Crisis has engulfed the Abia State chapter of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as members of the body, under the auspices of Concerned Ohanaeze Ndigbo Leader’s Network(CONLN), Sunday, called for the resignation of the State President, Elder Rowland Ajuzieogu.
The members accused Ajuzieogu of pocketing N5 million given to the group by the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu as contribution for logistics for the holding of 2017 Igbo Day celebration.
They alleged that the President had pocketed the money after the event failed to hold in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state as planned.
The members equally accused Ajuzieogu of endorsing aspirants in Abia for the 2019 election without consulting the entire leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
The 1st National vice President of Ohanaeze, Mr. Nnamdi Onwunle, and other stakeholders of the group made this known in a press conference held in Umuahia, the state capital on Sunday.
He decried the dictatorial leadership of the President, which he claimed had portrayed the apex Igbo body in a bad light.
Onwunle said, “We are asking him to toe the path of honour by relinquishing the office of the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Abia.
“He lacks the competence, morality to be there. He should account for the N5 million he collected from Governor Ikpeazu for the holding of 2018 Igbo Day which did not hold.
“The President has been meeting politicians without the consent of other members of the Executive. Recently, he visited a guber aspirant, in the state, Uche Ogah, and endorsed him for the seat of Abia governor in 2019 election.
“He was offered more N6 million for the endorsement. We call on him to resign or face suspension for his corrupt act”.
Reacting, Ajuzieogu, in a phone interview with DAILY POST on Sunday night, dismissed the allegations.
He said, “No such thing happened. Mr. Nnamdi Ayo Onwunle is the state 1st vice President. And last year, there was no Igbo day. I did not collect any N5 million from the Governor.
“On the issue of endorsement, my dear brother, the governor himself, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is instrumental to my becoming Ohanaeze President. And He has so much encouraged my administration.
“We visited Dr. Uche Ogah on 1st of September. Mr. Onwunle was also part of that very delegation. It was entire executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that visited Ogah.
“What we discussed with Uche Ogah was on the restructuring of the Nigeria federation which Ohanaeze is clamouring for. We visited him to tell him that restructuring is the way to go.
“So, the allegation that I collected N6 million from Dr. Ogah and endorsed him for the seat of Abia governor in the upcoming election is baseless and untrue”.
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