We have not adopted any presidential candidate for 2015, Says Ohaneze Ndigbo

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Politics Thursday, October 9th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

Contrary to speculations in some quarters that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has endorsed president Goodluck Jonathan for a 2nd term in office, the body Wednesday debunked the rumour, saying it has not endorsed any presidential candidate.

According to the organization, the Igbo race would take a common position on the 2015 general election after wide consultations with its people across the globe.

It said it has not adopted any presidential candidate that would be presented to Ndigbo for election next year.

Secretary General of the organization, Dr Joe Nworgu, who made the clarification when he received executives of Ohanaeze Youth wings, who were at his Enugu residence to present two buses recently donated to them, said that Ndigbo was not in a hurry to stand by any political party or candidate for the purposes of the presidency of the country next year.

Nworgu was responding to a request by the leadership of Ohanaeze Youths Wing, which solicited to be part of the consultation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo towards taking a position for Ndigbo in 2015.

He stated however that the Igbo umbrella body would not disappoint Igbo people, stressing that the way it consulted and supported the South-South during the 2011 general election would be the same way it would consult in the 2015 project.

His word: “When we finally move to announce our position on 2015 election, I will report back to the Ohanaeze your wish to join in the consultation, so that when Ndigbo have finished consulting, we will take a stand on 2015.

“But since our president, Goodluck Jonathan has gotten used to body language and it is now part of transformation agenda, as he consider, we shall also be considering.

“When the time comes and we have finished consultations, with your collaborations, the voice of the youths must be heard because the youth form 60 percent of the population.

“We the elders have had our time and we will take into cognizance your request. We know your antics and body language and we shall factor that in.

” We shall not let Ndigbo down the same way we took the decision in 2011 when we supported the South-South, we are still supporting the tenure of the South-South and after the South-South, it is the turn of the Southeast in unbroken succession”.

Speaking earlier, President of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said they were at the residence of the Secretary General to present to him two buses (a coaster and Hiace), received from the office of the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

He stated that the buses would assist the wing undertake effectively her assignments in Igboland, stressing that they had earlier met with the first lady where they engaged her on challenges facing the Igbo youths.

Isiguzoro said his leadership and entire Igbo youths would continue remain loyal and law abiding, as well as support every effort of the mother organization in repositioning Ndigbo to play leading and uniting role in the Nigeria project.