2023: Igbos have not endorsed any candidate in Rivers — UIC, Ohaneze
Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
As battle to occupy political offices in Rivers State and indeed across Nigeria for the next political dispensation of the country’s democracy thickens, the United Igbo Community (UIC), Rivers and Bayelsa States in collaboration with Ohaneze Ndigbo, a socio-political umbrella of the Igbos have come to say that they have not endorsed any politician for the forthcoming general elections.
This clarification was made Saturday in a joint press briefing of UIC and Ohaneze Ndigbo in Port Harcourt, to debunk claims by some people they referred to as unknown group led by one Chief Uchenna Okokoba, who announced recently that the Igbos have endorsed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Sen Magnus Abe as sole choice of Ndigbo in the March 11, 2023 gubernatorial election in Rivers State.
First to speak was President General of United Igbo Community (UIC), Rivers and Bayelsa States, Evang, Comrd Julius Uchenna Uzoma, who was categorical that the Igbos have not endorsed any candidate, ehether Magnus Abe or anybody in the forthcoming general elections in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
“We are here today to speak as Ndigbo in Rivers State. Everybody here is a leader in different capacities. Igbos have no division in Rivers State. The Igbo students’ leaders will be held accountable for any breach in the tertiary institutions.
“We are here to refute the purported endorsement of Sen Magnus Abe of SDP as sole governorship candidate in Rivers State by an unknown group who claimed to be speaking for the Igbos.The student leaders were cajoled to an event, where the fluke endorsement was allegedly done.
“I say unequivocally that the Igbo nation in Rivers State has not endorsed any candidate for the purpose of 2023 general elections,” Uzoma said.
Speaking on behalf of other student Igbo leaders, HRH, Ike Obinna George, Igwe of Rivers State University corroborated the position of the UIC President General, stressing that “at no time did they inform us that they were going to endorse Abe.
“We met with Abe that day and made it clear to him that we have to meet with our leaders for the purpose of endorsing anybody. We agree that endorsement can come, but it has to be discussed and agreed upon before any of such thing,” George posited.
On his own, the Rivers State Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Lucky Ekeji said his group disowns in its entirety the so-called endorsement of Magnus Abe by an unknown group that claimed to be Igbo leaders.
”Therefore such endorsement stands null and void. The endorsers have no occupation, so they are looking for crumbs and peanuts to eat. They don’t represent the Igbos. Rivers people and authorities should be wary of such faceless group that go about misrepresenting the Igbos,” Chief Ekeji fumed.
Other personalities that spoke include, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Engr Samm Nwokolo, Eze Jiofor Ndigbo who denounced the purported endorsement.
“I stand here to say that Ndigbo have not endorsed anybody. The purported endorsement is false, scandalous and does not represent Igbo People’s position in Rivers and Bayelsa States,” Nwokolo affirmed.
