The Ohanaeze spokesman, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, disclosed this in a statement he made available to The PUNCH on Friday.
Ogbonnia said that restructuring was part of an ongoing reorganisation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide under the leadership of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu to engender transparency and accountability in the leadership of the organisation.
According to the statement, the new structure will have the entire 19 northern states and Abuja as one chapter with their headquarters in Abuja, while the South-West will have its headquarters in Lagos; and the East with the headquarters at Enugu.
“The Ohanaeze Diaspora structure has the continent of Europe with the headquarters in London; the continent of North America and Canada with headquarters in Washington, DC; the continent of South America and the Caribbean with headquarters in Brazil; the continent of Asia with headquarters in China; continent of Africa with Headquarters in South Africa; continent of Australia and New Zealand and all the surrounding Islands with headquarters in Australia.”
Ogbonnia said that an International Market will be built in Igboland adding that upon the completion of the project, all the traders will be expected to own a market store. “This will create job opportunities, enhance goods and services, and ultimately increase Gross Domestic Product in the country.
“As a corollary to the above, the Igbo Leader will hold a Summit of Igbo Traders Associations in Nigeria and some parts of Africa.”
According to the statement, a new date for the Ohanaeze Northern Convention has been fixed for Thursday 23, and Friday 24 of November 2023.
“The President General called for the harmonisation of the officers of the various factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Abuja in order to produce a united peaceful executive.”
The body expressed satisfaction with the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma’s move to offer amnesty to all the “unknown gunmen” who were hiding in bushes, urging all the Igbo governors to follow suit and key into the amnesty programme.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges the young men to take advantage of the amnesty programme for peace to reign in Igboland.”
The statement noted that the President General, during the meeting, announced the establishment of a special committee known as the ‘Committee for Reconciliation and Peacebuilding in Nigeria’ with Dr Dominic Okechukwu as the chairman and Dr Joseph Ibekwe as secretary.
“Also, the President General inaugurated the Elders Council for Abuja and the Northern States of Nigeria. The Council is chaired by His Excellency Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife with Chief SN Okeke as the Deputy and Prof. Charles Nwekeaku as the Secretary.”
