No Crisis Among Igbo Leaders In Kaduna- ICWA President
No Crisis Among Igbo Leaders In Kaduna- ICWA President
By Alex Uangbaoje
The President General of the Igbo Community Welfare Association (ICWA) Kaduna, Barrister Chris Nnoli has debunked the allegation that the Association is having leadership crisis in the state.
A statement signed by the President General and Secretary Mr. Walter Temple C, the Association stated that the allegation was in bad faith, baseless, false, unfounded and calculated to undermine the interests of Ndibgo in the state under the indifatigueable leadership of Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai who has just assumed office as the Executive Governor of the state.
“The allegation coming up at this early stage when the contributions of Igbos is needed in the administration to move the state forward, is calculated to tarnish the image of the Igbos community in the state he said, describing the acts of the originators of some as the antics of drowing persons.
“The allegation by a few disgruntled individuals in ICWA that the Association is in contention of the leadership of Igbo community in Kaduna with a non-existent group known as ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo Kaduna branch’ is the figment of the imagination of the author, chief Austine Ameachi who was voted out of office by the electorate after over four years of uneventful and lack-luster as ICWA Presidet.”
The President further said and regretted that the former ICWA President General (two weeks after his defeat), set up the purported Ohanaeze Ndigbo Kaduna branch as a parallel. Organization to create the impression that the Igbos in Kaduna have leadership crisis or tussle as same does not exist.
He said that there is only one umbrella apex socio-cultural body for the Igbos in Nigeria called Ohanaeze Ndigbo with headquarters in Enugu, adding that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has no state branch and is likened to Afenifere group or Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
He further stated that ICWA Kaduna is the only recognised channels for the preservation of the interests of the Igbos resident in Kaduna and urged the Igbos to dis-countenance the allegation, remain focused and loyal to the leadership of ICWA in particular and Kaduna State in general.
The president also called on the Executive Governor of Kaduna State to disregard the allegation as there was no crack whatsoever in the Association and further pledged to enlist the support of all Igbos in the state towards achieving the onerous task by the State Governor of building a more viable Kaduna State devoid of ethnic or religious differences.
