National confab splits Ndigbo, Nwabueze makes U-turn

From PETRUS OBI, Enugu
There may be a major crack among Igbo leaders over the proposed national conference as a parallel group led by constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, met in Enugu yesterday to articulate issues for the exercise.
The meeting which was held at the Zodiac Hotels, Enugu came weeks after the Igbo apex body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, submitted a memorandum to the presidential committee on the position of Igbos.

The parley was a departure from the Ohanaeze arrangement which had set up committees to collate memoranda from various Igbo groups so that the people would speak with one voice.
Prof. Nwabueze (SAN) who had earlier turned down the opportunity to serve in the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue was surprisingly elected the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the group.
Nwabueze told newsmen at the end of the meeting that we know that there is problem; we know that there is division in Ohanaeze, part of what we are here to do is to try and resolve the problem in Ohanaeze, but Ohanaeze remains one umbrella organization for Ndigbo.
“We are here concerning the position Ndigbo are going to adopt at the national conference; that is why we are here. We have not taken a decision yet; that is the purpose of the meeting; the only thing relevant is that we set up committees, one is the planning committee, which will do the planning.
“It is going to be a process; it is not something that will end in just one meeting. We have also set up a fund raising committee, because we need a lot of money.
“Another committee that will be set up eventually is the outreach committee, but the members have not been appointed; they will take our position and go and discuss with other ethnic groups. I am the Chairman, Prof. Mike Achebe is the Deputy Chairman, Prof. Elo Amucheazi is the Secretary.”
Those at the meeting were Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Senator Anyim Ude, Dozie Ikedife, Elochukwu Amucheazi, Nduka Eya, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, Archbishop Maxwel Anikwenwa, Sen Ben Obi, Aja Nwachukwu and Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd).