The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in Akwa, the Anambra State Capital, on Tuesday, endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the February 14 presidential election because it believes he is more likely to implement the national conference report.
Speaking to Journalists at the end of a meeting, the President of Ohanaeze in the State, who is also the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo State Presidents Forum, Elder Chris Eluemunoh, said that the seven presidents-general of the seven states that make up the Igbo nation which include, Anambra – Elder Chris Elumunoh, Enugu – Dr Eric Ebeh, Imo – Dr Ezechi Chukwu, Abia – Chief Emmanuel Oparanta, Ebonyi – Mr Pius Nwankwo, Rivers – Prince Igo Okparamma and Delta – Elder Ifeanyichukwu Onwukamike, resolved to endorse Jonathan because of the need to implement the National Conference recommendations since he was the initiator of the conference, which they said would unite the country.
In a communiqué signed by the seven president-generals, the Forum posited that since the All Progressives Congress, APC, opted out of the conference, it means that the initiator, President Jonathan would be voted to implement it.
According to them, “considering the realities of the forthcoming 2015 general elections, Ohanaeze Ndigbo State Presidents forum, has objectively made a critical assessment of the scenario and our findings revealed that the implementation of the just concluded National Conference resolutions is both timely and necessary for the sake of equity, fairness and common good of all Nigerians as an entity”.
They said “since the Confab is the brainchild of President Jonathan, it is then logical and impressive that he is the one that would be desirous to implement the said confab resolutions rather than any other candidate.
“In view of the foregoing the Ohanaeze state presidents’ forum therefore endorses President Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential elections and urges all Igbos in the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja to vote massively for him”.
On the alleged tenure crises rocking the apex Igbo body, they stated that Chief Enwo Igariweh and Dr Joe Nworgu remain the President-General and Secretary-General respectively, adding “we disassociate ourselves and condemn herewith illicit and inordinate activities of Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and his cohorts in their bid to undermine the integrity of the duly elected National Executive Council (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo”.
They hinted that Chief Mbazulike lacked the locus standi, statutory legitimacy and moral wherewithal to decimate or truncate the constitutional four year term of the Igariweh led executive.
They said, “Mbazulike is neither the leader nor spokesperson of Ndigbo and should refrain from parading himself as same”.
According to them, “Mbazulike and cohorts are running the risk of extensive sanctions from Ohanaeze Ndigbo if they do not desist from their well-established antithetical utterances and inimical activities geared toward denigrating the present Ohanaeze Ndigbo NEC and the corporate integrity of Ohanaeze”.