Ohanaeze At 50: AI-KO’s Insider Story

 By Ochereome Nnanna

I first met Russia-educated Agbeze Ireke Kalu Onuma (AI-KO) in 2002 when I went to an Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo event in the Enugu residence of retired Justice Eze Ozobu. He had just emerged as the President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a young Abiriba man involved in the affairs of Ohanaeze. Usually, it was the elderly ones such as retired Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe, Prof Anya O. Anya, Dr Mang Egwuronu and a few others that mingled with the leadership of the group. On getting acquainted, Agbeze and I immediately became friends. We later went to the residence of his uncle, Dr Egwuronu, a Russia-trained pharmacist and avid historian. They come from a prominent Abiriba family.

June 12: Celebration Of Yoruba Triumphalism Or Righting Historical Wrong

By Ikechukwu Amaechi

My “June 12: I Still Remember” article last week elicited, expectedly, diverse responses. The annulment of the election and the consequent turmoil remain very emotive issues. What the responses prove most conclusively is that President Muhammadu Buhari remains a very polarising leader. And he profiteers from that. Sadly. I will come to that shortly.

*MKO Abiola

A quarter of a century after the annulment of that historic poll and 20 years after the death of the winner, Bashorun MKO Abiola, President Buhari sprang a political surprise on many penultimate week by declaring subsequent June 12 anniversaries Democracy Day and honouring Abiola with the highest national award – Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

My article, though an endorsement of the president’s action, was issue-specific as captured in the last paragraph which read: