Stop relegating us – Ohanaeze youths to parent body

The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged the parent body of the organisation to bring it into the mainstream of its activities rather than relegating it.

This is contained in a release signed by the Zonal Coordinator, South-South, Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa and made available to Newsmen in Owerri on Friday.

Arthur-Ugwa, who, in light of recent developments, decried marginalisation by the organisation’s parent body, said that the role of the youths in society could not be overemphasized.

He argued that while the organisation deployed the youths in conflict situations, especially regarding maintaining peace in the South-East, it relegated the youths when it was supposed to be time to appreciate them.

He commended the role of Ohanaeze youths in addressing sundry issues, such as the continued sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and the resultant killings.

According to him, the entire region would have witnessed anarchy without the intervention of the youths.

This, he said, was necessary to give the youths a sense of belonging in accordance with the organisation’s laid down rules.

“We are called upon when it’s time to reach out to those tumbling the waters of peace and order, but when it’s time to appreciate us, such as during outings that will benefit the organisation, we are relegated to the background.

“We have remained loyal to the leadership of our President-General, Prof George Obiozor, and we have never been known to be dissident. It leaves us wondering why we weren’t captured in important outings such as the birthday of our leader, Chief Nnia Nwodo and others.

“We call on the leadership of our parent body to rejig its modus operandi with a view to capturing all affiliate arms of the association in all its activities for a mutual sense of belonging and in respect for our guiding rules,” he said.

He however pledged continued commitment to the Organisation’s objectives for the overall good of all its members.