Bloodbath in Ebonyi as PDP, APC, NRM battle for Governorship: Igbo Mandate Congress Urges Restraint

Bloodbath and death toll is already mounting in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria  as the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, All Progressive Congress APC, Social Democratic Party SDP and National Rescue Movement NRM battle for who governs  Ebonyi State come May 29^th,2019. Igbo Mandate Congress had received reports from their coordinators in Ebonyi State that the death tolls in the past three months have reached twenty.

Two persons Igwe Ukwa and Egbe Oruke, were killed recently at Amagu, ward one, Ikwo Local govt area when the agents of the PDP and APC clashed. Twenty vehicles were destroyed and thirty houses in communities in Izzi local government when thugs of PDP and APC clashed. APC had alleged that soldiers and community vigilante groups are being used to harass and kill their supporters. 

Boycotting 2019 Polls is voting for Buhari-Ohanaeze tells IPOB

***accuses PDP Govs of working for Buhari

** Igbo Mandate Congress calls for harmonized position

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Council in Abuja have advised Nnamdi Kanu and the IPOB against boycotting 2019 elections, saying it is tantamount to giving the Buhari led APC another four years tenure;

Speaking with the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC,   Rev Dr Obinna Akukwe in Abakaliki  after convocation ceremony of Federal University   Ikwo, The Chairman of tthe Elders Council and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chuekawuemeka   Ezeife said that the position of Ohanaeze is that every igbo man should exercise his franchise.

Flaying the arguments of Nnamdi Kanu that elections should not hold in the South East, ‘Okwadike Igboukwu’ said that “if IPOB says they do not want Buhari, they should vote him out. If they boycott the elections, the status quo will remain and Buhari and APC will have a free ticket to the Presidency”

;Buhari’s re-election may disintegrate Nigeria- Ezeife

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Council in Abuja has said that the re-election of President Buhari may lead to the disintegration of Nigeria. The Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders  Council in Abuja and former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife stated this when some members of the Imeobi led by the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress , IMC, Rev Dr Obinna Akukwe paid him a courtesy call at Igboukwu  on Monday.

According to Chief Ezeife, ” Ndigbo believes in one Nigeria and we do not want this country to disintegrate  but a continuation of the present arrangement with all the numerous crisis across the country could lead to a situation whereby there’s no nation anymore, therefore let us preserve Nigeria first”

Ohanaeze Cautions Nnamdi Kanu over 2019 Polls Boycott

…Igbo Mandate Congress, Pastors League Cautions

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Council in Abuja last Wednesday cautioned the Director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for asking Igbos to boycott the 2019 Presidential elections. This was part of the resolutions of the Imeobi meeting of the Council of Elders held in Abuja last Wednesday.  The body opined that the call for boycott of polls by Nnamdi Kanu was plot to frustrate the Atiku-Obi ticket and deny millions of Igbos votes capable of giving victory to the opposition.

The body decided to send message to Nnamdi Kanu in his hideout in Israel not to be used by enemies of Ndigbo to fight the Atiku-Obi joint ticket. Ohanaeze expressed sadness that the choice of Peter Obi as running mate to Atiku Abubakar is meeting with unnecessary opposition within some sections of the Igbo elites. The case of the aggrieved Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was extensively discussed with tensions rising high during the meeting. Ohanaeze eventually resolved to send another delegation to Atiku commending his choice of running mate while the other delegation pacifies Senator Ekweremadu over his inability to be chosen to contest as Vice President.

Ebonyi: APGA Governorship Ticket Crisis Deepens as Ohanaeze Reacts

Ebonyi: APGA Governorship Ticket Crisis Deepens as

Ohanaeze Reacts

The crisis in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has shifted from Imo and Anambra States to Ebonyi State where members of the party have threatened to leave the party on the account of the inability to present a governorship candidate for the 2019 elections.

The party faithful and leaders in all the local government areas of the state have expressed willingness to follow their preferred candidates to another party if the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Oye fails to intervene. Speaking to the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC,Rev Obinna Akukwe  in Abuja yesterday, some leaders of the party in Ebonyi State claimed that they came to discuss with the leadership of another party in preparation for moving out en-masse.

The state executives of the party on the 24^st of September had in a letter of notification to INEC, National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, notified them of the impeachment of the State Chairman  Mr Ricky Okoro-Uka on allegations of working for the opposition, anti-party activities , selling of membership card for N5000 naira and converting the state apparatus to a family affair. The notice of removal was signed by members of the state exco including  Mr Emmanuel Edegri (Deputy Chairman) Aja Ogbonnaya (Secretary), Mrs Amata Ebebe (Women Leader), Anyigor Malachy ( Youth Leader) Otobo Jeremiah (Abakaliki LGA Chairman), Ogbonnaya Sunday Nweke (Afikpo LGA Chairman) among others while Chief Sunday Nwode was elected as the new Chairman.

The grouse of the party  members in Ebonyi State was that their preferred  candidate, a popular youth leader, Rev Paschal Gold Nwaigwe, who had spent considerable funds in reorganizing the party apparatus in Ebonyi State in preparation to challenge Governor Dave Umahi, was frustrated out of the party, on the alleged influence of the incumbent They claimed that APGA was among the parties the Governor allegedly bought over with N2million naira each in the state in the controversial meeting of all parties with Gov Umahi and that the said governor is manipulating the party in Ebonui State with the connivance of the national leadership.

The aggrieved party members told Igbo Mandate Congress IMC that Rev Paschal Gold Nwaigwe had already spent funds millions of naira in mobilizing grass root to support APGA . Rev Nwaigwe had earlier contested for the governorship of the state in 2015 under the platform of African Democratic Congress, ADC, where he placed sixth out of fifteen candidates.. The APGA faithful believe that the National leadership of the party should have given the ticket to the popular youth leader.

Igbo Mandate Congress IMC learnt that a patron of APGA and former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife had intervened in the Ebonyi APGA crisis by informing the National Chairman in a letter that’ it is very unfortunate that APGA has no candidate in a core Igbo State like Ebonyi” and implored the former to give the vacant ticket to Rev Nwaigwe  

A National Officer of APGA told  Igbo Mandate Congress that Rev Nwaigwe refused to pay the national body the N2million naira nomination form in full and therefore is not fit to fly the ticket of the party,

The development made some aspirants who earlier wanted to contest on the platform of APGA in the state to drop the party for other parties s to the extent that only five aspirants are contesting for the House of Assembly from the party while none indicated interest in either the Senate or House of Representatives.

APGA had got crisis in Imo State where the aspirants  including the immediate governor of the state, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, Chairman of ABC Transport Plc, Mr Frank Nneji, Hon Uche Onyeagocha, Chief Charles Onyeagboka, Dr Sam Amadi, Chief Bright Nwanne.

 Hon Daniel Kanu, Hon Nick Opara-Ndudu, Chief Okey Eze, Chief Humphrey Anumudu and Mr Stanley Amuchie, an astute banker who just resigned as group general manager, Zenith Bank Plc, cast a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman Chief Victor Oye , for conducting a kangaroo primary which trumped up Ifeanyi Ararume, who decamped from the ruling APC to APGA two weeks earlier.

 In Anambra State, APGA had been criticized for asking Chief Ifeanyi Uba and Senator Ukachukwu to stand down for Bianca Ojukwu, widow of Chief Emeka Ojukwu, erstwhile Biafran leader. While Chief Ifeanyi Uba moved to another party in frustration, Senator Nicholas  Ukachukwu ignored the party and contested for the primaries and defeated Ojukwu’s widow.

 The crisis in Anambra is not yet resolved. Bianca Ojukwu wrote off the recent events in APGA as unfortunate. According to Bianca  “As a member of this party’s board of trustees, I am deeply concerned that mercenaries would appear to have hijacked the operations of our party machinery. APGA is today facing an existential threat and the overall image of our party is in tatters.

Meanwhile Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Abuja has expressed worry at the crisis in APGA. For two consecutive times, the Imeobi have described the happenings at imo, Anambra and Ebonyi States as unfortunate and a disgrace to the Igbo race.

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Anambra Elections Buhari, Obiano, ,Ohanaeze and IPOB Battle for Supremacy

The undercurrents of today’s  elections in  Anambra State has promised to be a supremacy battle between President Buhari, Governor Obiano and Ohanaeze Ndigbo on one hand and Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)  on the other hand. While President Buhari and the federal government has mobilized over fifty thousand security personnel, including twenty eight thousand from the police, fifteen thousand from Civil Defense and three thousand soldiers on standby plus men of the secret service, DSS, deployed from some states, you have over fifty thousand for a single election. The purpose of these security personnel is to ensure that IPOB does not succeed In disrupting elections in the state thereby boosting the morale of Biafra separatist agitations.

The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano who is having tuning battle with IPOB in Anambra State. is on the same page with Buhari, but for a different reason.  While IPOB accused the governor of frequently inviting soldiers to kill their members, Gov  Obiano insists that he is protecting the state from hoodlums and criminals using IPOB as front to ferment trouble. While IPOB has vowed that there would be no elections in Anambra State, Obiano sees it as the work of political enemies who want to remove him from office through the back door using the separatist agitators as a front. Therefore when the South East Governors Forum proscribed IPOB, Obiano lent a willing voice.

Anambra Elections: Buhari, APC Disagree over Governor Obiano

President Muhammadu Buhari is still insisting that elections in Anambra State will be free and fair in line with the promises he made to Governor Obiano twice when the former visited him in Aso Eock, our contacts within the villa had insisted. The first visit to Buhari was on October 2^nd and was brokered by powerful elements within Daura  in Katsina State, the President’s home town who were convinced and induced that Obiano can be retained in Anambra State for security purposes. These elements helped broker the first meeting where Buhari told Governor Obiano that he is not particular about who wins the elections.

Days later, we were told that another more private meeting ensued between Buhari and Obiano and the sacked SGF,  Babachir was present. Governor Obiano raised concerns about issues bordering on INEC neutrality and change of security personnel and Buhari promised that nothing will railroad a free process.

Governor Obiano had earlier met with Mamman Dauta, Buharl’s influential nephew who advised that the former joins the APC to make his return as Governor easier. Governor Obiano was said to have initially replied that he would rather pack his load and leave governors lodge rather than abandon APGA  later promised to give the idea a second thought. However, when the APC campaign for  Tony Nwoye kicked off and enemies of his ambitioby elements  were blocking mobilization of funds for his campaign, the medical doctor activist was given a cold reception especially by powerful elements within APC including Tinubu  camp  because they believe that an accord that Obiano will move to APC after winning elections has been reached already and any support for Nwoye is waste of funds.   

Anambra : Ohanaeze Youths, Igbo Mandate Congress Tasks Buhari, IGP on Free Elections

Anambra : Ohanaeze Youths, Igbo Mandate Congress Tasks Buhari, IGP on Free Elections

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth in Anambra State has tasked the Inspector General of Police on free polls in Anambra State. Speaking with the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC, Rev Obinna Akukwe at Awka today, The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council in Anambra State, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu said that despite the disturbing news of change of Governor Obiano;s Security aides, what concerns Ohanaeze is that the elections will hold in a peaceful manner in the state.

Mazi Okpalaezeukwu said that “the police should not use their might and presence to harass, intimidate or favor any candidate. The youth also should not provoke or incite  the police to acts of  violence and  mayhem  on voters Those who have PVC’S and willing to vote should be protected to exercise their franchise while those without PVC’S should stay at home to avoid trouble”

The Ohanaeze youth leader in the state said that Ohanaeze cannot come out openly to support any candidate in the polls but they are working with the relevant security agencies to ensure that Anambra State is not turned into a theatre of war. They also want to ensure that the people’s votes count.

Ohanaeze , South East Governors Lauds Ojukwu’s Courage Over Biafra

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lauded the courage of Odumegwu Ojukwu before, during and after the civil war and tasks Igbo leaders on unity. This was part of the speech delivered by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo on Tuesday at the Posthumous Birthday in honor of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariate, Enugu.

Chief Nwodo lauded the late Igbo leader as a principled , committed and dogged man who stood and defended his people when it mattered most.

The Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi described Ojukwu as a brave example of leadership in the midst of adversity. Speaking through the Commissioner of Education who represented him at the event, Chief Umahi said that the South East Governors are willing to do everything possible to keep the memory and spirit of the Ikemba alive. He thanked the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Leadership Foundation (COOLEF) for organizing the event and promised the support of South East Governors.

Anambra Guber: Ohanaeze Denies Backing any Candidate, Warns Against Fictitious Groups ....Igbo Mandate Congress Supports Fair Polls

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied backing any candidate for the gubernatorial polls in Anambra State scheduled for November 18th. They have also alerted Governor Obiano of the existence of spurious groups bent on fleecing the Governor of various sums in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

This was made known by the Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Comrade Chuke Ibegbu while briefing the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC. on the official stance of the foremost Igbo Socio-cultural group on the forthcoming polls .

 

Comrade Chuks Ibegbu told Rev Obinna Akukwe,Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress and chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that “the primary concern  of Ohanaeze Nddigbo is for there to be free and fair election in Anambra State, The President General and members of National Executive Committee are concerned about free polls in Anambra State”. Comrade Ibegbu stated further that “ Ohanaeze has within its fold members of all political parties and as such cannot come out openly to support any candidate, however, it reserves the right to give direction to the Igbo race if the need arises and that direction can come through the President General , therefore anyone purportedly supporting any candidate without the clearance from Ohanezze NEC is only seeking for financial aggrandizement”