Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, on Thursday congratulated the newly-elected executive of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, under the leadership of Chief John Nwodo.
Kalu said he was particularly enthralled by the fact that for the first time in a long while, the association has been able to hold a rancour-free election that produced credible results.
In a statement Thursday by his media adviser, Ebere Wabara, Kalu enjoined the group’s officials to eschew partisanship in their dealings with everyone.
He said: “Ohaneze should consciously and strictly be non-aligned by avoiding taking sides with any political party, individual or group.
“The new leadership must pursue the interest of the Igbo no matter where they are located. Even those in the Diaspora should also be catered to as if they were within the country. Channels of cross-border bonding should be established so that it is not only during external challenges that we remember our brothers domiciled in most parts of the world.
“I enjoin Nwodo and his eminent colleagues on the executive to remain focused and work towards reconciling all the Igbo who have sundry differences so as to enthrone a common front for the pursuit of the transformation of our disadvantaged zone. The South East needs the unity of purpose in repositioning itself. Endless individual and group squabbles undermine our development and maximal participation in national politics.
“The time has come for the Igbo to rediscover themselves and stop working at cross-purposes. The Nwodo-led team should ensure that they make a difference this time round based on their personal profiles as distinguished professionals and public servants at various levels.”
While wishing them a successful tenure, Kalu declared that he had no doubt in the capacity of the new executive to re-engineer the socio-cultural organization and redressing all outstanding issues affecting the Igbo geo-political axis.
Kalu appealed to some members of the Igbo political elite who allegedly have reservations over the electoral processes that culminated in the emergence of the new executive to sheathe their swords and allow sleeping dogs lie in the overall interest of the Igbo nationality.