President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his election as the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
Azuta-Mbata, who served as senator representing Rivers East from 1999 to 2007, emerged as the organisation’s leader during a meeting held in Enugu on Friday.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended the group for a smooth leadership transition and urged the new leadership to maintain the standards set by their predecessors.
Quoting Onanuga, “The President recognises the critical role of socio-cultural organisations in nation-building; hence, his commitment to promoting dialogue among our ethnic nationalities.
“President Tinubu wishes the newly elected Ohanaeze Ndigbo president success as he takes on this onerous yet noble and lofty task.”
With the election, Azuta-Mbata would succeed Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, who was appointed to complete the tenure of the late Chief Emmanuel lwuanyanwu from Imo State.
He was elected by consensus in the election which was witnessed by the Governors of Enugu, Imo and Anambra States, as well as Senators Chris Ngige, Ben Obi, Victor Umeh and other Igbo dignitaries.
Prince Okey Nwadinobi from Abia was elected the National Deputy President while Chief Emeka Sibeidu from Anambra State is the new Secretary General of the Igbo group.
Chidera Anieke from Enugu State was elected National Treasurer, Ezechukwu Ezechi from Imo State was elected National Publicity Secretary while Okey Ugwu from Ebonyi State was elected National Legal Adviser.
The position of the Deputy Secretary General went to Delta State and others.
Speaking on behalf of the newly elected executive, Azuta-Mbata thanked the outgoing President-General for his leadership style and his ability to handover and organise elections for the new executives.
While pledging to lead by example, Azuta-Mbata called on the governors in the states that made up Ohanaeze Worldwide for support and collaboration to move the organisation forward.