Ohanaeze denies fixing meeting to frustrate Buhari’s Southeast campaign

APEX Igbo socio-cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo has dispelled insinuations that it intentionally fixed its Ime Obi meeting for January 24 to clash with President Muhammad Buhari’s visit to the Southeast.

The organisation said its attention was  drawn to “a mendacious news item that Ohanaeze Ndigbo deliberately fixed their January 24 Ime Obi meeting to sabotage the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the forthcoming election, President Buhari, to the Southeast.”

A release by the Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Chief Emeka Attamah, frowned at such an “insidious allegation” which, he said, was outside the disposition and character of such a hallowed group.

Attamah stated that the truth of the matter was that the National Executive Council (NEC) ofOhanaeze Ndigbo had chosen the date for the meeting oblivious of the APC campaign time-table.

He explained that in deference to the Minister of Labour & Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor  Dave Umahi, who both called his (Nwodo’s) attention to the clash, the group shifted the time for the meeting from 10am to 4pm on the same day at the instance of Dr Ngige.

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Ohanaeze stated that they were aware of the extra cost implications due to those that would have gone but would now be accommodated in hotels but said it was to give all Igbo sons and daughters scheduled for the meeting opportunity to be there.

The statement added: “Although Ohanaeze Ndigbo is apolitical, it could aggregate the collective interest of Ndigbo for a candidate that answers to their wish and inclination but won’t but be dragged down to the level of vile politicking.”

It called on the purveyors of such petty innuendos to desist forthwith as Ohanaeze Ndigbounder the leadership of Chief Nwodo would remain sterling and unimpeachable and wishes Mr. President a joyous visit to the Southeast.