Nze Fidelis Chukwu from Imo State has emerged as the new President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Okey Emuchay, disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of the group’s General Assembly meeting held on Saturday in Enugu.
However, Nze Ozichukwu’s leadership will last only 27 days required to complete Imo State tenure which ends on January 10, 2025.
Ozikchukwu’s emergence followed a chain of catastrophes in Ohanaeze with the demise of Prof. George Obiozor in 2022.
In application of a doctrine of necessity, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was sworn in on April 30, 2023, as his replacement but died on July 25 and was buried on November 1.
Emuchay said: “In line with the doctrine of necessity that the Imo State Chapter of Ohanaeze led by Mr. C.J. Ihemedu presented Nze Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of four-year tenure allotted to Imo State.
He said the motion for the adoption of Nze Ozichukwu was moved by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman of Imo Council of Elders, and seconded by Chief Simon Okeke.
“In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imeobi adopted the nomination of Chukwu as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the motion was unanimously adopted through a voice vote by the Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“The State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Rivers States, expressed delight over the nomination of Chukwu as the new President-General until January 10, 2025.”
“He was, therefore, sworn in as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by National Legal Adviser, Mr. Joseph Ojobu and the Assistant Legal Adviser Dr. Peter Aneke.
He said the South-East Governors’ Forum represented by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State charged the new President-General to ensure that the forthcoming Ohanaeze election was transparent and credible.