Ohanaeze Appoints Fidelis Chukwu As New President-General

Nze Fidelis Chukwu from Imo State has emerged as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, replacing late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

This was contained in a communique at the end of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Imeobi and General Assembly on Saturday in Enugu.

The communique was signed by the Secretary-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay.

Chukwu’s leadership is expected to last only the 27 days needed to complete the Imo State tenure, which would end on January 10, 2025.

The emergence of Chukwu is as a result of a chain of catastrophe, which has visited Ohanaeze with the demise of Prof. George Obiozor in 2022.

In application of a doctrine of necessity, Iwuanyanwu was sworn-in on April 30, 2023 as his replacement, but unfortunately died on July 25, 2024 and was buried on November 1.

Emuchay said: “In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imo Chapter of Ohanaeze, led by Mr C J Ihemedu, presented Chukwu to the Imeobi Ohanaeze to exhaust the balance of four year tenure allotted to Imo.”

He said the motion for the adoption of Chukwu was moved by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman Imo Council of Elders, and seconded by Chief Simon Okeke.
The communique added: “In line with the doctrine of necessity, the Imeobi adopted the nomination of Chukwu as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the motion was unanimously adopted through a voice vote by the Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“The State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Rivers expressed delight over the nomination of Chukwu as the new President-General until January 10, 2025.”

Emuchay further stated that Chukwu was sworn-in as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide by the body’s National Legal Adviser, Joseph Ojobu, and Assistant Legal Adviser, Dr. Peter Aneke.

He said the South East Governors’ Forum, represented by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, charged the new President-General to ensure that the forthcoming Ohanaeze election should be both transparent and credible.