By Adadainfo
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Sunday, disclaimed inviting presidential candidates of Labour Party, Peter Obi; Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, to a reported Igbo Day.
Ohanaeze was reacting to a release claiming the Igbo socio-cultural organisation had invited the trio ‘to grace the 2022 Igbo Day celebrations as special guests’.
The publication alleged that Ohanaeze ‘will adorn the candidates with special titles’, and also offer ‘special prayers’ to them.
Ohanaeze described masterminds of the release as ‘mischief-makers’.
The clarification was contained in a release by the national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.
According to Ohanaeze, “It is a strange political intrigue to adorn three presidential candidates or rivals ‘with special titles’ and also to offer ‘special prayers for the three presidential candidates’.
“This is the height of treachery for which the Ohanaeze Ndigbo should never be associated with. The foregoing fraudulent activities by a few mischievous Igbo dissidents have been variously condemned by eminent Igbo stakeholders.
“The worst recrudescence is the satanic bait with which some loose academics are attracted to the impostors.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor calls on the unsuspecting public to ignore the charlatans who misrepresent the hallowed name of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization for narrow, selfish and stomach infrastructure.”
Obiozor, in the statement, reminded the general public that Ohanaeze Ndigbo ‘does not engage in frivolities and childish display on serious issues of national interests’.
The release added, “The three presidential candidates are hereby advised to keep a safe distance from the social climbers, tricksters, shameless impostors and mischief-makers.
“Most unfortunately, the characters involved in the fake Igbo Day are those who are still fascinated by the unfortunate, infamous, ignoble and odious roles they played in the offices they held in the apex Igbo organization for over ten years ago.
“We once again appeal to the mischief-makers to appreciate that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide represents the history, emotions, collectivity, spirituality, unity and strength of the Igbo nation and that the Igbo, all over the world, owe a profound emotional attachment to their apex socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
“It is in the best interest of the elevated Igbo minds that our sacred identity should not be desecrated on the whims, caprices and immediacies of the unrepentant blackballs.”
Ohanaeze consequently enjoined the governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Abia State, Comrade Okey Nwankwo, ‘to ensure that those maladjusted attention seekers are given the appropriate treatment they deserve in the event they insist on their usual unscrupulous penchants’.
