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Dear Board Members/Exco and WIC stakeholders:

I have learned over this period that a patient dog indeed eats the
fattest bone. Whether we like it or not, the WIC's calculative but
cautionary approach has as always panned out. To preserve the intergrity of
this organization, those who would lead us should endeavor to look before
leaping. If I have said it before, I will say it again that it is not
unusual that while some ideas may seem so noble, but if care is not taken
might become a source of entrapment and dismay.

I just got off a detailed phone conversation with retired Justice Eze Ozobu,
the Chairman of Ohaneze. We discussed a whole range of issues bordering on
the political situation in Igboland:

The first question was on Iwuanyanwu's role in the unfolding political
situation. He informed me that Chief Iwuanyanwu tendered his resignation
as a Chairman of Ohaneze Political Affairs on December 9, 2002, simply
because of his role as the Obasanjo/Atiku campaign co-ordinator -- a
position which he accepted after candidates like Ekwueme had told him
(Iwuanyanwu) that they were not interested in the Presidency. The much
castigated delay in the Iwuanyanwu letter was a Divine Providence in
waiting. We would have looked very silly and our collective integrity soiled
both to Iwuanyanwu and to whomever may have read that letter, including
Ohaneze itself, since the letter would have been after-the-fact and without
any more basis. My simple comment on this event is: Let those who are prone
to hurling insults from the sidelines and through their keyboards continue
to do so. They will eventually be disappointed. Onye nwere nti, ya nuru.
Onye kwe chi ya ekwe

On a further note, he commended Senator Ike Nwachukwu for being a true son
of Igbo who gave up his ambition simply because his people asked him to do
so -- a character that is rare among Ndigbo in recent times. He condemned
Orji Uzo Kalu who had sought to champion the Igbo Presidency project but
ended up voting massively for Obasanjo whom he had originally coined as a
disfavor to Ndi Igbo. He condemned the crew of Igbo Governors who abandoned
the Igbo project during the PDP primaries because of personal interest. He
however indicated that Senator Nwachukwu still has a good shot at the
Presidency and remains the best chance for Ndigbo in 2003.

…..


KKD

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Where in that memo does it say that WIC or Ohanaeze is supporting APGA or Ojukwu. We cannot let those groups pull a fast one on us.

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I have learned over this period that a patient dog indeed eats the fattest bone. Whether we like it or not, the WIC's calculative but cautionary approach has as always panned out.

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Letter to WIC Affiliates and Stakeholders

Umunne m:

I write to you today to seek your cooperation on a very important matter. A little more than a year ago, a plea came from our homeland asking us to support the “Igbo Presidency 2003” campaign. The rationale was that for Ndi Igbo to reclaim their political prestige in Nigeria, they must seek to win the presidency in 2003. Accordingly, the World Igbo Congress (WIC) resolved to support the Ohanaeze-backed initiative.

It has now become apparent to all of us as to what transpired among our Igbo Governors to abort the opportunity for an Igbo to secure the baton in the recently concluded PDP primaries. This singular and duplicitous act by the Igbo delegates led by the Governors, therefore, has made the road more arduous and stand a clearer chance of scuttling the whole project in its entirety. It is equally bewildering to note that this project was derailed by some of the same people who pitched it to us in the first place. Since there seem to be no higher authority to inflict sanctions, our Igbo politicians have charted their own paths to glory with reckless abandon and have remained indifferent to the larger Igbo collective interest. We believe that this type of sentiment must be confronted aggressively.

The ANPP primaries did not yield encouraging results either. Had the Igbo presidential aspirants allowed Ohanaeze to intervene, that body could have brokered an agreement which would have yielded a consensus Igbo presidential candidate in that party as was the case with the PDP Igbo consensus candidacy, despite Dr. Ekwueme’s late entry into the race. This notwithstanding, we should commend the efforts of these Igbo candidates for walking out of the party’s consensus candidate arrangement that has no foundation but motivated by contempt and disregard for the collective Igbo interest.

It is equally important to take stock to know where the rain started to beat us, so that we can also know where it would stop. After due consideration, WIC is satisfied that it was able to do as much as it did under the prevailing circumstances. Our strategic caution has proven to be a virtue. For those of us who are keen on proffering “ideas” for “ideas-sake” on how to move the WIC forward, a serious reflection on some of these suggests a rather chronic propensity to simplify the Igbo condition. I do have a message for you. This is a time to think and think better. Knee-jerk and emotional reaction to ongoing events will not serve us best. It never did in the past and it will not in the future.

What transpired during the recently concluded party primary elections in Nigeria should become an eye-opener to all of us. The lesson we can learn from that is that we cannot accept positions blindly just as they are presented to us. It is incumbent on us therefore to be more direct and reflective if we want to affect the political process and bring about real change in the Igbo community. We must discourage political chicanery by some of our people and make an expensive proposition where such is found. To do this, we must equally deal with those Igbo delegates who had willfully impugned the Igbo collective interest by making a volte-face during the primaries. All the money and ideas in the world would probably not have saved the PDP primaries for the Igbo, if after-all, the minds of those who control our political stewardship have already been bought and sold. This is exactly what happened. Why then blame it on WIC? Why then stake WIC’s fate on the whimsical machinations of dishonorable men? While it may be easy to seek a scapegoat, it is even more dishonorable when one refuses to step up to the plate.

But we must find a way to deny those who claim to represent us the right to do so. We believe this is the only effective way to curb this new wave of political indiscipline among our public representatives. In order to do this, we must mobilize our collective resources to promote more desirable candidates over the arrogant incumbents who no longer see it as their duty to respond to their constituencies. The bottom line is that we must raise funds and focus our publicity efforts towards removing irresponsive candidates from attaining the offices to which they aspire. By applying all available sanctions, please let us now commit to take the necessary steps to “throw away the rascals.”

There are a couple of ways we can cultivate this mission. We can seek a coalition gubernatorial candidacy from APGA, NDP, ANPP, UNPP and PMP, or we can seek such of each of these five parties individually. We can reach out to the various non-incumbent party leaders in Igboland as well as seek a consensus with the various local government chieftains. With a vigorous get-out-the-vote campaign and voter education, several opportunities can be created to help us reach this mission. Please help us serve you. Ask your friends and organizations in your area to give and give generously.

To this end, the World Igbo Congress (WIC) is coming to your area on a date to be announced by the committees as part of our nationwide campaign for support in order to accomplish this mission. We are appealing to you not only to generously support the fundraising efforts of WIC in this regard but also to be a goodwill ambassador by helping to spread this message far and beyond to your friends and Igbo well-wishers alike. The time for each of us to be counted is now and let your conscience therefore be your guide.

On the “Igbo Presidency Project,” in light of the fact that four [Ndiigbo] have emerged as pole-bearers for four of the political parties, APGA, NDP, UNPP and PMP, the issue of independent endorsement still remains muted. There are two possibilities here, either we seek a consensus candidate from the fold or we can use our collective muscle to seek political rents from the eventual winner of the general election. I had asked Dr. Obiesie and Dr. Sam Enyia to develop a road map for us on this project, but now that the dynamics have changed they should proceed with greater fervor. They should collate the ideas already submitted on the forum by some members and they should also seek further ideas from the affiliates and individuals alike. Members who have more ideas are encouraged to forward same to either Enyia or Obiesie. However, suggestions should be based on an honest consideration of what can duly be achieved within the context of WIC’s strengths and limitations. I will appreciate receiving this road map within one week. Nonetheless, I am open to all possibilities and if there is any member or ex-exco member who sees a more superior approach for us in this regard, let him step up to lead this project. I will give the member the maximum support that he needs to implement this project both here and in Igboland. This is a better challenge than talking each other down.

In opposition to a few, I also want to stress that we must continue to work with Ohanaeze Ndiigbo on the presidency project and other issues of importance to the Igbo cause. Like it or not, Ohanaeze is on the ground. We are not. If this is a handicap, then let us be realistic and work around it. Otherwise we become the proverbial “onye na anoghi mgbe eliri ozu na-esi n'ukwu abowa ya."

The Igbo nation continues to be challenged. Let us face this challenge as one people, one Nation, and one Igbo. Ya buru uka; ya buru ilu.

Ndeewo.

Kalu Kalu Diogu, Ph.D.

Chairman, World Igbo Congress

January 16, 2003, Austin, Texas

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Now you know. Just scratching my head.

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Ohanaeze Narrows Presidential Choice to Two

PMP News Brief, February 7, 2003: Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization of Ndigbo, may have narrowed their choice of a presidential candidate to two- Dr Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo of PMP and Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of APGA. This was revealed today in Enugu at a contentious meeting of the organization . The choice of the two candidates was primarily based on the extent of Igbo control of their platforms and the antecedents of the candidates. In their presentations Nwankwo and Ojukwu complemented each other in convincing the Ohanaeze that their parties will represent the true aspirations of Ndigbo. Chief Jim Nwobodo and Gen.(ret.) Ike Nwachukwu who were conspicuously absent at the meeting were portrayed as not trustworthy and undeserving of the political leadership of Ndigbo. Nwankwo and Ojukwu pledged to back any one of them that emerges finally as the Igbo presidential choice. It is likely that the final choice will be determined by extent of Igbo control of both parties to avoid embarrassment of Ndigbo and derailment of the Igbo presidency project by enemies within the parties. Meanwhile Ohanaeze has held off making a final selection till after the final date for submission of Presidential candidates to INEC. This postponement may not be unconnected with the split within APGA executives body resulting in their inability to present a unified front to INEC. Strangely, INEC has refused to release their N3 million party mobilization fee, without both Chairman and Secretary present. So far the suspended Minna-born secretary has shown no sign of cooperation. There is speculation he might frustrate submission of Chief Ojukwus name as APGA presidential candidate. Nevertheless, the Igbo presidency project is very much alive! Will it be Nwankwo or Ojukwu? Only time will tell.



Contact: Sir Luke Onuoha

PMP-USA

Washington DC

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Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has set eligibility criteria for the emergence of the Igbo consensus presidential candidate: acceptability to Igbo (15%), electability-electoral strength of the candidate’s party (20%), acceptability in all zones of Nigeria (15%); appropriate experience in governance (15%), an impeccable record of public service (10%), international and diplomatic experience (10%) and presidential deportment (10%).

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"Imagine same people who held important positions in Ohanaeze have ended up working for interests that directly threaten the Igbo presidency project whereas they were part of the decisions on it. Some critics of the Peoples Democratic Party among us are now contestants under its platform which means they have been its members all along. They are the cause of our problems now,"

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Presidential candidate of All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2003 general elections, and Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, yesterday predicted that his party will win the entire South-east states in 2007 elections.

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