Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, South-South, has called on its members to shun all acts of violence and participate in the development of the respective states where they reside and do their businesses.
The body gave th advice in the communique reached at the weekend at the end of a one-day general meeting of all lgbo youths residing in the South-South and held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The communique was signed by the South-South Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chinedu Ugwa, and the Secretary, Mr. Ogunoegbunam Ifeanyi.
It also urged Ndigbo worldwide to work with the current national leadership led by Prof. George Obiozor.
The communique read in part: “We wish to congratulate the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. We declare our total, unalloyed support and allegiance to the new leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo under the leadership of Prof. George Obiozor.
“We thank all the delegates and Ndigbo in general for the peaceful transition of power and wish the new leadership hitch-free tenure and God’s guidance and wisdom to pilot the affairs of the Ndigbo.
“We also thank the national leadership of the youth wing under the leadership of Ambassador Arthur Obiorah for the way he has been piloting the affairs of the Youth Wing. Our loyalty remains resolute.
“We thank the Governors of the six South-South states for their support in our activities in their various states. We thank them for providing us with a security and conducive environment to do our legitimate business thus making us feel at home even when we are far away from our various homes.
“We enjoin Ndigbo in all South-South states to pull together under the umbrella of Ohanaeze Ndigbo ably led by Prof. George Obiozor and desist from any action or activities that will portray Ndigbo in bad light.”
The communiqué advised Igbo people to always ensure peaceful coexistence with their host communities and contribute to the development of their host communities as they had always done.
It declared that there is only one Ohanaeze Ndigbo under the leadership of Prof. George Obiozor and asked the detractors of Ndigbo to please desist or face the full weight of the law.
The youth wing lauded the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State chapter, for the peace thus far achieved through the Peace and Reconciliation Committee and asked them to extend the same to the youth wing.
It added: “We ask all Igbo youths in Bayelsa State to please follow in the footsteps of their fathers and ensure absolute peace in the youth wing.
“We demand that the National and South-South leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth be carried along in the course of electing the leadership of the youth wing as Ohanaeze constitution and laws demand.
“We warn that any state that does not adhere to this, such election will be declared null and void. We also demand that internal conflict resolution mechanism of Ohanaeze Ndigbo be employed in any case of conflict.
“We sympathize with Senator Paulker Emmanuel over the death of his mother and ask God to grant her soul eternal rest and to the Senator and his siblings the heart to bear the loss.
“We thank the Governor of Baylsa State, Senator Douyi Diri, and the prosperity government of Bayelsa State for their support to Ndigbo and all non-indigenes in the state.”