Ohanaeze Denies Requesting Money to Support  Igbo Presidency

Ohaneze Ndigbo has strongly denied an allegation of demanding money to support the campaign for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.

The accusation was described as the “most fallacious, mendacious, and callous of all the falsehoods aimed at tarnishing the image of the Igbo, and morally reprehensible fabrication from the pit of hell,” by the organization.

Ohanaeze stated that it has made advocacy visits to many political and traditional leaders across the country on its own initiative, seeking support for a President from the South East of Nigeria.

Ohanaeze spoke as the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abia North, took a swipe at the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, saying that the race for Presidency in 2023 should not be reduced to a regional contest, just as he urged the Igbo not to make Presidency a regional issue, but to wait for their turn

He also stated that Tinubu’s presidency will benefit the Igbo more.

How Ohanaeze denies any payment demands.

According to the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, among the leaders who were visited were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III; E. K. Clark, Ayo Adebanjo, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the British High Commission, and many others.

Ohanaeze said this while denying allegations in a viral social media video that Ohanaeze Ndigbo demanded payments from one Comrade Kennedy Iyere in exchange for supporting the campaign for a Nigerian President from the South East. Ohanaeze claimed that such a thing never happened.

“Our attention has been drawn to a social media clip making the rounds indicating that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide demanded payments from one Comrade Kennedy Iyere as a condition to support a Nigerian President from the South East,” Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated through its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Chidozie Ogbonnia. This is the most deceptive, deceptive, and callous of all the lies intended to tarnish the image of the Igbo as the Judas category that values money over human conscience.

“On the advocacy for a president from the South East of Nigeria, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo took the message to all parts of Nigeria; including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III; Chief E K Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the British High Commission and so many other places. 

“The delegations comprised the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor; the former Presidents General, Chief Nnia Nwodo and Chief Gary Igariweh; the Secretary-General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay; National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia.

“Others include Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Professor Anya O. Anya, Chief Simon Okeke, and Professor Charles Nwekeaku, among others.

“Several other Igbo activists and interest groups such as Nzuko Umunna led by Senator Chris Anyanwu, Arc. Ferdinand Agu, among others, were  also at the forefront of the advocacy.

“On December 13, 2021, I addressed an Open Letter to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, reminding him that it is the right of the South East to produce a President for Nigeria and urged him not to contest the 2023 presidency on the grounds of equity, justice, and fairness. I also wrote Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, reminding him that the current Igbo travails are a result of our support for his candidacy in 2019.

“A simple search on the internet will reveal that Ohanaeze had made numerous press releases urging Nigerians and the international community to lend support to the quest by the South East for Presidency. Ohanaeze Ndigbo further propagated the advocacy to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders, SMBLF, led by Chief E K Clark, and Chief Nnia Nwodo as the Coordinator-General.

“Our gratitude goes to the SMBLF for their irrevocable position to support an Igbo of the South East for Presidency in 2023. Similarly, we thank Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for receiving us in his Abeokuta residence about three times. Above all, the Ohanaeze message has found expression, resonance, and traction in the irrepressible power that is inherent in the Nigerian masses”.

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