Anambra State Government has stated that its fight
against Ohanaeze Ndigbo over the endorsement of the presidential candidate of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was not targeted at
the former Governor of the state and vice presidential candidate of PDP, Peter
Obi.
The state Commissioner for Information Strategy and
Public Enlightenment, Mr. Don Adinuba, stated this at a press briefing on Monday,
saying it was unfortunate that the disagreement of the state government over
the endorsement of Atiku by Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been misconstrued to mean a
fight against Obi.
It was reported that a cold war that has defied
settlement by religious leaders and elders’ forum of the state has been going
on between the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and his predecessor,
Peter Obi, who incidentally worked for his election as first term governor in
2014.
Adinuba, while addressing journalists in Awka, the
state capital, yesterday, said: “We are not fighting Peter Obi. We have never
mentioned him in all our disagreement with Ohanaeze over the endorsement of
Atiku.
“We are surprised that people are dragging us to
such corner. We are here to clarify that, and tell you that our grouse is with
Ohanaeze Ndigbo and some of its leaders who dabbled into partisan politics by
endorsing a candidate.”
The commissioner said the “hurried endorsement of
Atiku by Ohanaeze Ndigbo is political ‘419’ and brigandage.”
According to him, “Remember he did this on a day
that our great son, a great son of Nigeria and Africa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was
being honoured.
“If anyone in Ohanaeze would disrespect Zik by
being absent at the event, certainly not Nwodo, whose father was picked by Zik
and made a minister, the only minister from Nsukka area. Zik even honoured
Nsukka people with the University of Nigeria. That university could have been
sited elsewhere, but for Zik.
“When Zik retired, he did not go anywhere else but
to Nsukka where he lived and died in 1996. So if there was anyone that would
disrespect him, certainly not Nwodo.”
Adinuba insisted that the endorsement of Atiku by
Ohanaeze Ndigbo would not be adhered to by Anambra State, saying it was wrong
for the group, which is the apex socio-cultural organisation of Igbo people, to
continue to meddle in politics, when a good number of its sons belong to
diverse political groups.
“Obiano is the chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of
APGA, and also the leader of the party. Does he (Nwodo) expect that Obiano will
vote for PDP instead of his party, which also has a presidential candidate?”
Adinuba asked rhetorically.
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