A major disagreement has broken out among Igbo leaders on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition.

Some Igbo leaders met on November 14, last year to “adopt” Atiku, who is running on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

But the apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has distanced itself from the alleged endorsement of Atiku for the February 16 election.

The one-day summit on November 14, last year, in Enugu, endorsed Atiku because of what it called his disposition to restructuring the country if voted into office.

At the one-day summit, elder statesman Prof. Ben Nwabueze, 86, called on them to “do me the honour of achieving the success of the (Atiku/Peter Obi) ticket before I am gone”.

“We must ensure the survival of the Igbo race in Nigeria and it is only through the success of that ticket that we can get it”, the law professor said.

Nwabueze, who chaired the meeting, explained that the ticket would “ensure our survival”.

The meeting was attended by the PDP leadership, including Atiku, his running mate Peter Obi, Senate President Bukola Saraki and others.

But the group clarified its position yesterday through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary Chuks Ibegbu at a news conference in Enugu.

It was at the second anniversary of the incumbent Ohanaeze executive led by Chief John Nnia Nwodo.

Ibegbu said the clarification became necessary following misconceptions of the event, adding that the said endorsement was done by the friends of Atiku, insisting that the organisation had not endorsed any particular candidate.

He said that Ohanaeze needed to be circumspect, “as our children are in all the political parties”.

Ibegbu said: “It is erroneous to say that we endorsed Atiku. Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not endorse anybody. That meeting at Nike Lake Resort was organised by friends of Atiku.

The group’s spokesman said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been canvassing for our people to identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power.

“We still stand on that and in the next few days, we shall meet to take a holistic position on the elections. However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power.”

On the achievements of the group in office, he said: “Within these two years, we have given our modest contribution to the re-jigging of Igbo leadership and leveraging of Igbo issues in Nigeria.

“Some of our modest achievements serially include: The restoration of the dignity of the Igbo race in Nigeria and across the globe, the building of bridges with other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

“The initiation and pursuit of the restructuring of Nigeria, a position that has now become a national mantra; the promotion of Igbo language culture and heritage

“The establishment and promotion of Ohanaeze Ndigbo activities at local, state, national and diaspora levels.

“The diplomatic and deft handling of such explosive issues as ‘Quit Notice’ to Ndigbo by Northern Youths, the pro-Biafra agitation, the Fulani Herdsmen/Farmers crisis in Igbo land, the Operation Python Dance issue and many other threatening issues that would have snowballed to a national disaster.

“This leadership was able to build synergy with its affiliate groups like IDA, IWA, WIC, Aka Ikenga, Izu-Umunna, Njiko Umunna, Igbo Media Forum and other Igbo organisations to leverage Igbo Unity and development.

“This leadership encouraged unity and synergy among Igbo Governors and political actors for the overall interest of Ndigbo.

“This regime has put in place a formidable Youth and Women Wings for the organisation.

“We want to thank the media for your support and assure Ndigbo that we shall in the rest of our remaining two years, do our best to give Ndigbo a committed leadership.

“The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Barr. John Nnia Nwodo, thank the media, our fraternal brothers, associations and organisations, our affiliate bodies, youths, women, students, governors, political leaders and all Nigerians and wish all a happy New Year and hitch-free election 2019.”

Ibegbu noted that within the two years in office of the Nwodo led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, “we have given our modest contribution by re-jigging Igbo leadership and issues concerning our people”

He said the leadership of the organisation had built synergy with its affiliate groups with a view to achieving unity in among the neighbours.


Culled From The Nation Newspaper


http://thenationonlineng.net/atiku-not-candidate-says-ohanaeze-ndigbo/

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Atiku the rogue is being rejected by all and sundry, except the children of hate and perdition.

Lol and some flatoscopic elements will wanna break their keypad over this fugitive

Abegi whatever names una dey call my amiable president na una dey suffer am he's still gonna padle naija canoe till 2023

Say starboy
Say jibrin
Say lifeless
Say bubu
Say Buhari till 2023

SMH..