By Victor Nwachukwu
A factional President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Chidi Ibe, has described the endorsement of elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu for the same position as “laughable”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is the apex sociocultural organization of the Igbo people.
Ibe, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo, said this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Friday.
He said that having been duly elected on Jan. 9, 2021 and given a Certificate of Return by Chairman of the electoral panel, Richard Ozobu, he (Ibe) remained the President-General until otherwise decided by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to him, there is a pending matter bordering on the rightful leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo between him and the late Prof. George Obiozor, erstwhile President-General, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, waiting for the determination of the court.
He warned those endorsing Iwuanyanwu for the position to desist from preempting the court but to allow the court decide who the organisation’s rightful leader should be.
“ The office of President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is not vacant, I remain the authentic occupant of that office unless otherwise decided by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“ As we speak, the matter, Chidi Ibe versus Prof. George Obiozor (now late) is still pending and we are asking the court to determine who the rightful President-General is, “ he said.
On the upcoming governorship election in Imo, Ibeh said that it was time for Imo East Senatorial District to produce a governor, having been denied the office for a long time.
He advised Gov. Hope Uzodimma to jettison the endorsements coming from his “praise singers and honourably step down from the race in the interest of equity “.
“ Imo West Senatorial District has produced two former governors, Chief Achike Udenwa and Sen. Rochas Okorocha and now there’s a third, Sen. Hope Uzodimma.
“ While Imo North district produced Chief Ikedi Ohakim who was governor for four years, Imo East produced Chief Emeka Ihedioha who governed for only seven months.
“ It is therefore imperative, in the interest of justice and equity, for the next Imo governor to come from Imo East Senatorial District,“ he said. (NAN)
