As aspirants kick
Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Senator John Azuta-Mbata from Ikwere, Rivers State, was Friday elected as the new President General (PG) of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.
Mbata emerged through a consensus arrangement brokered by the governors of the South-East states led by its Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
Meanwhile, other aspirants in the election were angry over the manner the process was carried out as they claimed they were neither consulted before the consensus nor allowed to partake in the process.
Speaking during the occasion, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Govovernor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State congratulated Mbata on his emergence.
Uzodimma said, “I speak for myself and on behalf of other Governors in Ohanaeze States.
“We congratulate Ndigbo for the new dawn, the harmonious manner, quality of organisation and the conduct we witnessed in this convention since we arrived Enugu.”
“We also agreed to make it worthy of the dreams of the original founders and to discourage all forms of rascality, bad behaviour and conduct among the elected members and members of Ohanaeze.
“We will encourage those things that bring us together and shun those things that divide us as a people.”
According to him, the governors of the Ohanaeze states have agreed to work in unity to move Igboland forward.
“The governors want Ohanaeze to unite as a family to look for homegrown solution to our problems,” he said.
On his part, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, host of the meeting, stressed on the need for a strong and united front by Ndigbo, urging all to put the Igbo interest above narrow interests and partisan politics.
Mbah noted that the socio-political circumstances that gave birth to the pan-Igbo body remained relevant in present-day Nigeria as they were in the 1970’s
He extolled the leadership pedigrees of Igbo leaders such as Dr Michael Okpara, whom he said demonstrated so much could be achieved when patriotism, altruism, and sense of brotherhood were at the core of leadership.
“We may be gathered here for the crucial task of electing members into the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, but this epic event yet offers a room for introspection, regarding the noble vision that inspired our forebears towards its founding.
“The ties that bind us run deep and transcend geographical boundaries, for we are bound by a common history and cultural heritage.
“Our forebears clearly understood this. They understood, as well, that unity is a formidable force.”
However, a Deputy PG aspirant, Mazi Chuks Ibegbu, has rejected the outcome of the election held on Friday, describing the exercise as a sham and a daylight robbery.
He said that the exercise was an imposition and a rape of democratic process.
He said that the suspension of Ohanaeze constitution by the organisers to pave the way for consensus was an aberration.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, an enraged Ibegbu vowed to challenge the exercise in court.
He said it was unacceptable that after paying N400,000 to purchase form, the candidates were sidelined.
“I was given the impression that I was coming to contest election.
“I bought form, N400,000, only for me to come here and they started carrying some names around
“There were delegates, but they did not vote. On what basis did they arrive at the names they announced.
“I didn’t say there should be no consensus, but you should inform me before buying the form, not after I have spent money, perfectly screened, then you excluded me. Give me back my money,” Ibegbu said.
