Dr. Chike Obidigbo, a prominent APC chieftain, has warned South East governors against imposing their preferred candidates and introducing partisanship into the election of new executives for the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
In a statement issued yesterday, Obidigbo stressed that the zoning of the next President General to Rivers State presents a golden opportunity to reform Ohanaeze’s leadership. He recalled the controversies surrounding the election of George Obiozor-led executives in 2019, which were marred by accusations of imposition and disqualification of candidates. Obiozor’s successor, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, passed away before completing his term, leading to the nomination of Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu to oversee the upcoming election.
Obidigbo emphasized that since Rivers State does not have an Igbo governor, South East governors should allow indigenous Igbos in the state to have a say in selecting presidential candidates for the election. He warned that any attempt to impose a candidate or politicize the election should be condemned.
“The last four years have shown that Ohanaeze is overdue for reforms, he said. This is the time to begin rebranding and restoring the organization’s credibility. Ohanaeze began losing respect when politicians, especially governors, started influencing its leadership. This must not happen again.
Obidigbo also criticized the politicization of Ohanaeze, which began when the organization started endorsing candidates for national elections. He called for the next leadership to resist the temptation to support any political party or candidate. In a democracy, individuals should vote freely without the influence of any group or individual, he stated.
He emphasized the importance of electing leaders of integrity into Ohanaeze and noted that funding for the organization should come from the Igbo people, not state governors. Obidigbo concluded by expressing hope that a leadership rooted in transparency and accountability would revitalize Ohanaeze and allow it to regain its influence and respect among Igbos.