SAN FRANCISCO, September 24, (THEWILL) – The national leadership of the pan-Igbo social/cultural group, Ohanaeze-Ndigbo, has put off all arrangements for the celebration of the Igbo day slated for Sunday, September 29 in Delta South and Central Senatorial Districts .
In a letter to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan signed by the Secretary General of Ohanaeze-Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, the pan-Igbo social/cultural group noted that the cancellation was in the interest of peace and unity in the state.
“We are worried at the antics of the contending factions with regard to the forthcoming Igbo Day celebration billed for September 29, 2013..
“Consequently, the national executive committee of Ohanaeze – Ndigbo, in an emergency meeting held on Monday, 16th September 2013, decided that it was vital, in order to maintain law and order, that this year’s celebration in the south and central zones of Delta State be stood down,” the statement said.
It warned that by the cancellation, no group is permitted to summon Ndigbo to any location for collective celebration of the Day.
“We have followed the developments among our kith and kin living in Delta South and Central Senatorial zones of your state. The situation is unexpected and it cannot be tolerated hence the national body of Ohanaeze-Ndigbo has involved itself in seeking a peaceful settlement and reconciliation of the faction’s and the process is in progress,” the statement added.
Reacting to the cancellation, however, the Onyeisi Ndigbo in the two Districts, Eze Peter Chukwu, said there will be no celebration of Igbo Day on September 29 because of the lingering crisis among the members for some time now.
He disclosed that the new leadership of the body, Chief Machieum Garvey, has stepped into the matter to resolve the crisis.
“Unfortunately, some recalcitrant went behind and collected money from Ndigbo to celebrate the Igbo Day. This decision to cancel the celebration was taken for the interest of peace and stability in the state,” he said.
He noted that during the burial of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, last year, all Igbo in the area gathered and decided to forgive one another as the two factional executives came together to form one indivisible body.
He however lamented that “Surprisingly, sometime in February this year, few of them gathered and formed another faction of Ohanaeze-Ndigbo and, that is the situation we have found ourselves now.”
