria and globally.
“The real strength of Ohanaeze is the grassroots. Ohanaeze is a socio-cultural organisation, not a partisan political one. No politician should ever again attempt to hijack Ohanaeze for personal political gains,” the monarch said.
He argued that rather than becoming an extension of political parties, Ohanaeze should provide guidance and accountability to Igbo politicians regardless of the parties they belong to.
“Ohanaeze should stand above politics, monitoring and guiding those who play politics, ensuring that whatever party they belong to, they act in the best interest of the Igbo. Ohanaeze should be the conscience of the Igbo nation,” Achebe said.
The monarch expressed concern that the organisation had become increasingly detached from the grassroots and that internal divisions had weakened the collective voice of the Igbo.
He said the Igbo needed a common agenda capable of bringing people together despite differences in political affiliation.
“At its worst, and we have seen its worst, it goes to Abuja as 10 different people, each saying something different, each pursuing a personal agenda. The result is that our voice becomes noise, and noise commands no respect,” Achebe said.
He urged current and future leaders of Ohanaeze to approach the book as an opportunity for self-examination rather than simply as a historical account.
“To those who lead Ohanaeze today and those who will lead it tomorrow, I say with the directness that age and position permit me and afford me, read this book as a mirror, not a memoir, not a history lesson, not someone else’s problem, a mirror,” he said.
The book reviewer, Prof. Okey Anueyiagu, also described institutional renewal as one of the major issues raised by the publication, saying Ohanaeze stood at an important point in its history after five decades.
Anueyiagu called for a shift from what he described as “reactive agitation” towards structured and proactive regional development, including sustainable economic institutions, modern transport and energy infrastructure, stronger grassroots structures and greater investment in technology, commerce and innovation.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi, in his remarks, urged the Igbo to use the anniversary to celebrate their heritage while strengthening cooperation with other ethnic groups for the development of Nigeria.
“We are proud to be Igbo, and we are proud of our heritage and, using this celebration to show love and care for other cultures, tribes and all of us will work together to develop our country, Nigeria,” Obi said.
Representing the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata, a Lagos State leader of the organisation, Everest Ozonweke, said the Igbo should devote more attention to addressing their weaknesses than merely celebrating their achievements.
“We are a great nation, but we have much work to do on ourselves. Let us learn to put ourselves right so that we can be better outside,” he said.
The event was chaired by former Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc, Eke U. K.
Also in attendance were the foreword writer, Dr Umar Eleazu; the publisher, Peter Nwankwo; Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe; Obi Umahi; and Prof Anya O. Anya.
