The College of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops has urged both the Amb. George Obiozor and the Chief Engr Chidi Ibeh-led factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to withdraw all pending court cases in order to engender genuine peace and reconciliation.
This was contained in a statement issued on July 26, 2021 by the Peace and Reconciliation Committee setup by the Igbo Clergy to end the ongoing factionalization of the Igbo apex body resulting from the body’s election held in January, 2021.
The Statement was signed by Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of Enugu Province, Anglican Communion and Most Rev. (Dr.) Chibuzo Raphael Opoko, Archbishop of Umuahia Methodist Archdiocese, Co-Chairman and Secretary General of the Committee respectively.
The statement read thus: “Representatives of the Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Reconciliation with particular reference to the conflict and crises in Ohanaeze Ndigbo met five times – 6th May, 25th May, 7th June, 21st June and 26th July, 2021 and listened to all the contending groups in the crises and conflict in Ohanaeze Ndigbo
“All the groups assured the body of the Igbo Senior Clergy of their commitment to peace and reconciliation, their readiness to make sacrifices for the sake of Ndi Igbo and Ala-Igbo, their confidence in the Igbo Senior Clergy group and willingness to ensure a united, prosperous, progressive and stable Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Consequently, the body of the Igbo Senior Clergy resolved as follows:-
1. That all court cases connected to the crises and conflict in Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo be withdrawn within or before Tuesday 31st August, 2021.
2. All elections of any kind – youth, women etc in Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo be put on hold till further notice “Onye Ulo ya n’agba oku anaghi a chu oke.
3. All public utterances and publicity ‘ *should* ‘ desist from denigrading any body, group or organisations of NDI IGBO AND ALA-IGBO.
“May the Lord God Almighty usher in peace and reconciliation in Ala-Igbo and to Ndigbo in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
“We are servants of God on a divine mandate.”
Currently, there are over 5 court cases, filed by contending parties in the Ohanaeze crises, pending in various courts.The most recent is the one filed weeks ago by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary General of the Chief Chidi Ibeh-led faction at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt asking the court to compel the immediate past President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo to render account of all monies that accrued to Ohanaeze Ndigbo under his leadership, especially with regards to domiciliary accounts which he allegedly opened overseas without the mandate of or prior knowledge of his Executives.
Surprisingly, Ichie Chief Chuka Muoma, SAN, who was Ohanaeze National Legal Adviser under the Nwodo administration is the lead counsel to the
Chidi Ibeh-led faction
