As individuals jostle to succeed Barr Nnia Nwodo as President General of the Apex Igbo socio- cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo youths, under Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), have warned governors of South East to stay clear as any attempt by them to rig the election would be vehemently resisted.
The youth gave the warning through the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka .O. Igboayaka, while inaugurating the new leadership of OYC, Imo State chapter in Owerri.
Igboayaka called on Nnia Nwodo led leadership to look inwards as to reduce the N500,000 form for President General position for the election to N50,000 to enable credible persons purchase the form and contest in the election, positing that anything less than that would be totally opposed by youths.
According to him, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, “President General position should not exceed N500,000. This is a calculated attempt to deny credible people the chance from contesting and possibly winning the election. It is clear that politicians are planning to rig the election to satisfy their whims and caprices. But they will not succeed because we are watching them carefully”.
The youth maintained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General should be fearless, be an incorruptibly fully blooded Igbo who has the spirit of love and patriotism, having “Igbo interests as his priority with a view to restoring the lost glory of the people”.
The youth said they will not accept any person who is being influenced by politicians as President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, regretting that it was “wrong that some unpatriotic Igbo leaders go to Abuja to seek permission to lead Igbo. We say no to such obnoxious and undemocratic leadership which had retarded the political and economic progress of Igbo race”.
The youth stated that “we are rejecting the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Electoral Committee. We cannot accept a questionable character that was imposed to man the election. Only truth can prevail to set us free. The constitution of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo was written by few to satisfy their selfish interest just as the constitution of Nigeria which favors only few individuals”.
While frowning that the Governors’ list of delegates to the election would not hold, Igboayaka harped that the election rigging strategy of #250,000 registration by members to qualify as delegates to the election was unacceptable, appealing to the apex body of the organization to constitute a committee that will conduct a credible election, warning the Governors that rigging is not going to be business as usual
However, the Patron of OYC, Barr Ndukwe .O. Ndukwe, who frowned at the political marginalisation of Igbo, advised youths on hardwork and entrepreneurship to succeed.
In his inaugural speech, Imo State chapter President of OYC, Comr. Chinaka Joseph Chinedu, promised the new leadership would discharge their duty creditably to achieve objective, stating that OYC does not “want characters of Imo politicians to disorganize us. Igbo leaders are going backwards, Igbo youths should go forward. Youths should not indulge in act that could jeopardise their future. Shun being used as a political tool to destroy the society”.
