Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied backing any candidate for the gubernatorial polls in Anambra State scheduled for November 18th. They have also alerted Governor Obiano of the existence of spurious groups bent on fleecing the Governor of various sums in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
This was made known by the Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Comrade Chuke Ibegbu while briefing the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC. on the official stance of the foremost Igbo Socio-cultural group on the forthcoming polls .
Comrade Chuks Ibegbu told Rev Obinna Akukwe,Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress and chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that “the primary concern of Ohanaeze Nddigbo is for there to be free and fair election in Anambra State, The President General and members of National Executive Committee are concerned about free polls in Anambra State”. Comrade Ibegbu stated further that “ Ohanaeze has within its fold members of all political parties and as such cannot come out openly to support any candidate, however, it reserves the right to give direction to the Igbo race if the need arises and that direction can come through the President General , therefore anyone purportedly supporting any candidate without the clearance from Ohanezze NEC is only seeking for financial aggrandizement”
Concerning the lingering issue of groups claiming to be under the aegis of Ohanaeze Ndigbo collecting all sorts of support funds from the APGA Campaign Office, Comrade Ibegbu told Rev Akukwe that such groups except one, is neither known to Ohanaeze Ndigbo nor got any clearance from the President General before using the term groups under Ohanaeze and cautioned that anyone dealing with them is doing so on its own. According to him “Ohanaeze will make known its stance on Anambra elections any moment from next week but the stance will still be that Anambra people will be allowed to vote the candidature of their choice”
Igbo Mandate Congress IMC learnt that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is embarrassed that some groups unknown to them , all owned by a former Ohanaeze exco member including Eastern Youth Forum, Ofuma Women Organization, Continuity for Leadership and Empowerment, ,Ezumezu Omambaka Di Igbo Egwu ,Igbo bu Igbo for APGA –Obiano-Okeke, Citizens United for Reconstruction and Equity, Citizens Reconstruction Initiative among numerous others all owned by one peron have siphoned various sums of money from APGA Campaign Office in the name of groups under Ohanaeze when no single member of Ohanaeze NEC is aware of it.
Meanwhile Ohanaeze Ndigbo is holding a post-humous birthday colloquium for the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu on Tuesday the 7th of November at 10am prompt at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat, Enugu. The theme of the colloquium is ‘Using the Philosophy of the Ikemba to Build a Just and Equitable Natio’ The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be the Chief Host while Ambassador Onyegbula and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa will be the Chairman and Co-Chairman respectively. Other speakers at the event include chief Arthur nwankwo, Chief Chudi Offodile, Chief Emma Okocha, Chief Chudi Osuagwu and Chief Obasi Igwe. The earlier date of 4th November was shifted due to local government elections holding on the same date of late Ikemba’s birthday. The Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Comrade Chuks Ibegbu said that the event is another way of keeping the spirit of Ikemba alive and asked all to come to the event venue to honour the late Igbo leader.
In another vein. Igbo Mandate Congress has called for fair polls in Anambra State. This was part of the meeting held at Awka on Friday. to avail the group of the situation in Anambra State.The meeting also resolved to ensure that people come out to vote for candidates of their choice without any fear or harassment. IMC had mapped out strategies to achieve the aims in concert with other like minded groups.at both national and regional levels.
