marcdunu:

South East is badly in need of an Alex Samond of the Scotish National Party

Someone who know what they are doing who will promote Igbo agenda through democracy and politics not violence.

Someone who can transform the aspiration of Ndigbo into achievable targets like liaising with the Minister For Commerce and Industry to introduce business policies that will safeguard all Nigerians doing business in any part of Nigeria and prevent this culture of bigoted Governors maltreating traders without compensation in the name of regeneration.

Create agencies where Businessmen can go ask questions about the position of the law on their plans on development or expansion of their business. Not peoples livelishoods being destroyed later merely because Business owners were ignorant of the law.

chyz:

I think they are on a mission to resurrect the Igbo State Union but of course under the name Ohanaeze. Which isn't a bad Idea if handled right. The Igbo State Union was one of the most feared political/socio-cultural organizations in Nigeria. We are at a time where Igbo so-called "leaders" are selling us out for their own interest which is Presidency. To me, Igbos don't need to be focusing on presidency, it is not important at the moment. They need to be focusing on unity such as banding connecting igbo businesses together economically, building a strong political front for the Igbo, protection of all means for the Igbo ,in every part of Nigeria physical protection(arms) and Legal protection, et al. It seems that Ohanaeze is on that path. If they did endorse him it would have been out of Igbo interest and not out of the desperate need of an Igbo president.

Andre Uweh:

The Igbo state Union is not dead, it is this same Ohanaeze you hear everyday. Igbo state union was banned by Ironsi regime as well as other cultural associations. But in 1970, Dennis Osadebe and others regrouped and renamed the association Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo.
Oha (Igbo people)--represented by Uwaechue.
Ndieze (the Kings) represented by Obi Chike Edozien.
It is similar to British model of House of the lords and house of the commons.
I do remember ASUU when banned resurfaces as AASU OR ASU etc.

ChinenyeN:

If this is the case, then they must let an Igbo socio-political organization do that; not a socio-cultural one. It's out of place.
Hmm. . . So, Ohanaeze has since been a political group, masquerading as a socio-cultural organization?

ChinenyeN:

If this is the case, then they must let an Igbo socio-political organization do that; not a socio-cultural one. It's out of place.
Hmm. . . So, Ohanaeze has since been a political group, masquerading as a socio-cultural organization?

ChinenyeN:

Oh well, I have my own thoughts and feelings about all of this, but they mean next to nothing. So I guess I'll just have to be on the lookout to see how things end up.

marcdunu:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201010070682.html

Don't Endorse Any Presidential Aspirant, Group Warns Ohanaeze
Tony Ita Etim
7 October 2010

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Enugu — IGBO Students Association has advised Ohaneze Ndigbo not to endorse any presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections.

The admonition was contained in a press statement signed by Eric Udeh, Emenike Duru, and Uchenna Achike: President, Vice President and Secretary of the student body respectively.

The students warned that any attempt by Ohaneze to endorse any candidate would only polarise Ohaneze and recalled that "Four years ago, the third term agenda almost destroyed both Prof. Joe Irukwu and Ohaneze itself. No endorsement, please."

According the statement, "The Igbo Students Association notes with dismay, the untidy way Igbo leaders are going about campaigning for various presidential aspirants without considering our plight as future leaders.

"Unemployment, insecurity Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), strike and poverty is dealing with the South East heartlessly while some Igbo leaders are busy mortgaging away our future in Abuja."

The group bemoaned lack of coordination of Igbo leaders and observed that while some had endorsed the incumbent President others were locked out in Owerri.

"We ask wither Ndigbo? What is in it for Ndigbo? What promises have our leaders extracted from the man they have endorsed?", queried the students.

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They wondered "Do they plan on giving away Igbo support for free? When will they negotiate with Ndigbo? We hope that a rumour of an impending Ohaneze endorsement of a particular candidate is not true. Ohaneze is not a political party, Ohaneze has no business endorsing presidential candidates."

The students demanded that all presidential candidates to negotiate with Igbo leaders what Ndigbo would get in exchange for their support and whether the presidency will come to Ndigbo.

Ileke-IdI:

Sometimes I just think ppl they knw what they want. When someone created the above article topic, a lot of the posters in here supporting Ohaneze actually supported the "do not endorse any presidential candidate". So much for the voice of the youth.

Ileke-IdI:

False.

Ileke-IdI:

Sometimes I just think ppl they knw what they want. When someone created the above article topic, a lot of the posters in here supporting Ohaneze actually supported the "do not endorse any presidential candidate". So much for the voice of the youth.

ChinenyeN:

Technically, it would be true. One individual's actions make less than a marginal difference, technically, talk less of thoughts & opinions.
Exactly what crossed my mind when I read some initial responses to this topic.

Andre Uweh:

@Maimalari: Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo is not an association of 5,000 people. It is the all encompassing association of over 40 million Igbo people worldwide.

Akanbi_edu:

Assuming this is true.

If this endorsement is about protecting the interests of the Igbo during the tenure of GEJ, the Ohaneze's decision may be right.

If it is about getting the presidency after GEJ's tenure, they are clearly wrong. This decision only takes care of short term interests.

The ohaneze better back the decision up with prayers that the SW doesn't swing the other way, it will be too bad.

Onlytruth:

I wouldn't think that Ohanaeze or Jonathan is really counting seriously on South west votes to win this election.

My educated guess is that Jonathan wants to win South East, South South, and North Central. He would then turn South West into a battle ground where he will get some votes . If he does these, he will win.

The most strategic zone in the forth coming election is the South East.

Again, Jonathan may be in possession of true population figures of Nigeria (not the fake being bandied for years). He may know where the population lies.

So, this endorsement is big deal.

As for Igbo interest in Nigeria, I really think it goes beyond the presidency. For now, we need more states and true federalism with equitable distribution of political offices and federal projects, eg. roads, airports, Niger bridge etc.

chyz:

Lets not forget the millions of igbos that live in the north thats even more votes for GJ. You are very correct about the population. Do you have any idea when the next census is suppose to take place?

asha 80:

Onlytruth and chyz abeg correct me but i have this feeling that population in south east might not be as big as we expect because of our migratory nature. 
I am not too sure about thick poluation in the south east 

asha 80:

Onlytruth and chyz abeg correct me but i have this feeling that population in south east might not be as big as we expect because of our migratory nature.  
I am not too sure about thick poluation in the south east  

Onlytruth:

Exactly!

The funny thing is that he does not even need to win the extreme northern states. All he needs is to win 25% in each of those states (which is possible in that context).
I don't know when the next census will be, but he already has things like national identity card data captured during the last exercise. He can make all the necessary deductions and projections from there.

chyz:

Census is what we need to checkmate as a major priority.Its way more important than worrying about an Igbo president at 2015. Also bored security to prevent these northerners from bring in their brothers from niger,chad, and cameroon to come and vote. i believe the best time to have the census is around christmas times because thats wen all igbos go home.

Onlytruth:

I would agree, and add that proper national "information and truth gathering" is what Jonathan should concentrate on if he wins. There has been too many lies told for 50 years. If we know the truth, solving Nigeria's problems will become a breeze.

chyz:

Yes, obasanjo refused to allow the census to be based on tribe so that the igbo will not come out on top. If it is based on tribe then it will be no need to have the census taken on christmas.However, border tighting must be checked be for census at least a year before. If we get this checked cone 2015 we can come with full force with are consensus Igbo presidential aspirant.