OYC elects National Executive Council

Newly elected president of OYC, Comrade Igbiayaka O. Igboayaka, speaking at the 2019 national conference

The umbrella body of youths of Igbo extraction, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has elected a new national executive council to pilot the affairs of Igbo youths for the next three years.

OYC also revealed plans for the establishment of four functional seaport across Igboland to ease importation by Igbos who they said are the highest importers of goods in the country.

At its 2019 National Convention which took place at Dragon Events Centre Enugu on Saturday, 11th May 2019, OYC leadership argued that the sooner Nigerian government corrects the injustice meted out to Ndi Igbo by establishing these seaports, the better for Nigeria and its develoment.

The new president, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka who presented his acceptance speech revealed that the lack of seaports in Igboland was deliberate but can be reversed: “Ọhaneze Youths Council will ensure that we have a functional seaport in Igboland. In Anambra State, there is a river in Osokwa, Ihiala town called Orashi. It connects to the Atlantic Ocean by just 18 nautical miles

“In Abia, there is the Azumini River which is just 25 nautical miles to the Atlantic. Also at Ndoki East is a river that is 30 nautical miles to the Atlantic.

“We have the one at Bonny, the one at Onne too but it’s unfortunate that the Nigerian government is making use of the ones in Lagos that is almost 60 nautical miles.

“If these rivers are dredged, shipping your goods from abroad to Nigeria, it will take just two or three weeks for you to clear your goods whereas it takes months to achieve same in Lagos.

“I want to tell you people that there is a deliberate conspiracy against Ndị Igbo and this is the time for Igbo people to rise and speak, this is the time for OYC will partner with Igbo business men and other leaders and tell them the need for us to have these seaports in ala Igbo. I believe that this is the anchor of our development. I want to inform you today that if you go to Lagos, they are comfortable.

“When ex president Obasanjo seized the allocation of Lagos State, Tinubu told him, we don’t care about your allocation because Lagos can survive without it. This is because of the seaports in Lagos, and I want to inform you that 65% of those doing business in Lagos are from Igbo. So if we have these seaports, we will fasttrack development in Igbo land.

He also promised that his tenure will unite Igbos wherever they are: “We will wake up from this conspiracy and come to our root about the of Igbos in Egbema, Ecthe, Omuma, Ndoni, Ikwerre, Ekpeye, Obigbo, Ogba, Elele and Ndoki all in Rivers State. We will come to the knowledge of the truth that Igbos are not only in Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta and Rivers, but in Benue, Kogi, Edo, Cross River and Akwaibom States.

“Obviously we will take the social gospel of Igbo Origin/indigenous and identity to our Igbo brothers and sisters at Aniocha, Amoma, Ika, Oshimili, Ndokwa, Ukwuani, Asaba in Delta, Osekwenike, Abuetor Eke, Okpokri in Sagbama Belyesa state. We have discovered the foundation of history to accept our Igbo brothers and sisters in Abi Local Government of cross River were Dr Liyel Imoke came from former governor of cross-river state.

“We will embrace our Igbo brothers in Benue and Kogi States, including Umuezeohaka, Ibaji, Igalamela/Odolu Local government, Eke Avurugo community, Nwaja,Umuoye, Ubulie-Umueze, Ozara and others.

Other speakers who made their voices heard at the convention incude Mazi Ozoani Nnadozie, Mazi Okoro Monday, Comrade Onwuamaegbu Chidiebere, Ifeanyichukwu Igwesi, Maduabuchi James and Ogbonna Princess. Others include the BOT Chairman, Comrade Christian Chidi Ihea, Chilos Godsent and Dr Jerry Chukwuokolo.

High point of the convention was the swearing in of the new executive, which include Igboayaka O Igboayaka (president), Chinweuba Oluchi Claire (Vice president), Dr. Nwanaga Gift Chinemerem (Secretary), Chinonso Alozie (publicity Secretary), as well as Igweali Robinson (financial Secretary).