The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio cultural organization has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as their presidential candidate for the February 14, 2015 general election.
Disclosing this during their visit to Governor Theodore Orji who is also the Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum and South-East Zonal Coordinator, Goodluck-Sambo Presidential Campaign organization, to intimate him of their decision and hand him over the endorsement document after a meeting of the organization, said Ohanaeze weighed all the options and found President Goodluck Jonathan the right option.
According to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey who spoke on behalf of the group, the Ohanaeze, believes that even though Ndigbo may not have realized all their dreams under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan as president, there have been serious infrastructural development and huge democracy dividends in the zone courtesy of President Jonathan.
He said that Ndigbo have been given a sense of belonging by the President Jonathan’s administration and sited the first Chief of Army Staff of Igbo decent, Maj Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd.), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and other sensitive appointments given to Ndigbo under the present dispensation as evidence of the claim.
According to him, the Igbos believe in equity and fairness and supports that the South-South should complete their two tenures arguing that four years is not too long to wait.
The Ohanaeze boss further stated that the emergence of President Jonathan gives hope that someone from the minority can hold the highest position of the land even as he expects that it will be the turn of Ndigbo one day.
Receiving the group, Governor Orji assured them that he will deliver their message directly to the President, maintaining that the endorsement by the Ohanaeze represents the opinion of the silent majority of Ndigbo.
He joined the Ohanaeze in calling on other Nigerians to support the South-South to complete their second tenure in the interest of equity and fairplay, pointing out that there is no reason why the President should not be allowed to complete his second term in office.
Governor Orji asserted that President Jonathan holds the hope that one day every part of the country will be able to rule and thanked the Ohanaeze chieftains for being in the vanguard of equity and fair play.
He recalled that in 2011, the South-East zone voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan and assured that that position has not changed.
The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo was accompanied on the visit by other executives of the association and distinguished Igbo sons including the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi among others
