The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo appears stuck between a rock and a hard place against the upcoming 2015 presidential tussle in Nigeria. This is as the body language of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria suggests that the gentleman agreement reached between the President and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo may have been jettisoned. Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the President had reach a gentleman’s agreement with the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo in 2011 – that if the Ohaneze endorsed his Presidency in 2011 – that the President will work to handover the presidency to the south east in 2015.
According to information gleaned from some of the persons in leadership positions within Ohaneze Ndigbo, the President’s recent actions towards the planned handover to the south east zone come 2015 appear unclear – particularly as to whether the President intends to join the race against the 2015 presidential election. “We do not know what his plans are. He no longer gives us audience like before” cried one of the top executive members of the Union who further explained that the President had “promised us” he will step-down after one term in office as a president- that he will then work for the presidency to be zoned exclusively to the south east.
But the body language of the president and the president’s men suggest the president may not be stepping down in 2015. Signals coming out Aso Rock point towards a possibly re-election campaign being on the offing. And sources within the top ranks of Ohaneze Ndigbo who are cognizant of the signals from Aso Rock express concerns over the credulity of the gentleman’s agreement.
One of the Ohaneze Chapter presidents representing one of the south west states told 247ureports.com that the Ohaneze Ndigbo had made attempts at meeting with the President over the agreement reached in late 2010 at Enugu State but the President had not been responsive to them. “He does not have our time now”, said the chapter president. The Chapter president observed that the National President’s silence over the issue appears suspect. In his take, the National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Uwechue, who is from the south south geo-political zone and not the south east geo-political zone appears indifference as to the cries of the south east. “The man is tongued tied on this matter. He has long been bought by the Jonathan administration”, he said.
Also commenting on the unfolding issue is the controversial president of the Kano state chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika. He confirmed that a gentleman’s agreement was reached between the leadership of Ohaneze and President Jonathan. But he added that the agreement can be amendment should the President seek to run for re-election. “What we need is to sit and discuss with Mr. President on the modalities”, stated the Kano State Chapter president.
247ureports.com made repeated attempts at reaching the National President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Uwechue but his Personal Assistant was assigned to his phones.
