Ohanaeze Laments Extortion of Ndigbo At Countless Army, Police, Road Safety Roadblocks On Enugu- Onitsha Road
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide raises alarm over excessive roadblocks in the Southeast used for extortion and calls for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, urging the Federal Government to address this moral and legal issue.
... Says that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu now a moral burden on the Federal Government
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has expressed concern over what it described as the countless road blocks mounted by the Army, Police, Road Safety Corps as well as vehicle inspection officers and vigilante groups on southeast roads to extort money from passersby.
It also, noted that the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from prolonged detention was now "a moral burden on the Federal Government," even as there was no sufficient reason for the continued inceercarationn of Kanu by the security agency of the State.
New President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, spoke when he addressed members of the Executive Committee of the organisation in Enugu, on Sunday.
"The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a moral burden on the Federal Government. There is no sufficient reason for the prolonged detention of Kanu by the security agencies of the State. I will collaborate with some Igbo leaders in government for a collective effort towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu," he said.
He further lamented the he could not "withhold his concerns that a trip from Enugu to Onitsha, a distance of 100km, would take about four hours because of numerous money extorting checkpoints mounted by the Army, Police, Road Safety, Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs, and Community Vigilantes."
Ozichukwu further lamented that while Harvard in the USA is curious about the Igbo successes through the Igba Boy, Igba oso ahia among others, the present crop of Igbo were losing grip of the fascinating Igbo heritage.
"For instance, part of the restiveness among the youths is traced to the dereliction of those vital values for which the Igbo are known," he further noting that Igbo youth empowerment should be uppermost in the Ohanaeze policy framework.
He, also, noted what he described as the existential threat on the Igbo from diverse quarters but assured that with a good leadership, the Igbo will become the envy of Africa, citing the audaciousness, resilience, inventiveness, and capaciousness of places such as Bavaria, Scotland, California, Catalonia, among others who looked beyond their countries to achieve sustainable economic growth.
"One of the indices of backwardness is the indolent culture of subscribing to God the very endowments that God has already availed us," he also, said, regretting, "that most unfortunately, huge responsibilities beyond the Ohanaeze Ndigbo are daily ascribed to it, even when there are no wherewithal to cope with the expectations," he pointed out, assuring the NEC that he would develop a blue print by which Ohanaeze would not only be complementing the good will of the state but in a position to discharge diverse functions and overcome challenges as they arise.
According to him, although his days in office were numbered, he was determined to leave an impressive legacy behind.
Commenting on the forthcoming election, he directed the states’ representatives in the NEC to nominate three persons each; and that the persons for the election committee must be men and women of integrity and character, even as other names will be sourced from the affiliate bodies of Ohanaeze and the civil society. He tasked the NEC to make more use of the Town Unions, Market Associations, and Diaspora communities.
The President General commended Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR for his carriage, diplomatic finesse, and administrative competence throughout the periods of catastrophe in Ohanaeze. He thanked the members of NEC for their sacrifice and ability to manage their internal differences for Ohanaeze to move forward.
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