*Describe it as false, misleading
By; VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Igbo Community and Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cross River State have disassociated selves from the purported endorsement of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor by “a touting group” seeking relevance and selfish interest.
It would be recalled that a group of men and women calling themselves Igbo group had visited the Calabar residence of the People’s Democratic party gubernatorial candidate for 2023 general elections, Prof. Sandy Onor, on January 14, 2023 and claimed it represented Igbo Community, Calabar to adopt the Senator as choice candidate for 2023 elections”.
A statement issued and signed by President General and Secretary General, Barr. Kingsley O. Kalu and Dr. Ekene Odinka, respectively, said, “Igbo Community Calabar and Ohanaeze Cross River State are both socio-cultural organisations of Ndi Igbo, not political parties, strictly speaking.
“As at the moment, Ndi Igbo are open to all candidates waiting patiently to receive in audience candidates coming to create awareness of their political ideologies and manifested.”
The statement said, “body called “Igbo Community” vis-a-vis the trending efforts by ignorant and self-serving group ( self-styled Igbo group) to drag the good image of the revered Ndi Igbo to the mud for avarice and pecuniary considerations”.
According to the statement, “Ndi Igbo have a tradition of receiving their visitors in audience at the residence of Ezeigbo, Cross River State.,”
“The group that visited the People’s Democratic party gubernatorial candidate in Cross River State for 2023 elections was unknown to Ndi Igbo and was not representative of the body, it further stated “.
“Currently, Ndi Igbo have not made any open pronouncement to the effect of unanimously adopting Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor, the People’s Democratic party gubernatorial candidate for 2023 General Elections in Cross River State as falsely claimed by the touting group, the statement added”.
“It therefore frowned at the attitude and character of the so called touting group for their selfish interest. Ndi Igbo are of the opinion that any person or group of persons seeking to see members could freely do so without encumbrances, at the same time being careful of the right channel of audience for proper mobilisation”.
“Having stated the above reasons, the statement said, “Ndi Igbo wishes Cross River State and indeed Nigeria good governance, equity, fair play and justice in the forthcoming general elections, it added”.
The decision to refute the trending misleading story was taken at an emergency meeting of Igbo Community Calabar and stakeholders of Ohanaeze, Cross River State on the 16th of January, 2023, to review the very foundation, the standing, the dynamics and the modes operandi of the social-cultural body called “Igbo Community”.
The event was witnessed by the Ezeigbo Cross River, Eze Igbo, His Royal Highness, Eze (Sir) E. A. Ezenwenyi, Eze Igbo Cross River who was represented by Chief Livinus E. Ihezie(Ksm), Onowu Ndi Igbo Cross River State, Ndi Nze Na Ozo, Okenwas as well as other chiefs.
