OHANAEZE ‘IMEOBI’ MEETING NOT TO SABOTAGE PRESIDENT BUHARI’S CAMPAIGN RALLY,SAYS NNIA NWODO

OHANAEZE ‘IMEOBI’ MEETING NOT TO SABOTAGE PRESIDENT BUHARI’S CAMPAIGN RALLY,SAYS NNIA NWODO

 

The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief John Nnia Nwodo has debunked allegations that the caucus[IMEOBI] meeting of the organization scheduled for today,January 24 at the National Secretariat of the organization,located at No 7 Park avenue Enugu is deliberately fixed to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, also today.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Chief Nnia Nwodo made the clarifications yesterday while reacting to a publication in some national dailies[THE AUTHORITY not involved] that it’s Imeobi meeting fixed for today is a deliberate act to sabotage the APC presidential rally. A chieftain of APC in Enugu state Prince Richard Ozobu,who equally is a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was quoted in some national dailies of yesterday to have made the accusation against Chief Nnia Nwodo led Ohanaeze leadership.

But in a swift reaction yesterday afternoon, Chief Emeka Attamah,the Special assistant to Ohanaeze Ndigbo President Chief Nnia Nwodo,described the reports credited to Prince Richard Ozobu as very misleading and dampening the image of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,which is the apex body of all Igbo socio cultural organization, in it’s resolve not to be a machinery for politicians.

‘Part of the press statement which was made available to a news agency reads,’ The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has been drawn to a mendacious news item that Ohanaeze Ndigbo deliberately fixed the January 24th Imeobi meeting to clash with and sabotage the camapign tour of the APC presidential candidate for the forth coming election,President Buhari to the South East’

Chief Attamah said such an ‘insidious allegation was outside the disposition and character of a hallowed Igbo apex cultural organization’

He stated further, ‘The truth of the matter was that the INEC of Ohanaeze has chosen the date for the meeting oblivious of the campaign time table of the ruling APC party’

He explained that eventually when the Minister of labour and productivity,Dr Chris Ngige and the Chairman of South East Governors forum,Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state drew the attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership to the APC Presidential rally also scheduled in Enugu today, the organization shifted the Imeobi meeting from ten O’clock[10am] in the morning to Four o’clock [4pm] in the evening. Not minding the inconveniences it would cost on it’s members who would have preferred to return to their various destination if the meeting would have commenced at 10 am as already scheduled.

The press statement further reads,’ Although Ohanaeze Ndigbo is apolitical,it could aggregate to collective interest of Ndigbo for a candidate that answer to their wish and inclination but won’t be dragged down to the level of vile politicking’.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the press statement cautioned on the perpetrators of such allegations against the organization to desist forthwith,stating Ohanaeze Ndigbo under the leadership of Chief Nnia Nwodo will remain focused and wishes President Buhari a joyous visit to the South East.

In another development, the National Executive Council[NEC] of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the second time has passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the organization under Chief Nnia Nwodo.

The vote of confidence was reiterated after their meeting in Enugu yesterday,Chief Emeka Attamah stated in another press statement made available to a news agency.

According to the Press statement, the motion for vote of confidence on Chief Nnia Nwodo based on his performance in the past two years was moved by Chief Alex Ogbonnia, the President of Enugu state chapter of the organization who stated, ‘Chief Nnia Nwodo has re positioned Ohanaeze to become the most focused cultural organization in the country’

Chief Ogbonnia described Chief Nnia Nwodo to have built biges across the nation,a feat that aimed him the ‘ Daily Independent Newspaper’ award of a ‘Bridge Builder’ He also commended Chief Nnia Nwodo as the most outspoken leader of the people on the issue of restructuring the country,which he believes will liberate Nigeria from it’s present myriad of problems.

His Delta state counterpart,Dr Sylvanus Ebugwei while seconding the motion for vote of thanks on Chief Nnia Nwodo’s credible performance in the first two years as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the organization have not had it so good in terms of direction like under the present regime of Chief Nnia Nwodo.

In his response,Chief Nnia Nwodo thanked the NEC of Ohanaeze for the confidence reposed in him, assuring that the remaining two years of his leadership will be more fruitful.