2019: Ohanaeze insists on restructuring not Igbo presidency, attacks Okorocha

www.odogwublog.com reports that ahead of the 2019 general elections, the apex Igbo socio- cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has insisted that restructuring Nigeria is more important to it than Igbo presidency.

Ohanaeze argued that producing Nigeria President of Igbo extraction would not end the various agitation for self determination by some ethnic nationalities in the country except Nigeria is first restructured.

Ohanaeze in a statement issued by its  National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Uche Achi-Okaga, said Ndigbo would reject any political party that is against the clamour for restructuring the country in 2019.

The statement read in part: “Mind you that in Ohaneze we are focused, so that one cannot use the issue of Igbo presidency to distract us. On restructuring we stand.

"Igbo presidency without restructuring will make little or no difference neither would the various ethnic agitations cease. "

Ohanaeze also frowned at the gale of defection of some prominent Igbo politicians to the ruling All Progressive Congress ( APC), insisting that any party that rejects restructuring will not have Igbo vote in 2019.

“Defection of some Igbo personalities to the All Progressive Congress, APC, is of no relevance to Ohaneze.

"One can defect to Heaven or hell but Ndigbo will not identify with any political party that is not in marriage with restructuring."

The pan Igbo group also warned Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to stop parading himself as the spokesman of Ndigbo, saying he lacks the competence and mandate to speak for the Igbo race.

“Governor Okorocha can speak for Imo APC or the government of Imo State, but he is not in a good stead to speak for Ndigbo."

Ohanaeze further demanded the Presidency not to keep Nigerians in the dark over the health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari, contending that Nigerians deserve the right to be updated about the health of the President.

“On the rumoured death of the President, God forbid that we should wish anybody death because death is like an identity card which we all have with its attendant expiry date.

“However, if you occupy a public position maintained with tax payers money (including but not limited to medical trips) it behooves that you should account to them in all ramifications.

"The presidential Aids who are keeping mum on the President’s health condition are severely owing Nigerians that obligation.

“It smells to high heavens that even the Minister of Information (who is also paid with tax payers money) cannot inform Nigerians on the issue. Instead, he prefers to tell us about the stale news of ‘information about Book Haram."

Ohanaeze strongly condemned the persecution of the General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman by the security agencies over an alleged inciting  remarks.

Ohanaeze said Northern Governors should be mandated to produce the foreign Fulani herdsmen they said were responsible for the orgy of attacks on innocent Nigerians.

“The issue affecting Apostle Suleiman suggests that the truth is hidden. We read in the tabloids that Northern Governors said the rampaging herdsmen are foreigners, non of the security agencies refuted or questioned the Governors.

“Now does it mean that we should allow foreigners to come and be killing Nigerians? We demand an explanation even as we condemn violence and inciting words or actions”.