Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State, has confirmed the death of the President General of the apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor.
The governor in a statement on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, made available to Channels Television, said Obiozor whom he described as a renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat, a statesman, and a tenacious patriot, passed on recently after a brief illness.
“The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former NIGERIA’S ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel is a big loss to Imo state, the South East, and entire Nigeria. I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues,” Governor Uzodimma said.
The governor, who said that the burial arrangements for the former diplomat will be announced in due course by the family, prayed that his great and gentle soul rest in peace.
Prof. Obiozor hailed from Awo-Omoma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.
He replaced John Nwodo as the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2021 after polling 304 votes to defeat his closest rival, Valentine Oparaocha, who polled 15 votes for the position.
Insecurity: ‘Time To Take Up Arms In Self-defense’ – Ohanaeze Group Tell South-East Youth
The apex socio-cultural youth organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC, has raised alarm over envisaged security crisis, lamenting that there will be a harvest of Killings of Ndigbo in subsequent weeks and months.
Addressing journalists at Sheraton Hotel Abuja on Friday, December 2, 2022, the national president of OYC, Comrade. Igboayaka O. Igboayaka likened the recent massacre at Ehu-Amufu as a mere tip of the iceberg in comparison to the impending danger that would spread across Ozalla, Akegbe, Ituku Ogwu, Elugwu Ezike, among others, if proper care is not exercised.
Describing South-East Governors as leaders without a tinge of empathy, Igboayaka wailed that: “The recent incident which claimed the lives of over 100 people at Ehu-Amufu is just the beginning; there will be a bazaar of killing that will spread across Ozalla, Akegbe, Ituku Ogwu, Elugwu Ezike, Igbo-etiti, Okigwe, Umunze, Arondizuogu, Umuchu, Uturu, Isuochi, Umunneochi, Ohaji Egbema, Oguta, Nekede, Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, Ngalagu, Ezzamg, etc, if Ndigbo continue to trust the security of their lives and property in the hands of these Governors from South-east that lack empathy.
“Ndigbo have been cycled from Kogi and Benue borders. Nigeria security agents have compromised in their duties. It’s now crystal clear that the lives and property of Ndigbo can no longer be secured or protected by the present APC led government of President Mohammadu Buhari.”
The Council, through her President Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, therefore, charged various Community Town Union (CTU), Presidents, and community Youth Leaders in Igbo land to, as a matter of urgency, establish a ”self-defense security network” and commence recruitment of able-bodied youths who would serve in the said capacity for the defense of the people from external elements.
“At this juncture, Ohanaeze Youth Council calls on Community Town Union (CTU), Presidents, and community Youth Leaders in Igbo land to commence immediate recruitment and establishment of “Igbo Community Defenders” against any form of invaders and Fulani Jihadist in Southeast.
Continuing, he added; “In a failed Country like Nigeria, it’s naturally the right of every living thing to resort to unavoidable self-defense, Ohanaeze Youth Council, therefore, call all Igbo Youths to pick arms equivalent to what Fulani herdsmen, Bandits, and Jihadist are using to invade Igbo communities.
“It’s obvious that even in days and years to come, the characters we had and the characters we will have as Southeast Governors lack the courage and Political-will to defend Ala-Igbo.
“We, therefore, call upon, Igbo billionaires technocrats, retired Service men, businessmen, and our diasporan brethren of goodwill to support Ohanaeze Youth Council for a strategic self-defense security network at every community in Igbo land otherwise there will be a harvest of killings, a coordinated massacre of indigenous people of Old Easterners.
Comrade Igboayaka advised that the said Community Security Network shall be devoid of the influence of SouthEast Governors, whosoever, as same would be overseen by various youth leaders of the communities and Town Union presidents.
“The Community Security Network must solely be controlled by the Youth Leaders of various communities, Town Union Presidents and compulsorily without the influence or control of SouthEast Governors. This is the viable way out, otherwise, there will be further rain of blood in Igbo land”, Igboayaka warned.
Source: ChannelsTV
