EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan N3Bn Endorsement Bribe Tears Ohaneze Ndigbo Apart

Posted by African Examiner Exclusive Reports, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu – Another round of war has enveloped the crisis-ridden apex Igbo socio cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, over the sharing formula of the alleged bribe money given to the body by president Goodluck Jonathan for the endorsement of his 2nd term ambition.

Aside the sharing modality wahala, our Correspondent gathered from a source close to the Igbo umbrella body, that its leadership, has drawn a battle line with a chieftain of the organisation, and member of the ruling peoples Democratic party, PDP from Imo state, who claimed to have facilitated the prompt release of the largesse, as he allegedl short-changed the members.

The Source also alleged that the self acclaimed facilitator of the induced money, had bluntly refused to declare the real amount handed over to him on behalf of the organisation by a presidential aide from one of the South east states.

However, African Examiner, learnt that following the suspicious manner the PDP chieftain handled the issue, some members of the body embarked on a secret investigation via office of the 1st Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

The Investigation according to the source, revealed that the amount released to the maverick politician cum Ohaneze chieftain name (withheld), was about 3 billion naira.

Besides, the investigation, also showed that the PDP chieftain, was accompanied to the presidential villa by a notable traditional ruler in Imo state, an aide to president Jonathan, from Anambra state, as well as a serving senator from Imo state.

Hear the source: “Our investigation shows that the money was given to them in foreign currency”

“But after all said and done, and in order for us not to loose out completely, the Ohaneze leadership, had no option than to share the amount declared among all the affiliate bodies of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

It was equally gathered that while some of the affiliate associations under Ohaneze got between 2 to 3 million naira each, those whose loyalty to the embattled president General, Garry Igariwe is in doubt received 1million and 800,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, some concerned Igbos, who spoke to African Examiner on condition of anonymity in Enugu on the issue, described it as quite unfortunate.

Hear one of them: “It is quite unfortunate that every political dispensation, the leadership of Ohaneze, will

use Ndigbo to enrich their personal pockets through cheap endorsement of presidential candidate of the ruling party”

“If you recall, the leadership of former president General of Ohaneze, professor Joe Irukwu, did same thing during the failed 3rd term ambition of ex- president Olusegun Obasanjo”

“They betrayed Ndigbo that time and supported the failed unpopular 3rd term bid of Obasanjo, after collecting huge amount of morning,

“so my brother, it is quite unfortunate that those always are piloting the affairs of the Igbo umbrella body, Ohaneze are people without conscience and integrity”

“As I speak to you, there is serious problem in Ohaneze over this short changing issue, and we must get to the root of the matter” the source vowed