Ohaneze to choose presidential candidate to support in 2 weeks

It was both speculative and erroneous for anybody to say that Igbo leaders rejected Ohaneze Ndigbo’s moves to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for second term as president of the country.

The Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu stated in a chat with newsmen in Enugu, that the organization was still consulting on the presidential candidate to support.

“This is a malicious and mischievous reportage of what occurred at the Imeobi. No such event took place because the question of endorsement was not on our table. What we said as the agenda showed was ‘Ndigbo, Otu Olu’ (unity). The drive was for unity so that when we strike out, we strike out with one voice, that was the essence of that meeting. The meeting was not set out to endorse Jonathan,” he said.

On when Ohanaeze would pronounce its preferred presidential candidate, Nworgu said: “We are about concluding with consultations. We will soon meet with the traditional council of Ndieze. When we consult with the traditional council of Ndieze, we will make a statement on behalf of Ndigbo.

“We already know the trend and probably in the next two weeks, Nigerians will know where Ndigbo stand on presidency. They are saying we should not take a stand that Ohanaeze is non-partisan, but I will say that Ohanaeze is non-partisan if the Igbo on their own are involved; once it is within a federation like Nigeria with so many ethnic groups (inter-ethnic), we will then take position on behalf of our people.

At state levels, governorship, National Assembly, local governments, we will not support any party, but we will take a stand on the presidency because it affects us.” He, therefore, said Ohanaeze was surprised and shocked to hear that Igbo leaders rejected its move to endorse Jonathan.

“The report stated that there was a motion moved by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu during the last Imeobi held at the secretariat on January 3 (Saturday), claiming that Chief Iwuanyanwu moved a motion for the endorsement of Jonathan and it had no seconder. These are people who were not even at the meeting. “Iwuanyanwu did not move any motion even though he was in the meeting. Iwuanyanwu’s only contribution was that he was part of the four-year tenure movement and that it was effectively amended through the processes established by the current Ohanaeze constitution.