OBJ’s recent visit to Ohanaeze, in best interest of Igbo land —Igbo union BOT Chair

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Former National Vice Chairman (South-East), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu, is the Chairman, Board Of Trustees of Igbo Town Union, and member of the Eastern Elders Council. He speaks with JOHNKENNEDY Uzma on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent visit to the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, among other issues.

FORMER president, Obasanjo, visited the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide president, Chief Iwuanyanwu, recently, how would you describe the meeting?

It is a great gesture, which shows enormous sacrifice, and quintessential leadership. It is not surprising. OBJ is known for consistency, always marching words with action. His love for Ndigbo and wish for peace and harmony in Nigeria are unrivalled. His empathy is in public knowledge.

What are his reasons for such visit, especially now?

Well, I think it is outside his annual routine of visiting friends and hot spots to wish them the best of the new year, diffuse tension and calm nerves. He uses it as an opportunity to build bridges, and make peace. His reasons for coming included all those, as well as the need to carry out environmental scanning and psychic surveys; to receive feedbacks, compare notes, and discuss roadmap on issues of mutual interest.

Does it have anything to do with the planned release of Nnamdi Kanu or the unity of the Igbo land?

I don’t have all the details but both issues are on the front burner in most of the discussions on Ndigbo. You will recall that during his time as Nigeria’s president, there was a tragic incident involving MASSOB, which led to the arrest and detention of their leader, Chief Raph Uwazuruike. I was then the National Vice Chairman and Chairman of the South-East PDP. The Igbo leadership irrespective of political party met in Abuja and appealed to OBJ for Kanu’s release with assurances of good conduct, and the former president granted the request and released him.

What were the issues discussed?

The papers carried them. They were surely things of common interest, equal rights and justice, good citizenship, healthy political participation and inclusiveness among others. The place of Ndigbo in contemporary Nigeria and the critical success factors for a new Nigeria of our collective dream.

Talking about Charter of Equity in Imo State, is it actually a reality or does it mean anything to the entire indigenes of the state politically?

I think it is a very welcome development, even though it is not unique to Imo State. I believe it has come to stay. Whatever sustains our arguments and quests for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction reinforces the foundation of the Imo Charter of Equity.

For many years up till now, the governance of Imo State has remained in the hands of the Orlu zone. Do you think the Charter of Equity will correct that by making power to shift to Owerri zone as claimed?