Jonathan picks presidential nomination and expression of interest forms
A plan by the Ohaneze Ndigbo to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office failed on Sunday.
Although the issue of 2015 election was on the agenda at a meeting held by Ohaneze, leading members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the United Progressives Party, UPP, kicked against the idea of endorsing any candidate.
The meeting, known as “Imeobi”, the highest decision making body of the apex Igbo Social Cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, would have been used to endorse President Jonathan.
Present at the meeting were a PDP Chieftain and one of those that spearheaded the endorsement of Jonathan by Ohanaeze in the last presidential election, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a stalwart of the PDP, Senator Hope Uzodinma who had insisted in the meeting that Ohanaeze should not be completely left out of politics, former Ohaneze President General, Dr Dozie Ikedife, first republic parliamentarian, Chief Mbazuruike Amechi, Chief Chekwas Okories, among others.
DailyPost learnt that some PDP chieftains are seriously pressurising the leadership of Ohanaeze to endorse Jonathan for the 2015 Elections.
Speaking at the meeting, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Igariwe had told members of Imeobi, including politicians who attended the meeting that he deliberately included “Ndigbo and 2015 Presidential Election” to attract prominent people to the meeting.
He, however, said he had continued to insist in his previous speeches that nobody had been endorsed by Ohaneze Ndigbo for the 2015 presidential elections.
Igariwe said they would continue to carry out consultations, noting that candidates of different political parties had not even emerged, hence the need to continue consultations.
He, however, assured that when the time comes for endorsement of any candidate, they would consult and know the next line of action to take.
“Ohanaeze has not endorsed anybody and that is the truth, we are still consulting. Candidates have not even emerged from any political party”, he stated.
On the insecurity challenges facing the country, Igariwe said there was need to look into the plight of Igbos in the areas captured in the some parts of the North.
He expressed dismay that those in the captured areas, who were willing to come home, were yet get means of transportation.
A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress and serving senator, Chris Ngige, who also spoke at the meeting had advocated the insulation of Ohaneze from partisan politics.
He recalled that Ohanaeze suffered in the past when a candidate it supported for the presidential election failed and advised Imeobi members not to make a similar mistake.
Ngige insisted that since the body had own its sons in the different political parties, there was need for the apex igbo body to be insulated from partisan politics.
He, however, stated that he did not attend the meeting because of the presidency issue, saying he came because he got an invitation from the leadership of Ohaneze.
Also opposing the moves to endorse Jonathan, the founder and National Chairman of the United Progressives Party, Chief Chekwas Okorie commended the President General of Ohanaeze over the mature way he handled the issue, adding that though political parties and their candidates had right to say their opinions, Ohanaeze should not toe the same path.
UPP had earlier zoned its presidential ticket to the South-East, while the APGA is supporting President Jonathan.
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