WorldStage Newsonline– President Bola Tinubu congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his election as the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide
Azuta-Mbata, a former senator, represented Rivers East in the Senate from 1999 to 2007 was elected as president of the preeminent Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group at its meeting in Enugu on Friday.
President Tinubu also congratulated the group on the successful leadership transition and enjoins the new leaders to uphold the principles of their predecessors.
The President recognised the critical role of socio-cultural organisations in nation-building; hence, his commitment to promoting dialogue among our ethnic nationalities.
President Tinubu wished the newly elected Ohanaeze Ndigbo president success as he takes on this onerous yet noble and lofty task.
The former Senator representing Rivers East at the National Assembly, Sen. John Mbata was elected at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly meeting held at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu on Friday.
With the election, Mbata would succeed Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, who was appointed to complete the tenure of the late Chief Emmanuel lwuanyanwu from Imo State.
He was elected by consensus in the election which was witnessed by the Governors of Enugu, Imo and Anambra States, as well as Senators Chris Ngige, Ben Obi, Victor Umeh and other Igbo dignitaries.
Prince Okey Nwadinobi from Abia was elected the National Deputy President while Chief Emeka Sibeidu from Anambra State is the new Secretary General of the Igbo group.
Chidera Anieke from Enugu State was elected National Treasurer, Ezechukwu Ezechi from Imo State was elected National Publicity Secretary while Okey Ugwu from Ebonyi State was elected National Legal Adviser.
The Position of the Deputy Secretary General goes to Delta State and others.
Speaking on behalf of the newly executive, Mbata thanked the outgoing President-General for his leadership style and his ability to handover and organise elections for the new executives.
While pledging to lead by example, Mbata called on the governors in the states that made up Ohanaeze Worldwide for support and collaboration to move the organisation forward.
