BY EBERE EKECHI
The race for Ohaneze Presidency has intensified, with under currents, emerging dynamics and intrigues shaping the presidential election of the organization scheduled to hold in January 2021.
The inauguration of the Electoral Committee which was to be held last week was put off, raising concerns that all is not well following allegations that the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo presidential race is being tele-guided to favour a particular candidate to the detriment of other contestants.
But a chieftain of Ohaneze who spoke on condition of anonymity said all is well, revealing that the inauguration of the Electoral Committee was postponed to next Sunday by the President General, John Nnia Nwodo.
“There is no crisis over the electoral committee. Its inauguration was just postponed for Sunday, 20th December, 2020. There is no crisis over that whatsoever.
Imo State is due to produce the next President of the organization in line with the rotation principle of the pan Igbo apex socio political organization.
The adoption of Prof. George Obiozor by ‘stakeholders’ in Imo State for the plum job, had elicited reactions from other contenders from the state, who felt it was the handiwork of the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to install his choice candidate for the position.
Aside Obiozor, other contestants such as Dr.Jeo Nworgu, Chief Chris Asoluka, and Dr. Chidi Osuagwu are also in the race.
The adoption of Obiozor had raised dust amid fears that the outcome of the election is pre-determined “to satisfy some interests”
This newspaper was told that Obiozor’s adoption does not mean other candidates vying for the position will not participate in the election.
“Obiozor’s adoption as candidate of Imo State for Ohaneze Ndigbo Presidency does not mean other aspirants from Imo State eying the position will not participate in the election. The contest is open to all of them.
“The propaganda bandied against Obiozor are all lies. He is not representing the interest of anyone or group as falsely reported in the media, but you cannot tell me that someone who was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Isreal and Cyprus, is a pushover, or a nobody in this contest.
“Though all the candidates are qualified, but Obiozor stands out, and he has done a lot for the Igbo nation which so many people seem not to know.How did Late Ojukuwu return to Nigeria after the war. Who was behind it?
“And when you speak of adopting him as sole candidate from Imo state, there was a process that led to his adoption which other aspirants were privy to. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was the one well placed to carry out the adoption because he is the Chairman of the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Elders Council.
Inside sources in the camps of other aspirants argue that the Elders led by Chief Iwuanyanwu should not have not gone into “selecting or adopting any candidate for the position since all the aspirants vying for Ohaneze Ndi Igbo presidency are from Imo State. Iwuanyanwu is from Imo State. He should have played the role of a father and not to adopt anyoen
“Since the presidency was zoned to Imo State, all the aspirants from the State should have been allowed to contest without giving preferential treatment to a particular candidate” one of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
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