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Former member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Bernard Mikko, has called for peace and unity within the Ohaneze Ndigbo organisation, appealing to Chief Uche Ukuku to cooperate with Senator Mbata and other leaders to move the organisation forward.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Mikko, addressed the ongoing leadership issues within Ohaneze Ndigbo.
The discussion centred on the recent election of a new president general and excos for the organisation, which many have seen as a sign of unity within the Ndigbo community.
“My friend Chief Uche Ukuku has the right to challenge (the election of Senator Mbata) in court but what I’m saying is that there will be no need to do all that because we are looking for peace. I’ll suggest that he work together with Senator Mbata and every other leader that have supported him as secretary general in the past to achieve the dream. I’ll appeal to him to shield his sword and work with people that are now in place to pull the organisation forward,” He said.
However, concerns over factionalisation have persisted, particularly after Chief Uche Ukuku’s claims of being the legitimate president. Ukuku has also made controversial statements about Senator Mbata, questioning his Igbo heritage and his involvement in Ohaneze Ndigbo.
Mikko, however, responded firmly, stressing that the primary goal of Ohaneze Ndigbo is fostering unity among Igbo people, regardless of their location.
“The main focus of the organisation Ohaneze Ndigbo is to foster unity among the Igbo nationalities cutting across anywhere they may be… the main task Senator Mbata has now is to bring all the factions among the Igbos together and make peace so that the harmony and brotherhood among them is achieved,” he said.
Mikko further defended Senator Mbata’s legitimacy, dismissing claims questioning his Igbo heritage.
“It is not for any other person to begin to tell the story of Senator Mbata where he comes from, he knows where he comes from, he knows his ancestry,” Mikko said. “The stakeholders of the organisation have conducted an election that gave him the legitimacy. What I will say is that let the senator like every other organisation now bring everybody together as a peaceful union and achieve the aim of which it was founded.”
The former lawmaker emphasised the importance of diplomacy and the role of non-state actors in influencing government policies. He acknowledged that while the process of electing leadership may not please everyone, the legitimacy of the election lies in the consensus of the stakeholders.
“For the stakeholders to come together and do it where they did, I think that grants it legitimacy than the one that was claimed elsewhere by any other person,” he stated.
Addressing concerns raised by Ekwere elders about an alleged Igbo expansionist agenda, Mikko reiterated the importance of unity among regional leaders, including those from the North and West. He urged Senator Mbata to use his leadership to build national cohesion.
“The main work that Senator Mbata has now is to reach out to other regional leaders, they live mostly in the diaspora, so if they reach out to ethnic leaders, regional leaders, from the north, west and all that and they create a national etiquette for our people so that when crime is committed by Nigerians anywhere, other people don’t fall victim,” Mikko explained.
Mikko also highlighted the challenges facing the Igbo people, both at home in the East and in the diaspora. He emphasised the need for Senator Mbata to address economic hardships and separatist movements.
“This is the main challenge for Senator Mbata, which I said he has the humility, candour and wisdom to do. There are separatist movements, there are agitations of hunger all round the world now, not only in Nigeria or in the diaspora, you have them in Lagos, in the southwest where people died in trying to scramble for handouts from some NGOs,” Mikko noted.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
The post Mikko: Uche Ukuku Should Shield His Sword And Work With Senator Mbata In Pursuit Of Ohaneze Ndigbo’s Vision appeared first on Arise News.
