The chief executive officer (CEO) of Atlas Oranto Petroleum Ltd., Arthur Eze, has donated N100 million to Ohaneze Ndigbo, an apex Igbo Socio-cultural body.

This is contained in a statement by Alex Ogbonnia, the national publicity secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Monday in Enugu.

Mr Ogbonnia said Mr Eze announced the donation while speaking to an assemblage of Ndigbo at Imo State Government Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, on July 10, lamenting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, should be funding its activities from its pocket.

He said Mr Eze had stated that Mr Iwuanyanwu had paid his dues to the Igbos in diverse ways beginning from the war times.

He added that Mr Eze equally commended the development agenda as articulated by Mr Iwuanyanwu on how Igboland can be transformed using the Igbo natural endowments and creative potentials.

Mr Ogbonnia said the oil icon supported the vision of Mr Iwuanyanwu on how he would lift Ohanaeze from its present habitat to a glorious and enviable pedestal, where it can command the followership and loyalty of all Igbos, both at home and in the diaspora.

“He pledged N100 million to the body, which he redeemed when he visited Iwuanyanwu in his Abuja residence,” Mr Ogbonnia said.

Mr Eze assured that he would continue to lend support to the Iwuanyanwu-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Mr Ogbonnia said receiving the money, Mr Iwuanyanwu was very delighted with Mr Eze, whom he qualified as a trailblazer; a worthy Igbo son who was always actuated by a deep sense of empathy, affection and an over-flowing kindness.

Similarly, Mr Ogbonnia said that a good-spirited businessman had also donated a set of seats to Ohanaeze Ndigbo national secretariat while another prominent Igbo son provided a space to Ohanaeze when they were in Lagos on a visit to the Alaba tragedy and many others.

He explained that the former Governor of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, started a gigantic project at the Ohaneze Secretariat, adding that the list of all the benefactors would be made public at an appropriate time.

“While we wait for the day of reckoning, Ohanaeze cannot withhold an immense gratitude to Gov. Hope Uzodimma for his relentless support to the organisation.

“Iwuanyanwu added that while Uzodimma was in the Senate, he was the only Igbo senator amongst his colleagues that looked the way of Ohanaeze.

“Ohanaeze tried to cope with a peculiar paradox that owes quality service to the entire Igbo, while only a few consider it a duty to support the organisation,” Mr Ogbonnia said.

(NAN)