Zonal leaders of Ohanaeze in South South, South West and
Northern states on Sunday frowned at their exclusion from the New Year visit to
President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
The Zonal leaders
in a joint statement issued in Yenagoa urged President-General of the parent
body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief John Nnia Nwodo to sanction those behind the visit
as it did not follow set rules.
The aggrieved chapters said that one Kingsley Chiedozie,
a Deputy President of Ohaneze Youth Wing unilaterally led some persons to the
visit without regard to the procedures of the youth body.
According to the statement signed by Chief Chinedu
Arthur-Ugwa, South South, Chief Obinna Nwankwo, Northern states and Mr
Alexander Ezeobi, South West Coordinators, they were not party to the visit.
“We wish to draw the attention of all Igbos that the
persons who visited the Presidential Visit under the guise of Ohanaeze Youth
Wing acted on their own in their personal capacities and do not have the
backing of Igbo youths.
“It is regrettable that some individuals chose to work
against Ohanaeze Youth Wing disguising as leaders of our group for selfish
gains ahead the 2019 elections even though the group is non partisan.
“The authentic leadership of Ohanaeze Youth Wing
Executive led by Chief Arthur Obiora was not part of the visit and the
President General of our parent body Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo neither endorsed
the visit.
“We also note that Chiedozie who had disrespectfully made
unauthourised comments on the stand of Ohanaeze on restructuring as he was out
of sync with the parent body should face disciplinary actions and sanctions.
“It is our position that they acted in their personal
capacities because we have yet to take a position on the forthcoming general
elections and the position of Ohanaeze as a non-partisan socio cultural group
is sacrosanct.
“We further appeal to our President General to inaugurated
the newly elected President of Ohanaeze Youth Wing Chief Arthur Obiora to
prevent imposters who parade themselves as leaders of the group from misleading
the public,” the statement read in part.
The group maintained that sidelining the leadership of
the group was an indication that those behind the visit were driven by selfish
gains and not the general interest of the Igbos.
They said that there was need to prioritize, consult
widely amongst the zones and agree on
issues to be tabled before the federal government at such meetings and
regretted that no such steps were taken.
According to them Ohanaeze Youths residing outside Igbo
land remain loyal to the parent body under Nwodo’s watch and await his
intervention to avoid leading Igbos astray in the political turf
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