Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that its position on the 2023 General Election and the outcome including as it affects the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has not changed.

This came as some stakeholders have expressed dismay over how the name of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation was frequently linked to “condescending, debasing and baseless media reports.”

Ohanaeze has repeatedly stated that some individuals who had nothing to do with its leadership faked and pretended to be representing the body.

Although, the group had previously disclaimed such impersonators, including getting a court judgement against them, the new President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu at his maiden press conference in Enugu, on April 30, said they would be dealt with.

Regarding news reports credited to one Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who claimed to be Secretary General of Ohanaeze, purporting that the apex Igbo body was ready to fully participate in Tinubu’s inauguration, the organisation indicated that it was still waiting for the outcome of the petitions at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Ohanaeze alongside the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), had endorsed the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, ahead of the February 25 election.

Denying their purported inclination to the former Lagos State Governor, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia said: “It needs to be emphasized that Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not wax eloquent on partisan politics, except when it becomes exceedingly necessary; and does not in any way begrudge or antagonise any Igbo for choice of political party, personal or group political ambition but to implicate Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in personal pecuniary interest is not only unethical, despicable and unscrupulous but in all ramifications, connotes a criminal intent. We have severally appealed to the social deviants that the Igbo, all over the world owe a profound emotional attachment to their apex socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and as such our sacred identity should not be desecrated on the whims, caprices and immediacies of the uninitiated.”

He regretted the embarrassments that were often caused the public by the maladjusted attention seekers that deployed the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in most detestable and deplorable proportions.

On Friday, March 10, 2023, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo obtained a court order restraining Chidi Ibe, Prince Richard Ozobu, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and others from parading themselves as representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Justice Uchenna Mogbo of the High Court of Enugu State, further declared that the “purported parallel election of the officers of the National Executive Council (NEC) of Ohanaeze conducted in Enugu State at the instance of the defendants is illegal and un-constitutional.”

“Since the March 10 court injunction, the Isiguzoros have been in hiding and Ohanaeze pleads information for their whereabouts,” Ogbonnia said.

Also, some Ohanaeze stakeholders clearly warned Chief Chidi Ibe and Isiguzoro who parade themselves as factional President General and scribe, respectively, to stop impersonating leaders of the body.

They blamed an unnamed former governor from the region for sponsoring those that are allegedly stoking non-existent crisis in Ohanaeze.

In a communiqué released by their spokesperson, Ndubuisi Igwekani, after their meeting in Aba, Abia State, they said it was wrong to hand over the affairs of Ohanaeze to governors to decide who becomes the President-General, against all due process.

“We must support Elder Iwuanyanwu, to redeem Ohaneze’s image by conducting a smooth election after his tenure, since he has been produced by the Imo State Chapter, to complete their tenure. We must equally support him to keep throwing his weight around Mr Peter Obi, in the struggle to reclaim his stolen mandate,” Igwekani stated.

He accused Ibe and Isiguzoro, of going about, fanning support for Tinubu and selling their future for money in the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo to the detriment of the entire Igbo race, and advised them to stop forthwith or be ready for a showdown with the stakeholders.

Igwekani further said: “This is the last warning we’re giving them. They can’t be using Ohanaeze as a mercantilist movement. We know they’re political jobbers, but they should create another group for that.” (Saturday Sun)

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