Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo, on Thursday said it would be too early to pass judgment on the current leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo over its presumed silence in fully endorsing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi.
Nwodo stated this at the 3rd edition of the Ikengaonline town hall meeting where he discussed issues of leadership in Igboland and the political survival of the South-East zone ahead of 2023.
He was of the view that Ohanaeze under the leadership of Ambassador George Obiozor, was a little silent and diplomatic on Obi’s candidature, so as not to project Obi as an Igbo agenda rather than a national issue.
The former Minister of Information insisted that Ohanaeze had earlier endorsed Obi together with three other prominent groups, PANDEF, Afenifere, and the Middle-Belt Forum.
He said: “Obiozor is a little silent and diplomatic. He does not want Obi to be seen as an Igbo thing or an Igbo irredentist. So, don’t pass judgment on Ohanaeze; it might be too early, four groups which include the Ohanaeze, PANDEF, Afenifere, and Middle Belt Forum, have all endorsed Obi.”
Nwodo also reacted to the statement credited to the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubarkar, when he came to Enugu State to meet with South-East stakeholders of the PDP, last Tuesday, wherein he (Atiku) said he would hand over to the South-East region after his tenure.
“First of all Atiku is expected to advertise himself. It is for us to understand what he is saying. Atiku has been there as Vice President and contested the position of the presidency several times and he thinks we should wait after the North has occupied that position for several years. I don’t support that statement by Atiku,”Nwodo vehemently stated.
He also bared his mind on what he thinks usually makes it difficult for the Igbos to support one of their own as regards the 2023 politics.
“Most of the people at home are vulnerable because of the economic situation once you give them something they dance to your tune. However, if the economy is changed from consumption to production it will go a long way in helping us.”
