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INTERVIEW: Senator Mbata is a product of illegality, he knows nothing about Ohanaeze — Jackson Omenazu

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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.”