Atiku/Obi ticket: Ndigbo in 19 northern states, disown Okwukwu over apology

Members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have reaffirmed the endorsement of Atiku/Obi ticket in the 2019 presidential election.

A faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its embattled Secretary General, Uche Okwukwu  had last Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, apologised to President Buhari, over the comment credited to the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, endorsing the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

But in a in a statement in Abuja, the group consequently urged Ndigbo nationwide to “disregard and jettison the statements/apology made by Okwukwu to President Muhammadu Buhari during their visit to the president.

While reaffirming the endorsement of Atiku/Obi ticket by the apex leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbos in the 19 northern states urged Ndigbo to massively vote for them for the economic growth,  survival, security and progress of Nigeria and future generation.

The statement which was signed by Austin Amaechi and Luke Enelichi, President and Secretary, said the visit by the Okwukwu-led faction to president Buhari “was unauthorised and was carried out by unpatriotic Igbos. Therefore, the Igbos in the 19 northern states and Abuja totally dissociate ourselves from the infamous visit.

“It should be noted that the 24th January, 2019 endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a decision reached after wide consultations and meetings with the various strata of Ohanaeze structure and represent the true position of all Igbos in the forthcoming presidential election.

“As a matter of emphasis, the decision of Ohanaeze passed through all democratic processes from strategy and planning committee, visitations to all Igbo groups and associations in all major cities in Nigeria and subsequent recommendations to the National Executive Committee meeting and deliberations and final decision by Ime- Obi (Elders Council).”

“Therefore, it is misleading and regrettable for some persons to claim being schemed out of the decision process of the widely-acclaimed endorsement of Atiku/Obi ticket by Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” the statement reads.