Johnchuks Onuanyim 
…Says energy crisis caused by failure of successive administrations
The Youth Wing of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide after its 52nd Extraordinary National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja said it is backing the proposed creation of an additional state for the South East region, stating such would go a long way in assuaging the people of the area who feel marginalized with only five states while others have six and seven states.
Briefing the newsmen after the meeting, the National Youth Leader of the group, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu said the clamour for the creation of the state in the region is proper, adding that they have after due consultations favoured the creation of Anioma state.
Okpalaezeukwu added that the Ohanaeze Youth Wing believes that the Anioma state has been favoured by most stakeholders because by most standards, including geographical delineations is the best for the proposed state.
He said “The ongoing agitation for an additional State in the Southeast is not only commendable, but also timely and unavoidable, if Nigeria must be seen as a nation that believes in equity.
“We commend the various interest groups and legislators who have made varying recommendations on the geographical delineation, name and composition of the proposed Sixth State in the Southeast.
“However, after extensive consultations, deliberations and investigations, we wish to urge every stakeholder who believes in the progress and development of Igbo land, to align themselves with the Anioma State project, as it remains the most viable, most equitable and most unifying option at this time.
“In that regard, we have set up a powerful lobby group to join forces with other like minds, to facilitate the actualization of this additional State in the Southeast, Anioma, by reaching out to other stakeholders across Nigeria. As the apex youth leadership q in the entire Igbo land, we shall spare no cost in ensuring the success of this idea, whose time is now”.
The apex Igbo youth group equally weighed in on the lingering energy crisis in the country saying that after a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, it was convinced that the federal government was doing enough to ease the economic challenges facing the people.
“We have had a fruitful deliberation with the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, Distinguished Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and his team where we have expressed concerns and emphasized the need for continuous and unrelenting reforms of the petroleum sector with policies that benefit the ordinary people and improve the overall well-being of Nigeria economy.
“We acknowledge the challenges inherent in the removal of subsidy and the impact of infrastructural deficiencies in the sector, and we are very proud of the uncommon achievements recorded so far by the Tinubu-led administration ranging from an increase in Crude Oil production from 1mbpd to 1.7mbpd, engagement and enhancement of investors and investments respectively, technology adoption, infrastructure development and other critical factors that positively impact the economy.
“We, therefore, declare our solidarity and support to the genuine efforts and commitment of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other collaborating agencies and entities such as the NNPCL, etc”.
On the spate of insecurity in the South East, the Ohanaeze youths appealed to President Bola Tinubu to use his good office to effect the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying such would help restore peace in the region.
Okpalaezeukwu equally used the opportunity to reflect on the upcoming burial of the late Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, revealing that the youth wing is prepared to play a very pivotal role during the burial, which comes up on November Ist.
“As you are already aware, the Igbo nation and the entire Nigeria recently lost one of her greatest leaders and role models- Chief Engineer Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo). The family has already, also, set a date for his funeral for the 1st of November, 2024.
“At Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, we recognize, not just Iwuanyanwu’s far-reaching developmental and progressive strides in over six decades of his active service to Igbo land and Nigeria at large; especially his contributions to the formation, sustainability and growth of the apex Igbo sociopolitical and cultural organization- Ohanaeze Ndigbo, but also his investments to stabilizing the Youth leadership of our wing”.
Okpalaezeukwu further revealed that his group has set up a funeral planning committee for the purpose of celebrating the sterling legacies of Chief Iwuanyanwu.
