ENUGU STATE – A coalition of pro-Biafra organizations has issued a strong warning against any attempt to disrupt the established rotation of the presidency of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
The groups, including the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Eastern Peoples Congress (EPC), Billie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI), and others, insist that the presidency must rotate as stipulated by the Ohanaeze constitution.
The coalition’s statement comes ahead of the January 10, 2025, transition date, when a new Ohanaeze leadership is expected to assume office. The current term, marked by the passing of both Professor George Obiozor and his successor, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has left Ambassador Okey Emuchay, the Secretary-General from Abia State, overseeing the organization’s affairs.
The statement, jointly signed by leaders of the pro-Biafra groups, condemned any “clandestine plot” to undermine the constitution or deny Rivers State its rightful turn to produce the next president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“We condemn the clandestine plot to thwart and frustrate the established norms and smooth running of Ohanaeze Ndigbo affairs as enshrined in its constitution by our founding fathers,” the statement read.
It emphasized that the rotation of the presidency among Igbo-speaking states, including Delta and Rivers, is critical to maintaining trust and unity within the Igbo community.
“Section a and b of the mode of election in Article Eleven of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s constitution explicitly states that the Office of the President-General shall rotate among Igbo-speaking states and areas in alphabetical order, with Rivers State being next,” the coalition stated.
They warned that any attempt to bypass Rivers State’s turn or restart the rotation from Abia State would undermine the organization’s credibility and unity.
The groups vowed to resist any such move through legal means, stressing that internal and external forces would not be allowed to destabilize the Igbo community.
Observers note that this development reflects growing tensions surrounding the upcoming leadership transition and its implications for the socio-political landscape of the region. The spotlight now shifts to whether Ohanaeze’s leadership will adhere to its constitutional guidelines and maintain its legacy of inclusivity and order.