The leadership of Ohanaeze in Bayelsa on Sunday dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of former Vice President Atiku Abubarka who visited the state in June to canvass support.

Ohanaeze noted that it was against the objectives of the pan Igbo Socio cultural group to delve into partisan politics and described the alleged endorsement as a disgrace to Igbos.

Caretaker Chairman of the group in Bayelsa, Chief Nlem Mark, made the clarifications on Sunday at Imiringi Bayelsa during a reconciliatory meeting with local chapters of Ohanaeze in Ogbia Local Government Area.

He said those who purportedly endorsed Atiku when the Peoples Democratic Party was yet to pick its presidential candidate were imposters and political jobbers whose sole aim remained monetary gains.

According to him, the action was carried out by discredited and suspended members led by Chief Chinedu Amaku who along his cohorts parade themselves as leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting signed by Mark and Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, leader of Ohanaeze Youth Wing in Bayelsa, it urged the Bayelsa government to sever links with the imposters.

According to the group, the suspended members were boasting that they were enjoying the recognition of the secretary to Bayelsa government and were working to sabotage the efforts of Ohanaeze National Executive.

“The claim that the secretary to Bayelsa government was the force behind their actions is regrettable, if it is true, it leaves us to assume that they were behind the disunity which our elders are working to end.

“It would be recalled that President General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, me Gov Seriake Dickson to introduce the authentic leaders of Ohanaeze in Bayelsa during the restructuring rally organised by Pan Niger Delta Forum.

“Nwodo had urged the state government to work in harmony with the caretaker committee pending elections.

“We, therefore, wonder why some appointees of the governor chose to align with suspended members to sabotage the Nwodo led leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“We, therefore, urge the Bayelsa government to intervene by calling their appointees to order before their actions would lead to breach of the existing peace,” the communiqué read in part.

The group noted that the protracted leadership crisis was retarding the progress of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Bayelsa and was delaying the release of a bus donated to the group by the state government.

It restated that the group was solidly behind Bayelsa government in making the Bayelsa a safer and better place to live.

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