NIGERIA – Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi accused the president-general of Ohanaeze NdIgbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor, of playing politics with the clamor for Igbo Presidency.
Governor Umahi alleged that Obiozor ought to have been a rallying point for Igbo rather he took the path of politics against the interest of NdIgbo.
The governor made the disclosure while addressing Ebonyi people, who received him in Ebonyi, after the party’s presidential primary election, added that he was dissatisfied with the political actors from the South East Zone, for not justifying the agitations against the marginalization of Ndigbo.
“Prof. Obiozor could not stand for Igbo when it mattered so much, it is a very big shame, I have no confidence in him and he is no longer my President. In the comity of South East, Ebonyi people are not regarded; I continue to say that Ebonyi will never be Biafra. I weep for our leaders; we are now regarded as people that will sell anything for the sake of money. It is about equity, justice, and fairness upon which I continue to shout for the unity of this country.”
Reacting to Umahi’s allegation, the national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, said the organisation would not comment on the matter.
He said, “No comment for now.”
But Umahi commended the delegates from Ebonyi State for their loyalty and commitment towards to the struggle for Igbo Presidency and liberation of Ndigbo from the stronghold of marginalization.
“First, let me say to Ebonyi people, you are wonderful people, the presidential election was a great eye-opener to every son and daughter of Ebonyi State and with your support, we fought very gallantly. I had a series of meetings with the party’s chairmen in the five states of the zone in the company of its national vice chairman. I implored on the delegates that the issue was not about me but the mood of the Igbos in the nation. I implored that they should vote for any South East aspirant so that when the votes are counted, we would not be missing. We would have made a strong statement in the process that the Igbos are eminently qualified with due capacity to lead the country. There was no sort of lobbying I did not receive but I maintained that it was about bringing the marginalisation of the Igbos to the fore. The setting of the nation is well skilled against any contest for Igbo man, while every zones have about eight states or more and South East has only five, how do you expect an Igbo man to win a contest under this kind of arrangement?”
Governor Umahi further expressed regrets at the conduct of delegates from other South East states who sold their votes to willing buyers, instead of standing in defence for the call for the Igbo Presidency.
“I am the governor of Ebonyi State, the only agenda I have for South East now is the Ebonyi Agenda, I continue to say that he who sells his brother, even the buyer will not trust him. Anyone that fights against the interest of Ebonyi people in the South East, I will fight the person publicly. Ndigbo, get your PVC and bond together, you have seen that nobody wants you anymore, we have the fighting spirit and the spirit of our founding fathers have been rekindled to fight for us. When honourable people are needed in the South East, they will come to Ebonyi State, everything is not money.”
