IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY(IWA) POSITION ON THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL CONFAB SO FAR

The leadership of Igbo World Assembly (IWA), have been following the deliberations of the on-going National Conference in the country with keen interest, as well as public opinions of Igbo interest groups home and in Diasporas. Igbo World Assembly (IWA) agrees with the majority concerns of the disappointing performance of Igbo delegates at the plenary session of the National Conference.

Igbo World Assembly (IWA) were reliably informed about how the South East delegation were constituted and hijacked by the political Governments of the South East Geopolitical zone, leaving the Ohanaeze Ndiigbo - the VOICE that represented in Ndiigbo in the minority with only three delegates.

The South East has about 32 organizations that planned for the conference and the South East Zone was allocated 30 delegates. The South East Governors collected first 15 delegates out of the 30 delegates. The remaining 15 delegates were meant for the socio-cultural organization i.e. Ohanaeze Ndiigbo to provide. To the dismay of every one, the South East Governors further took 12 delegates out the 15 that should have been provided by Ohanaeze Ndiigbo, thus leaving Ohanaeze Ndiigbo to provide only 3 delegates, represented by:

Chief Garry Igariwey                                      President General  Ohanaeze Ndiigbo
Dr. Joe Nwaorgu                                            Secretary General  Ohanaeze Ndiigbo
Bar Goddy Uwazuruike                                  President Aka Ikenga

Due to that fact that Ohanaeze Ndiigbo was marginalized by the delegates appointed by the South East Governors, the general position of Ndiigbo represented by Ohanaeze Ndiigbo were totally ignored and overshadowed, thus making Ndi Igbo not to have ONE VOICE as planned.

The Outcome of the National CONFAB plenary Committee deliberation on the key issue - True Federalism for Nigeria was as follows:

.The South Eastern States delegates which were overwhelmingly appointed by the Governors did not speak with one voice, for instance;
1.      Abia, Anambra and Imo States, voted for Region as Federating Units as agreed by Ndigbo, while.
2.      Ebonyi and Enugu States voted for the States as the Federating Units which is against agreed Igbo position.

The South Eastern Governors did not work together, because some of them were pursuing their personal agenda. And this led to total failure of Igbo Solidarity at the committee level.

It is important to point out that before the commencement of the CONFAB, there were several consultations with all the State Governments of the South East, various organizations and interest groups in South East coordinated by Ohanaeze Ndiigbo. All agreed to present ONE UNIFYING POSITION at the CONFAB, based on the document presented by Ohanaeze Ndiigbo. The agreements and recommendations contained in Ohanaeze Ndiigbo Document were used to consult with other Southern Zones (SS and SW), therefore there was an understanding with other zones to present one solid position at the CONFAB on some key issues, such as:

1.   Region as Federating Units
2.   Boundary Restructuring
3.   Physical Federalism
4. State Creation
5. Resource Control

The three delegates from Ohanaeze Ndiigbo were shocked and surprised by the voting of the delegates presented by Ebonyi and Enugu State Governors. While the South West position was solid, South East position were weakened by Enugu and Ebonyi State, and South South failed to present one front as well.

Ndiigbo Worldwide must rise and do all in their powers to ensure that our position is not jeopardized and the Enugu and Ebonyi States delegates presented by those Governors must be hold accountable for the crack in Igbo Solidarity and Position.

The outcome so far presented a huge disappointment and setback for Ndiigbo.as well as to Ohanaeze Ndiigbo, who in the recent past have tirelessly  worked to ensure that Ndigbo regain their position and fair share of governance, economic, social and political arrangement in the NEW NIGERIA after the CONFAB.

Igbo World Assembly (IWA) continues to be positive about the future of Nigeria. Therefore, IWA hope that the disappointing outcome of the plenary session of the conference might be defeated at the general CONFAB session if our brothers and sisters presented by the Governors of Ebonyi and Enugu will change their mind and support the original position of Ndi Igbo as articulated and presented by Ohanaeze Ndiigbo. For any of the motion to be carried in the CONFAB, 70% vote is required thus the importance of  Ebonyi and Enugu States Delegates votes on Igbo position.

IWA is appealing to all Ndi Igbo to lobby the State Governors of Enugu and Ebonyi to back track and support Igbo position.

We also would like to inform the entire world that:

1.      If Ndiigbo fails, Ohanaeze will not be blamed. Therefore it is important to let the world know that Ohanaeze Ndiigbo went to the CONFAB to have Regions as Federating Units. But the Governors' delegates from Ebonyi and Enugu failed Ndiigbo.
2.      All efforts are now needed to mobilize support for Ohanaeze Ndiigbo's Position. We should utilize all possible means to effect change for the Igbo position which is also same as SW's position.
3.      Ohanaeze Ndiigbo should be commended for working with the leader of the South East Delegation to the CONFAB, who was appointed by the South East Governors, even though the appointment was not the choice of Ndigbo as represented by all the interest of Igbo groups led by Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

  Igbo World Assembly's Recommendations are:
1.      Ohanaeze Ndiigbo must stand firm to the challenge created by Enugu and Ebonyi State Governors's delegation and work very closely with other Geopolitical zones that agree with the Region/Zone as the federating unit.
2.      Ohanaeze Ndiigbo must dialog effectively and diplomatically to neutralize the Governors' delegates from Enugu and Ebonyi States to reason with the rest of Igbo Nation for the future of generation of Ndiigbo.
3.      Ohanaeze Ndiigbo must seek to mobilize support through their Diaspora Committee, national and regional networks to lobby other Regions/zones in the North to have Regions as Federating Units.
4.      Ohanaeze Ndiigbo must ensure that the outcome of the CONFAB will restructure the imbalance of Ndiigbo in the following core areas:
·         State creation for the South East Zone
·         Boundary Restructuring
·         Revenue Allocation
·         Accurate Census of Nigerian Nation.

All Igbos must lobby to get the best for Ndi Igbo and Nigerian from the National CONFAB in order to move Nigerian forward



The Igbo World Assembly (IWA) is the Umbrella Organisation that represents the Apex National Organizations (outside Nigeria) in the various countries  of  the world such as USA, UK, France, Spain, Finland, Netherland, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Russia, China, Ukraine, Sweden and Canada. The Igbo World Assembly (IWA) works very closely and recognizes Ohanaeze Ndiigbo as the mouth piece of Ndiigbo World Wide.


 Respectfully,

Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze                               Chief Oliver Nwankwor

Chairman (U.S.A)           
                                   Secretary General (Netherlands)




Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze
Chairman, Igbo World Assembly
Chief Oliver Nwankwor
Secretary General, Igbo World Assembly


IMPORTANT IWA CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAIL ADDRESSES


    Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze   E-mail:nanakwenze@yahoo.com Ph: 310-993-8053/310-544-2711 (USA)

         IWA Chairman, Ex CISA President


    Chief Christian Onuorah  E-mail: enyianam@yahoo.co.uk Ph: +447931268905 (UK)

         1st Vice Chairman Igbo World Assembly,  Ex CIC Leader


    Dr  Osadebe Anam   Email: oanam@executivecommunication.net                                       Ph: 305-332-9024

         Igbo World  Assembly   2nd Vice Chairman(USA)  Region 1, Ex CISA President


    Chief Oliver Nwankwor    E-mail:  olinwankwor@yahoo.com  Ph: +31 622450443 (Netherland)

Sec. Gen, Igbo World Assembly (IWA). Current  President Ohanaeze  Netherland, President of Nigerians in Netherland


    Chief Ike Ude-Chime E-mail: udechime@gmail.com    Ph: +358 465723922 (Finland)

DSG, IWA Igbo Media and Public Relation Institute.  Ex-Chairman Igbo   Union Finland


    Rev Francis Ukwamedua E-mail: Rev_francisukwamedua@yahoo.com

 PH: 8184193291  (USA)
IWA/CISA  Chair Board of Trustee