Mbazulike Amaechi’s Aso Rock visit: Ohanaeze Ndigbo hails Buhari’s warm reception; Supports elder statesman’s positions

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the warm reception he accorded the delegation led by Chief Mbazulike Amaechi that visited him in the State House, Abuja on Friday, November 19, 2021.

The apex pan Igbo organisation also  hailed President Buhari for his decision to consider a political solution to the issue of the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement by Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the body, led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, also expressed gratitude to Chief Amaechi for embarking on the mission as well as for the home truths he told the President, stressing that Ohanaeze identifies with the views the elder statesman expressed during the visit.

Full text of statement reads:

OHANAEZE PRESS RELEASE
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide commends President Muhammadu Buhari for the warm reception he accorded to our illustrious son, the First Republican Parliamentarian and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi (Dara Akunwafor) and his delegation at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja on Friday, November 19, 2021. We are particularly delighted that Mr. President has shown empathy in the current Igbo travails by mulling a political option for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Our immense gratitude goes to the elder statesman, a quintessential Nigerian patriot, passionate and selfless leader, Chief Mbazulike Amechi for his profound insights, selflessness, tenacity and concerns for peace to return to the South East of Nigeria. In his presentation to Mr President, the nonagenarian described the “situation in the South East as painful and pathetic”. He lamented that “businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling and there is fear everywhere”. He added that he does not “want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa”.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor has always maintained that the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu requires a political solution and that dialogue remains a veritable instrument for a functional democracy all over the world. What the Igbos want in Nigeria are very specific and a concerted effort towards addressing such needs will go a long way to resolving the present crises in the South East.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide identifies with the views expressed by Chief Amechi that Ndigbo are committed to a united prosperous Nigeria that guarantees justice, equity and fairness to all. We are convinced that as the leader of the nation, Mr. President has the constitutional powers to redirect the narratives of the country; there is hardly the possibility for an economic growth and employment to our teeming graduates in an atmosphere of rancor, insecurity and violence.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worlwide joins Amechi in his solemn admonition that he “wants Mr. President to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and he quenched the fire”.

Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide