A major stakeholder and a chieftain of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr Ezechi Chukwu has said vehemently that a Northern body, the Myetti Allah cattle breeders Association has no political right to determine who becomes the next president of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
Dr Ezechi Chukwu, chairman of the Igbo apex body, made this opinion in Owerri, Wednesday during a meeting of the body, ahead of the forthcoming presidential election of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
He however, advised indigenes of Imo state to shun missives purported to have emanated from the Myetti Allah in respect of the choice of a single candidate for the presidential position through the peaceful and wise understanding by the people of the state.
The organization has also denounced what it described as malicious and Libelous articles by a few individuals against indigenes of the state over the choice of the president general of the socio cultural organization.
Dr Ezechi Chukwu the president of the organization in the state said that ,“the Igbo umbrella body is worried by the torrents of the diatribe against such individuals as professor George Obiozor, governor Hope Uzodinma, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and even president Muhammadu Buhari, regretting that it is only in Igbo land that a leader of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s stature could be abused and insulted for no just cause.
Dr. Ezechi Chukwu who spoke to newsmen in Owerri said that following intimidating number of aspirants jostling for the position of president general, of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leadership of the body in the state, in harmony with the elders and leaders resolved to come up with a committee for the emergency of a single, candidate in the state.
According to him, The meeting which involved various interest groups such as the religious institutions 2 apex chairmen of council of traditional rulers, 3 leaders each selected from the 3 senatorial zones were held without the consent of governor Hope Uzodinma and was sponsored by Chief Iwuanyanwu in his capacity as the chairman of the council of elders of Ohanaeze Ndiegbo.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftain explained that a good number of the contenders later withdrew from the race voluntarily upon getting wind that Prof. Obiozor was equally contesting.
According to him, after a thorough examination Prof. Obiozor was unanimously accepted as the best candidate for the position.
“Infact, what we did in Imo state on the selection of president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a replica of what happened in Enugu when Chief Nnia Nwodo was chosen in Enugu but to our greatest surprise here in Imo state some people have gone to the extent of presenting letters purported to be from Myetti Allah in respect of this wise and peaceful understanding by the good people of Imo State.
Insisting that there was no external influence from any quarters on the choice of Professor Obizor as the preferred candidate, Ezechi Chukwu said that the decision was done in good faith for the well being of the people of the state.
