Posted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, issued a strong warning on Tuesday against the unlawful alteration of its constitution, emphasizing that those who do so will face shame.
Ohanaeze issued a warning, stating that the only goal of these illegal revisions is to prevent the election of a President General from Rivers State in January 2025.
The organization emphasized that the action was taken to prolong the stay of some abnormal elements.
The attempt to change the organization’s constitution would be opposed, according to a statement from Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the factional secretary-general of Ohanaeze.
In order to stop such actions, he asked the college of Igbo bishops, international Igbo leaders, Ndigbo, and Igbo elders to band together.
“The procedures to begin these unlawful modifications to Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s constitution are in clear contravention of Article 11(a) of the Constitution, which specifies the President General’s rotating office among the seven Igbo-speaking states,” stated Isiguzoro. As of January 11, 2025, Rivers State is due to officially take over the role from the six other states that have already officially completed their turns.
“Articles 29 and 30 of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Constitution are also being violated by the people who are advocating these unlawful revisions and the coup against Rivers State.
Ndigbo cautions the offenders that they will face fierce opposition in their attempts to illegally modify the constitution. These misguided endeavors will eventually result in futility and shame.
Since the end of the war in 1970, the Igbo people have hoped to see the historically significant emergence of a President General from Rivers State.
The existing Igbo identity crisis and the process of reorientation and rediscovery of the Igbo people of Rivers State will both be made worse by any attempt to prevent this.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasizes that the Igbo people’s collective will would not be subverted by conspiracy theories or constitutional modifications. Southeast Governors, College of Igbo Bishops, Global Igbo leaders, non-state actors, Ndigbo in the diaspora, and Igbo Elders must band together to stop these desperate culprits from accomplishing their goals.
“The candidates for president general of Rivers State have already received approval from the Ohanaeze Elders Council, chaired by Prince Richard Ozobu, to begin holding public campaigns and holding consultations in all seven Igbo-speaking states well in advance of the 2025 elections.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is still dedicated to preserving the values of justice, fairness, and respect for its constitution.”