Press Release
Ohanaeze Youth Wing Elections: This Shame Must Not Stand
Loading ...The attention of the undersigned have been drawn to a proposed plan by the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to hurriedly validate a shame and illegality by nocturnally inaugurating the executives of the recent sham called an election of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing On Monday 7th of April,2018 in Enugu.
This is despite our protests, both written and verbal, and the overwhelming evidences of underhand practices by some members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Executive Committee in the course of the said election, and falsification of documents against some candidates.
We have been reliably informed by acredible member of the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that despite our protestation and appeal to the conscience of this body not to tow this part of infamy, they have decided to embark on the suicidal mission of inaugurating the selected gang they are hoisting on the Igbo nation and damn the consequences both from us and other well-meaning Igbo groups and individuals.
It is important to note that while we and a pool of the Igbo youth intelligentsia that are sympathetic to our course have decided to allow peace reign in the affairs our apex body, some persons should not mistake that for cowardice as we are ready to rattle the boat whenever our rights are infringed on. We are been forced to showcase our potentials…and that we shall do.
As humans, we believe in the logical dictum that every action must have a reaction. Hence We met in Enugu with some of the best Igbo youth brains on Saturday 5th of May, 2018 and resolved as follows:
OUR GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE ELECTIONS
1. That despite the questionable attempt of some power-brokers within the Ohanaeze Ndigbo circle to make the age ceiling for the youth election fifty years,as against 45 years in previous Ohanaeze Youth Wing elections, their anointed candidate Arthur Uchenna Obiora still falsified his documents in order to tailor his age to be under fifty. Documents avail to prove that.
2. That there are irregularities in the documents and informations presented by Kingsley Chiedozie that are not in tandem with those known of him.
3. That the sale of nomination forms continued long after the date stated for same has elapsed, in order to accommodate some persons who the Chairman of the Electoral Committee Dr. Chukwu Ezechi has “anointed” after gratification.
4. That for purposes still unexplained, the names of persons who bought nomination forms and were screened by the electoral committee were removed from the ballot papers on the day of the election. And persons who only picked forms on the Election Day found their name in the ballot papers. A clear example was that of Mr. Mc Donald Ubani who was the sole candidate for Ex-Officio (Abia) until the morning of the election, but his name suddenly got missing from the ballot papers.
5. That the electoral committee, acting on the dictate of the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo cancelled the earlier scheduled manifesto-presentation by the candidates. This was done in order to shield their preferred candidates, especially the leader Mr. Arthur Obiora who lacks the capacity to express himself in public.
6. That delegates were intimidated into voting for some “anointed candidates” by the states Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidents, and approved by the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
7. That in order to ensure that their sinister plans of votwer intimidation was strictly adhered to, one Arthur Chinedu Ugwa who has no business in the election venue was positioned directly behind the ballot box by Dr. Ezechi Chukwu for the voters to show him their ballot papers before casting their votes. While some state presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo notably that of Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta personally supervised the voting of their delegates to ensure they towed the line of their paymasters.
8. That the supposed delegates from Rivers state were actually Enugu-based students who were recruited by Mr. Igo Opanamma for the purpose of the election.
9. That we demand to be treated like a stakeholders in the Igbo project, which we have contributed much to since our student days.
10. That Dr. Chukwu Ezechi and Mr. Igo Opanamma were telling all that cared to listen that they are the hatchet men of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief John Nnia Nwodo who is aware and have sanctioned all their actions.
11. That legal actions have commenced against Mr. Arthur Obiora for falsification of documents and possible perjury. And Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been put on notice, hence the hurry to concretise their shameful deed.
That it will be shameful for Ohanaeze Ndigbo to inaugurate some persons who might be on their way to jail for perjury in a short while
OUR PRAYERS.
1. That the NEC of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should not go ahead with the inauguration of the illegal contraption, as that will amount to a great insult on the psyche of the Igbo nation and interpreted to mean a call for unprecedented credibility question on the current leadership.
2. That an independent body of respectable Igbo elders should be constituted to look into the process and conduct of the election.
3. That the activities of certain actors in the elections should be investigated, especially Dr. Chukwu Ezechi and Mr. Igo Oparamma. And sanctions placed on them if found guilty.
4. That before the investigation panel commence, the accused officers of Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be made to step-aside pending the outcome of the investigative panel.
5. That to restore the redtore the credibility of the election, the election results should be revisited and the lawfully qualified persons be sworn-in where they come second behind those who benefitted from the fraud. As in the case of the National and Deputy Leaders. Hon. Sir Tony Uche and Comrade. Don Afulike should be declared winners and expressly sworn-in.
6. That those who picked nomination for me on the day of the election should be automatically disqualified and the rightful candidates declared winners. As in the case of the offices of National Publicity Secretary and Ex-Officio (Abia). Hence Comrade. Henry Igo Opara and Comrade. McDonald Ubani should be declared winners and sworn in.
7. That the documents of all the contestants in the last election should be made public and those found to have falsified theirs should be immediately sanctioned with internationally acceptable standards.
8. Ohanaeze Ndigbo NEC should not be in a hurry to swear-in their anointed candidates just a day before the meeting of Ime-Obi which holds on Tuesday 8th May, 2018. They should allow Ime-Obi to look into the matter so as to save the Igbo nation the plight of an avoidable crisis at a time like this.
Signed
Hon. (Engr) Sir. Tony Uche Ezekwelu.
Contestant for the Position of Leader ,
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing
07039455721
Comrade. Henry Ugo Opara
Contestant for the Post of Publicity Secretary
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing
08062821564
Comrade. Christ Afunike
Contestant for the Post of Deputy National Leader
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing
Comrade. McDonald Ubani
Contestant for the Post of Ex-Officio (Abia)
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing
08037488160
