COMMUNIQUE OF THE 2020 NDIGBO WORLDWIDE WEBINAR TOWN HALL MEETING ,THEMED:
“OGANIHU ALAIGBO, OLUGO NA OMUME
Following the Presentation of the Communique of the 2020 Igbo Conference, titled, “Ohanaeze: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” and the subsequent demand by many Ndigbo for an actionable Roadmap, a global Webinar Town Hall Meeting involving major Igbo Stakeholders at home and in diaspora held on Saturday, 12th December 2020. Ndigbo deliberated, resolved and affirmed the following:
1. Commend, Ohanaeze under the visionary leadership of Chief Nnia Nwodo Jr, and the South-East Governors Forum, for jointly setting up the 54-member Alaigbo Stabilization Fund(ASF) Steering Committee led by Prof Osita Ogbu, which has produced an excellent report that will guide the accelerated development of Alaigbo, reminiscent of the Dr M. I. Okpara glorious era. Applauds, (i) Imeobi Ohanaeze, for the expeditious adoption and approval for implementation of the ASF Report, (ii) The 54-member ASF Steering Committee for exemplary selfless service to the Igbo Nation, (iii) Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Governor, Imo State, for proposing the donation of land and office building to ASF by the Imo State Government. ACTION: ASF Steering Committee to ensure the incorporation and take off of (a) Ndigbo Development Foundation & (b) Alaigbo Investment Company by end of Q1, 2021.
2. Commend, His Majesty, Nnaemeka A. Achebe, CFR, mni, Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi for his fatherly clarion call to Ndigbo as far back as 2016 to,- “ the task of determining the strategic and ideological umbrella for Ndigbo within which various players can balance individual actions with our collective interests.” In other words, the urgent need for Ndigbo to achieve group consensus on Agendas such as Security of Alaigbo, Right to Self Determination, Economic and Political Restructuring of Nigeria, a Nigerian President from South-East Zone/Igbo Nation in 2023, etc, and the creation of a permanent non-partisan Political Action Committee (PAC) that will drive the agreed Igbo political agenda both locally and internationally. Applauds, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa for his presentation of a Roadmap for the actualization of the Igbo Nation Political Action Committee(INPAC), which was well-received at the meeting. ACTION: Setting up of a 12-member Organizing Committee comprising representatives of the following organizations: (i) Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU), (ii) Ndigbo Lagos Foundation, (iii) Igbo World Assembly(IWA) (iv) World Igbo Congress(WIC),(v) Aka Ikenga, (vi) Alaigbo Development Foundation(ADF), (vii) Nzuko Umunna (viii) Igbo Ekunie Initiative (ix) Society of Igbo Professionals(SIP),(x) Umuada Igbo Nigeria & Diaspora,(xi) Ndigboamaka Progressive Association Nigeria, (xii) Centre for Memories, which will organize another “Mkpoko Igbo” where Representatives of the Political Class, #End SARS Movement, Civil Society Organizations, Town Unions, Business Community, Traditional Rulers, etc, will achieve consensus on an updated Igbo Political Agenda and modalities for implementation. The Report of the Conference should be submitted to Imeobi Ohanaeze for adoption and presentation to Ndigbo by end of Q1, 2021.
3. Restate the importance of a Transparent, Free and Fair, Ohanaeze National Election on January 10, 2021, for the survival and continued general acceptance of Ohanaeze by Ndigbo. Also to satisfy the yearning demand for increased participation of women and young people in Ohanaeze, more women and young people should be encouraged and supported to vie for positions in the forthcoming Ohanaeze National Election. ACTION: (i) The Ohanaeze National Election Electoral Committee should ensure that the list of qualified candidates for various positions in the Election should be available to Ndigbo not later than 7 days before the election, and voting delegates should be provided with the opportunity to interact and assess the candidates for the positions of President-General and Secretary-General.(ii) Voting should be by secret ballot and following the current global pandemic, provision should be made by the electoral committee for elderly members of Imeobi Ohanaeze to cast their vote by courier mail, if they choose such an option. (iii) Where 2 positions are zoned to a State, gender balance should be the norm. (iv) Business and Professional Associations in various States are encouraged to shoulder the financial burden of qualified and capable women candidates contesting for positions zoned to their State.
4. Commend the Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) under the leadership of Chief Emeka Diwe for their initiative in the Agriculture value chain as exemplified by the Piggery pilot project, with the ultimate objective of offering food security for Ndigbo and making the South East, the leading zone in Africa on Agriculture. ACTION: The ASETU agriculture initiative and similar ones, should be on the priority list of projects to be supported by Ndigbo Development Foundation and Alaigbo Investment Company.
We affirm the foregoing as our collective resolve and append our signatures to this document, as the Communique arising from the Town Hall Meeting.
SIGNATORIES
1. Chief Simon. N. Okek, Ochendo Amichi
2. Lolo Kate Ezeofor, President General, Umuada Nigeria & Diaspora
3. Prof Osita Ogbu, OON, Chairman, Alaigbo Stabilization Fund Steering Committee
4. Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, OFR, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
5. Major General Obi Umahi (Rtd), President General, Ndigbo Lagos Foundation
6. Chief Emeka Diwe, National President, Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU)
7. Prof. Anthony Ejiofor, President, World Igbo Congress
8. Darlington Uzu, Lead Promoter, Enyimba Economic City
9. Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Host (Onye Nchikota)
10. Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke, Anchor.
