Igbo Corner
INTERVIEW: Senator Mbata is a product of illegality, he knows nothing about Ohanaeze — Jackson Omenazu
Dr. Jackson Omenazu, one of the claimant of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Presidency, has declared the election which produced Senator Mbata Azuta as President General of the Igbo group illegal and morally wrong.
News Band Newspaper reported that Senator Mbata, who represented Rivers East Senatorial district at the National Assembly, was elected on Friday, 10 January, 2025 at Enugu State in a convention, which was attended by South-East Governors and other leaders of thought from the region.
Though, days leading to the election were greeted with so much controversies and legal actions.
It started with a strong battle against the candidacy of a retired Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro.
Chief Okiro was accused of being an Imo state person and, as such, was not qualified to contest the position reserved for Rivers State indigenes.
The controversy raised by the identity crisis had pushed a lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, to approach the Enugu High Court, which restrained him from the race on Wednesday.
Okiro finally stepped down from the race on Thursday night in compliance with the Federal High Court injunction.
But speaking in an exclusive interview with News Band over the weekend, Dr. Jackson Omenazu addressed sundry issues surrounding his emergence as Ohanaeze PG and why the election that produced Mbata over the weekend is illegal and morally wrong.
Mr Jackson Omenazu, how will you respond to the election that produced Senator Mbata Azuta as Ohanaeze PG?
Senator Mbata Azuta was not elected rather he was selected by the bourgeoisies who have held Ohanaeze spellbound for years. He was selected by those who feel Ohanaeze is their personal estate and it is sad to note that. Though, I’m not perturbed by what transpired in Enugu. To me, it is inconsequential. Ndigbo held their election on the 6 of January and I was elected. So, the election that produced Mbata is illegal because Ohanaeze has their procedures when it comes to election. They have their constitution and those who supervised the election last Friday, do not have the backing of the people. The process that culminated to Friday’s election was completely faulty.
Don’t you think the presence of Southeast governors in the convention that produced Mbata accorded it legitimacy?
That you are a governor or a rich man does not mean you are working for the people. I can tell you categorically that not everyone who attended the convention in Enugu on Friday was happy with what happened. Mbata was never a member of Ohanaeze. I have been the chairman of Ohanaeze Elders Council for Rivers and Bayelsa for 15 years. I never saw Mbata before neither in Ohanaeze Imeobi or General Assembly.
Igbos cannot continued to be dragged on the nose. Even in family gathering or community association, there are procedures to join them. Mbata should show Ndigbo one day, either in the last 30 years where he attended Ohanaeze meeting, whether in Rivers State or Enugu because I know he is above 60 years. A man of such status is supposed to have made one appearance in Ohanaeze meeting at least, in the last 30 years.
Are you going to recognize the leadership of Mbata?
Your question is derogatory. When I’m telling you that I’m the bonafide President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, you are here asking me whether I will recognize illegality? Who does that!!
If Mbata leadership should invite you for a peace talk and closing of rank, will you accept it?
If there will be need for such invitation, I should be the one to send it because I have the superior mandate. I will send that invitation and plead with him as a senior brother to go home. He has never been a member of Ohanaeze. I will tell him to start attending Ohanaeze meeting so that next time we can support his ambition. Mbata is my senior brother and I respect him so much but I cannot in all ramification get into a room, sweep it, mob and clean all the chairs and everything but while sleeping, Mbata just walks in and throw me out just because he has money and fake mandate. It is morally wrong. I will never allow that. I have sacrificed so much for the Igbo speaking indigenes in Rivers State in Ohanaeze for years.
I have been attending Ohanaeze meetings in Enugu for years. Spend time organizing Ohanaeze in Rivers State and Mbata wakes up one day with people collecting money to crown him Ohanaeze President General. Who does that? The people that collected money from Mbata to crown him Ohanaeze PG just want to ridicule him. He knows nothing about Ohanaeze. He is my brother and friend. He should have stayed away from that election than allowing these people to ridicule his personality. The selection he went for on Friday in the name of election is highly immoral.
The conscience of Igbo nation will query him. Where was he since all these years? Since all these years, what statement has he made for the good of the Igbo people? When pogrom was going on in Oyigbo, he was here in Obiakpor, did he say anything about it? Or even take relief materials to help the people there? He did practically nothing.
If Mbata led Ohanaeze should drag you and your executive to court, will you be ready to play the ball?
Of course, we will go to court. The court doesn’t belong to Senator Mbata or Jackson Omenazu. When we get there, the court will sit and listen to us and a sound judgement will be delivered at the end of the day.
Now the both of you are laying claim to Ohanaeze Presidency, will you be operating from Enugu or Rivers State?
Hence Igbo masses are behind me, I can operate from anywhere. I can operate from Aba, Port-Harcourt, Akwa, Ebonyi, Enugu and even from Delta State. With the backing of the Igbo masses which I have gotten, I can operate from anywhere. The subjugated people of Igbo nation believe in me that I can lead them and that is why the mandate was given to me.
Do you think Mbata bought Ohanaeze Presidency with money?
Nothing else. He bought it with money. I have been a core member of Ohanaeze Imeobi and General Assembly. I know how the system operate. In the election that produced Mbata, I had my insider sources who was giving me information back to back. Delegates who attended the convention were giving N100,000 for their accomodations. This was a means of inducing them.
In the election that produced me as Ohanaeze PG, delegates who attended the convention singlehandedly paid for their transportation and accomodation fees. They told me point blank that it was part of their contribution to help the socio-cultural organization grow. Also, I kicked against aspirants paying for forms which everyone present accepted. I told them one cannot pay to serve his master. I’m prepared to serve the Igbo masses without any mundane gains attached.
Finally, what can you say about former Inspector General of Police, Chief Mike Okiro withdrawing from Ohanaeze PG race?
Mike Okiro was gambled. In due time, Ndigbo will know what actually happened. This is all I can say now concerning Okiro’s case.
Background of how Dr. Jackson Omenazu emerged as Ohanaeze PG
Prince Dr Richard Ozobu-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo Election Committee on the 6 of January, 2025 announced new members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation with Dr. Jackson Omenazu emerging as the President General.
Ozobu announced this in a statement made available to newsmen alongside the Secretary of the Committee, Prof Chibuikeya Achokawa.
He said the new members of the Ohanaeze leadership emerged unopposed.
Dr. Jackson Omenazu emergence was described as a historic moment for the Igbo of Rivers State, as it is the first time since the end of the bloody civil war, that someone from the oil rich state has been elected to this leadership position.
Mr. Omenazu, who is from Obiakpor Local Government of from Rivers State, was elected alongside other key figures including Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who became the Deputy President-General, and several others who also emerged unopposed.
Omenazu, in his acceptance speech, underscored the importance of his victory as a reversal of long-standing historical injustices faced by the Igbo of Rivers State.
He also stressed a break from political manipulation, with a vow to safeguard Ohanaeze Ndigbo from being used as a tool by political elites for mundane gains.
He said, “It is a historical event as all injustices meted against the indigenous Igbo of Rivers State have been reversed.
“The selection of an indigenous Igbo from Rivers State as President General is not merely a token representation. It is a bold declaration that we have reclaimed our identity and rectified the historical injustices that have plagued us for generations.
“The era of using our revered organization as a pawn in the political chess game is over.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is reaffirmed as the apex socio-cultural organization representing the entirety of the Igbo people, our focus shall pivot decisively toward issues that directly benefit our communities and enhance our collective progress.”
“While we welcome collaboration with our governors as Imeobi members, we will not become subservient to their interests.
“Our immediate agenda, as the newly elected executive council, features a multi-faceted approach aimed at addressing the critical issues plaguing the Southeast. Chief among these is the urgent need to tackle insecurity—this will require concerted efforts alongside our friends and allies.
“We firmly stand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, whose plight has become emblematic of our quest for justice and self-determination.
“We urge the government to recognize the importance of incorporating ethnicity and religion in the forthcoming 2025 census. Such representations are essential to rectifying historical misrepresentations and ensuring that our voices are heard in the administrative frameworks that govern our lives.”
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There’s something about persecution that does two things to a people: it either breaks them, or it makes them beasts of survival.
For centuries the Jews… they were hunted, hated, and humiliated by empires. But they didn’t vanish.
They evolved. They adapted. And today, the Jews are arguably the most powerful tribe in the world economically, intellectually, and politically. Ruthless when necessary.
They are unapologetic about their survival. Now, look at the Igbo. A tribe known for industry, resilience, and brilliance.
A people who just want to live, do business, and thrive. But Nigeria doesn’t want that. Nigeria wants control.
Nigeria wants submission. And the one thing the Igbo have never known how to do is bow. And that’s the real issue.
So what does Nigeria do? It sidelines them. Isolates them. Provokes them. Bombs their villages under the guise of security.
Locks up their agitators. Shuts down their businesses. Mocks their pain. Ignores their history. Prevent them from voting. Play politics with their education. Sponsored bigotry on them.
And then Nigeria pretends to be surprised that there’s growing radicalization in the East?
Let me be clear: The Igbo didn’t start this fire. Nigeria did.
And history, the very same history we keep refusing to learn from, has shown us that when you keep pushing a tribe that knows how to survive, they evolve into something stronger, something unstoppable.
It’s happened before. With the Jews. Europe tried to exterminate them. Instead, they became the backbone of global finance, media, tech, and diplomacy.
You don’t touch a Jew today without consequences. You don’t push them to the wall and expect them to stay quiet.
Now Nigeria is doing the same to the Igbo, pushing, prodding, provoking.
But here’s the warning: when you push an animal to the wall, it doesn’t stay calm. It fights back. It bites. And this time, when it bites, don’t act shocked.
But this isn’t just about the Igbo solely. Nigeria has perfected the art of creating monsters, then acting surprised when they bite.
The Niger Delta? Radicalized. The region was exploited for oil, polluted beyond repair, and ignored until their youths picked up arms.
The Fulani terrorists? Radicalized. Left behind by the same government that claimed to represent them, now manipulated by religion and resentment.
The Almajiri? Radicalized. Abandoned by an elite that used their poverty as a vote bank and then left them to rot.
The Agbero? Radicalized. Uneducated, weaponized, and unleashed as tools of political chaos.
Even the middle class is slowly being radicalized, not with guns, but with hopelessness. That, too, is a ticking time bomb.
A nation cannot continue to marginalize its most brilliant tribe and expect peace.
The Igbo are not docile. They are not quiet. They are not forgetful. They are survivors, and survivors don’t beg for space forever. At some point, they take it.
The Igbo didn’t set out to be radicals. They were made into one by a country that won’t stop seeing their confidence as a threat.
You can’t keep pretending unity means silence. You can’t keep preaching peace while planting injustice.
The Igbo are not asking for too much, they just want to live, build, and grow.
But if you insist on turning their dignity into defiance, their enterprise into enmity, and their survival into sedition, then you are creating a monster.
And if history has taught us anything, it’s this: when a persecuted people decide that survival is no longer enough, when they decide to stop running and start resisting, they don’t just fight back. They win.
Nigeria must understand this: you cannot keep pushing people into a corner and expect submission.
When you back a lion into a wall, don’t expect it to purr. It will roar. It will claw. It will tear through anything standing between it and freedom.
So here’s the final warning, for those who still care to listen: Nigeria is radicalizing the Igbo.
But worse, Nigeria is radicalizing everyone. And it won’t end well.
When the fire spreads, when the rebellion multiplies, when the beast we created begins to fight back, don’t act shocked; no tribe will be left untouched.
Don’t pretend it wasn’t preventable. We all made it happen. You don’t corner a lion and expect peace.
Abolaji Rasaq is a public affairs analyst.
Palpable crisis is brewing in Nnewi over the election of the President General of Uruagu Community in the industrial town of Anambra State, with a business mogul and owner of Organiser Plc., Chief Innocent Okoli, accused of upsetting the apple cart.
The crisis has led to protests and resignation of members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).
One of the resignation letters sighted by News Band was from a legal practitioner, J. N. Obi, Esq.
Barrister Obi, until his resignation served as the Secretary of the Executive Committee and member, Uruagu Board of Trustees.
Tendering his resignation letter, Obi cited brazen violation of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union.
The letter was referenced OB/03 /296/2025, dated May 8, 2025, and addressed to His Highness. Obi A. C. Obi (Ogidi IV).
In the letter entitled “Letter of resignation as member, Board of Trustees (B.O. T) Uruagu Nnewi. Obi announced his resignation based on the following reasons:
- Article 8. 9 (a) of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union. 2022 (As Amended) states and I quote:
“The Board shall “Ensure the observance of this Constitution”. - Article 14.4 of the Constitution of Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union 2022 (As Amended) states and I quote:
“Each ward shall submit a list of the Electors In writing to the Secretary General of the Union, one month before any election.
“The submission of the list of the Electors shall be done by the Ward Chairman In consultation with the Ward’s Obi.” - “The election sought to be conducted on Saturday, 10th day of May 2025, did not comply with the above provisious as it was on the Union’s general meeting of the I3th day of April 2025 that the expiration of the tenure of the Executives was announced.”
The legal pratictioner, however, noted that the election to be held on May 10 will not be up to one month.
He, therefore, resigned his membership of B. 0. T for failure to abide by the above provisions of the Constitution as stated above.
On his part, the former President General of Uruagu Nnewi, Chief Ambassador Charles Nwonye, decried series of illegalities in the proposed election championed by Chief Okoli.
He recalled the efforts of past and present stakeholders to ensure that Uruagu Nnewi Community Development Union is recognised as a legal and responsible entity in the state.
He, however, speaking in a voice note obtained by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), regretted:
“It’s very, very unfortunate that those counsels that instituted Uruagu Development Union are no longer alive.
“They were the ones who were known for speaking out the truth. But at the same time, we will not all keep quiet.
“I, hereby, wish to bring the following to the attention of all Uruagu indigenes, scattered all over Nigeria and in the diaspora that four years ago, a similar thing happened.
“Uruagu Nnewi Constitution was also flagrantly violated four years ago.
“At the end, a lot of stakeholders asked the former Executive Committee to resign and leave en masse.
“The Constitution, however, allowed them to recontest.
“The Executive Committee then honourably resigned and no one of us recontested, ushering in a new Executive Committee.
“They argued that following the election, the Constitution will be amended to correct all the flaws and ensure no such flagrant abused repeats itself.
“They went for the election and what happened there was the same illegality we’re talking about.
“Some of our youths went and connived with mischief makers, disrupted the election and declared the present Executive Committee members winners.
“The youths stood by them in their misguided thoughts that the Executive Committee members enjoy special gains in the office.
“They disrupted the election and ensured that the present crop of Executive Committee members was ushered in.
“The election was heavily flawed and rigged in favour of Eloka Ike and Innocent Okoli, but we let go and left peacefully.
“The new Executive Committee promised to preside for only four years and leave, but we are currently seeing the same illegalities.
“I dare ask: Should Uruagu be known only for illegalities? I thought Ndi Uruagu are smart people?
“I have observed that there are certain individuals who are hell-bent on ensuring that the Uruagu leadership fails.
“They seem bent on destroying all our efforts, acting as agents of chaos and destruction.
“How can one man gather a bunch of Umuezeagu indigenes and take them to the court, claiming that they sued the union to court?
“They deceived the High Court and got a frivolous injunction against Uruagu people, all in the name of election!
“When I got this information, I knew that something was wrong.
“How can someone, after serving a tenure fraught with irregularities, fight his way to a second tenure against the people’s wish?
“I want to make it clear to all the delegates in the so-called election that it will not be possible to make an illegality legal.
“Anyone who casts a vote in that sham election is an agent provocateur, as well as a villain.
“Let it be on record that I denounced the so-called election founded on illegality and fraud and all participants, be it a delegate or participant in any manner is an enemy of the people.”
Chief Okoli and other responsible people of Nnewi leadership could not be reached for comment at the moment of this publication.
More details will follow…
The remains of HRH Eze Stephen Nwabueze Ugorji, Orji Ukwu 1 of Lorji Nwekeukwu Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, will be laid to rest on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
The late Eze Ugorji will be buried in his palace at Orji Ukwu Estate, Lorji, following a Catholic funeral Mass at St. Andrews Catholic Church, Lorji.
News Band was informed that His Excellency the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Bishop Okezuo Nwobi, has been invited to officiate at the ceremony.
Bishop Nwobi, it was learnt, has also accepted the family’s invitation to officiate at the funeral rites of the late grand traditional ruler.
This information was provided to members of the press in Owerri by the Opara Eze (First Son of the Eze), former Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji.
His Lordship Bishop Okezuo Nwobi, the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese (Mbaise) and Eze Nwabueze Ugorji’s First Son, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji
“The family is grateful to His Lordship for granting us a rare request to officiate at a funeral on a Thursday,” Dr. Ugorji said.
“Our father will feel honored and appreciated because he was not just a devoted Catholic, he shouldered the building of the St. Andrews Catholic Church at Lorji until his death,” the former commissioner added.
Igbo Corner
EXCLUSIVE: Ngozi Orabueze dissolves Biafra Govt In Exile as Simon Ekpa may spend longer time in prison
Dr. Ngozi Orabueze has abruptly dissolved the Biafra Government In Exile following secret information that his former boss, Simon Ekpa may not be coming out from Finnish detention in a hurry.
News Band reported that Mrs. Orabueze, a former Chief of Staff to Mr Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile, toppled his principal after he was thrown into prison for promoting violent agitation and terrorism in the Southeast of Nigeria.
Ekpa’s trial is scheduled to start in May 2025.
Ngozi, a former chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Atlanta, United States in a statement on Wednesday, announced the dissolution of Biafra Government In Exile.
She said all assets of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile and it’s affiliates shall be transferred to the secretary of the State of the United States of Biafra.
Orabueze also directed all officers of the former exile government to report to their counterpart with the United States of Biafra for reassignment.
The statement reads, “It is resolved that the Biafra Republic Government In Exile (BRGIE) is hereby dissolved as it’s reason for the existence has been superceded by the November 29, 2024 Declaration of the restoration of the Independent United States of Biafra
“All assets of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile and it’s affiliates(BRGIE corporation ID: D237527271) shall be transferred to the secretary of the State of the United States of Biafra.
“All officers of the former exile government shall report to their counterpart with the United States of Biafra for reassignment. All activities of the Biafra Republic Government In Exile shall cease as of February 15, 2025”.
Meanwhile, an insider source in the movement reliably told News Band that Ngozi decided to dissolve BRGIE after receiving intel that Simon Ekpa might spend longer time in prison.
The source also revealed that the Nigerian government is doing everything within it’s power to nail Simon Ekpa for all his atrocious acts in the SouthEast region.
So, the only way to keep the agitation going in the absence of Ekpa is to dissolve BRGIE.
“Yes, Ngozi Orabueze dissolved the Biafra Republic Government In Exile so as to be fully in charge of the assets belonging to the movement. With the way the Nigerian government is going about the case of Simon Ekpa, he may spend longer time in prison”, the source said.
Moreover, before now, Orabueze has been at war with some arrowheads of the separatist movement who refused to acknowledge her authority.
This however, has led to series of fights, accusation and counter accusations among the agitators.
We celebrate the life of Mrs. Roseline Udu Eze, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of strength.
Her unwavering love, kindness, and selflessness left an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Though we mourn her passing, we take solace in the legacy she leaves behind and the cherished memories we hold. Rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord, dear Roseline.
You will forever be missed.
May her soul rest in perfect peace.
Amen.
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