JONATHAN'S ENDORSEMENT DIVIDES OHANAEZE
The purported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 presidential election by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is generating ripples within the organisation as some of the executive members have dissociated themselves from the endorsement.
They described it as the personal agenda of the President-General, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Legal Adviser to Ohanaeze and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Enugu state, Onyibo Chukwu, said there was never a time the issue of endorsing President Jonathan for the 2011 Presidential race was discussed at any meeting of the organ of body.
He explained that some of them were taken by surprise, the purported endorsement which has been advertised in many national dailies. Chukwu, a senatorial aspirant in Enugu State, pointed out that Ohanaeze has three different organs through which it takes crucial decisions.
These organs, according to him, are the National Executive, Ime Obi and National Assembly, noting that the issue of endorsement of any presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP has never been discussed at any of the organs. ''It was never discussed in any of the organs. What Ambassador Ralph Uwechue is doing is basically carrying out a personal agenda'', he said, adding, ''I am a PDP member and a strong supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan but if Ohanaeze has to endorse him, it has to be done with decorum and not through this ambush tactic being employed.'
He described as cheap blackmail and impression of disunity among the Igbo the publicized endorsement of President Jonathan for 2011 Presidential election.
Said Chukwu: ''He is putting the Igbo race into very serious dilemma. We want to maintain good relationship with the people of the South-South geopolitical zone but not through the personal aggrandisement of one man. The way Uwechua is going about it will certainly jeopardize Jonathan's chances among the Igbo. So many of our prominent sons and daugthers are already saddened by Uwechue's action.