Some Concerned Imeobi members, (CIM) have initiated moves to reconcile the warring factions in Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.
This follows crisis that emanated from January, 10 election in Owerri, which threw up Professor George Obiozor, as the President General.
It would be recalled that since the emergence of Professor George Obiozor, as the President-General of the Apex Igbo socio-cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the body has been in serious crisis with some factions laying claim to be authentic executive.
Worried by the development, some Concerned Imeobi members(CIM) constituted a Peace Committee, headed by the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, the Most Reverend Anthony Obinna as Chairman, and the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Province, the Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma, as Co-chairman.
Addressing journalists shortly after the inauguration of the Peace Committee in Enugu, the Chairman of (CIM), Elder Uma Eleazu, said they could not continue to watch while things go wrong.
According to Elder Eleazu, Concerned Imeobi members are disturbed about the welfare and unity of Alaigbo and its institutions, emphasizing that the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, should be conducted in a constitutional manner, to maintain peace and order.
Elder Eleazu, observed that this period was a most inappropriate time for Ndigbo to be divided and fighting one other.
He acknowledged that Imeobi alone could not handle the fallout of the January 10 election, hence the need to approach the spiritual leaders of the people to reach out to the contending factions to see how they could bring peace among the various factions.
“Our distinguished members of the college of Archbishops and Bishops, we must confess that (CIM) alone cannot handle the fallouts of the January elections”
“There’s a need to reach out to the contending factions.” That is why, once again ,we have come to you as spiritual leaders of the people to see how we can bring peace among the various factions”
In his response, the Co-Chairman of the Peace Committee, the Most Reverend Chukwuma, said the body would reach out to the various factions to make them see the need to come together as members of one family in the interest of unity, peace and development of Igboland.
According to Archbishop Chukwuma, there is the need for Ndigbo to speak with one voice in other to achieve their aims and objectives within the context of a united Nigeria.
He added that no effort will be spared to ensure that Igbo nation speaks with one voice.
The Secretary of the Committee and Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, the Most Reverend Chibuzo Opoko, noted that they would look into the issues and bring all contending factions together.
The Most Reverend Opoko, commended the Concerned Imeobi members for their interventions, insisting that uniting different divisions to speak as one family was the greatest assignment the committee must ensure it achieves.
“What the Imeobi had done, is to bring the college of Archbishops and Bishops to look into this and to bring all contending members or patrons together to one body so that we can be united in purpose, united in essence to defend our land”
“I want to appreciate concerned Imeobi members who have called upon us as custodians of faith, religious leaders, to be able to intervene to bring all our brothers and sisters, whether in the nation or in the diaspora to come as one family so that we are able to be united, because they say, united we stand, and divided we fall. Archbishop Opoko….
Members of the Peace Committee include, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, The Most Reverend Valerian Okeke, Methodist Archbishop of Enugu, the Most Reverend Christopher Ede, Most Reverend Alex Ibezim,Anglican Archbishop of Niger,Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Rt Reverend Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, Most Reverend Chijioke Nwaobia,Anglican Archbishop of Aba Province,Most Reverend David Onuoha,Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Province ,Rt Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor,Catholic Bishop of Awka,Most Reverend S I O Agwu,Methodist Archbishop of Port Harcourt,Most Reverend Maxwell Anikwenwa.
Others are Bishop Obi Onubogu, Rock Family Church, and Most Reverend Uma Onwunta, Principal Clerk Emeritus Presbyterian Church, Nigeria.
Some Members of the Concerned Imeobi are Elder Uma Eleazu, the Co-ordinator, Engr. Chris Okoye, the Secretary Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Prof. (Ven) Chinedu Nebo, Elder Nduka Eya, Elder K. U. Kalu and Prof. Pat Utomi.
