Anambra Elections Buhari, Obiano, ,Ohanaeze and IPOB Battle for Supremacy

Written by Obinna Akukwe

The undercurrents of today’s  elections in  Anambra State has promised to be a supremacy battle between President Buhari, Governor Obiano and Ohanaeze Ndigbo on one hand and Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)  on the other hand. While President Buhari and the federal government has mobilized over fifty thousand security personnel, including twenty eight thousand from the police, fifteen thousand from Civil Defense and three thousand soldiers on standby plus men of the secret service, DSS, deployed from some states, you have over fifty thousand for a single election. The purpose of these security personnel is to ensure that IPOB does not succeed In disrupting elections in the state thereby boosting the morale of Biafra separatist agitations.

 

The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano who is having tuning battle with IPOB in Anambra State. is on the same page with Buhari, but for a different reason.  While IPOB accused the governor of frequently inviting soldiers to kill their members, Gov  Obiano insists that he is protecting the state from hoodlums and criminals using IPOB as front to ferment trouble. While IPOB has vowed that there would be no elections in Anambra State, Obiano sees it as the work of political enemies who want to remove him from office through the back door using the separatist agitators as a front. Therefore when the South East Governors Forum proscribed IPOB, Obiano lent a willing voice.  

Anambra Elections: Buhari, APC Disagree over Governor Obiano

Written by Obinna Akukwe

President Muhammadu Buhari is still insisting that elections in Anambra State will be free and fair in line with the promises he made to Governor Obiano twice when the former visited him in Aso Eock, our contacts within the villa had insisted. The first visit to Buhari was on October 2^nd and was brokered by powerful elements within Daura  in Katsina State, the President’s home town who were convinced and induced that Obiano can be retained in Anambra State for security purposes. These elements helped broker the first meeting where Buhari told Governor Obiano that he is not particular about who wins the elections.

Days later, we were told that another more private meeting ensued between Buhari and Obiano and the sacked SGF,  Babachir was present. Governor Obiano raised concerns about issues bordering on INEC neutrality and change of security personnel and Buhari promised that nothing will railroad a free process.

Anambra Elections: Ohanaeze Youths, Igbo Mandate Congress Tasks Buhari, IGP on Free Polls

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth in Anambra State has tasked the Inspector General of Police on free polls in Anambra State. Speaking with the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC, Rev Obinna Akukwe at Awka today, The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council in Anambra State, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu said that despite the disturbing news of change of Governor Obiano;s Security aides, what concerns Ohanaeze is that the elections will hold in a peaceful manner in the state.

 

Mazi Okpalaezeukwu said that “the police should not use their might and presence to harass, intimidate or favor any candidate. The youth also should not provoke or incite  the police to acts of  violence and  mayhem  on voters Those who have PVC’S and willing to vote should be protected to exercise their franchise while those without PVC’S should stay at home to avoid trouble”

The Ohanaeze youth leader in the state said that Ohanaeze cannot come out openly to support any candidate in the polls but they are working with the relevant security agencies to ensure that Anambra State is not turned into a theatre of war. They also want to ensure that the people’s votes count.

Ohanaeze , South East Governors Lauds Ojukwu’s Courage Over Biafra

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lauded the courage of Odumegwu Ojukwu before, during and after the civil war and tasks Igbo leaders on unity. This was part of the speech delivered by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo on Tuesday at the Posthumous Birthday in honor of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariate, Enugu.

Chief  Nwodo lauded the late Igbo leader as a principled , committed and dogged man who stood and defended his people when it mattered most.

The Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi described Ojukwu as a brave example of leadership in the midst of adversity. Speaking through the Commissioner of Education who represented him at the event, Chief Umahi said that the South East Governors are willing to do everything possible to keep the memory and spirit  of the Ikemba alive. He thanked the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Leadership Foundation (COOLEF) for organizing the event and promised the support of South East Governors.

Anambra Guber: Ohanaeze Denies Backing any Candidate, Warns Against Fictitious Groups ....Igbo Mandate Congress Supports Fair Polls

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied backing any candidate for the gubernatorial polls in Anambra State scheduled for November 18th. They have also alerted Governor Obiano of the existence of spurious groups bent on fleecing the Governor of various sums in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

This was made known by the Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Comrade Chuke Ibegbu while briefing the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC. on the official stance of the foremost Igbo Socio-cultural group on the forthcoming polls .

Comrade Chuks Ibegbu told Rev Obinna Akukwe,Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress and chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that “the primary concern  of Ohanaeze Nddigbo is for there to be free and fair election in Anambra State, The President General and members of National Executive Committee are concerned about free polls in Anambra State”. Comrade Ibegbu stated further that “ Ohanaeze has within its fold members of all political parties and as such cannot come out openly to support any candidate, however, it reserves the right to give direction to the Igbo race if the need arises and that direction can come through the President General , therefore anyone purportedly supporting any candidate without the clearance from Ohanezze NEC is only seeking for financial aggrandizement”

Anambra Guber: Buhari to give Obiano Soft Landing as Igbo Mandate Congress Calls for Fair Polls

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is favorably disposed towards giving Governor Willie Obiano OF Anambra State a soft landing in the November 18th Gubernatorial Polls in the State. This was the fallouts of the earlier audience the President granted Obiano on October 2nd at at the State House, Abuja. Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC, learnt from reliable security sources within the Villa and its friends within influential Arewa circles that there is a soft spot for Governor Obiano after the said meeting.

In the meeting of Tuesday October 2nd, President Buhari had told the Governor that he is more interested in Governors delivering dividends of democracy and not particular about the parties concerned and promised a fair polls. Though the governor’s aides have analyzed the President’s statement as political and devoid of any commitment, unknown to them, Buhari was impressed by the efforts made by Governor Obiano to bring peace and security to Anambra State especially in the face of IPOB agitations.

Operation Python Dance: Nigerian Army Apologizes to Igbo Mandate Congress Chieftain over Assault

The Nigerian Army has apologized to the Coordinator of Igbo Mandate Congress in the United States and publisher of Nigerian Masterweb, Chief Charles Okereke over assault by troops near Umuahia while returning to the city. This was contained in the situation report received by the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC over the incidence yesterday.

Igbo Mandate Congress learnt that its United States Coordinator was returning from a peace mission to Umuahia from Aba in the company of his Nigerian editor on Monday September 11, 2017, when soldiers stopped them at a check point at Ubakala on the outskirts of Umuahia. The obviously drunk soldiers asked them why they were returning late to Umuahia and they answered that it is just 7pm and the roads and traffic holdups delayed their journey. The said soldiers asked them to go, and as they were moving, the person in front hit his stick at the Nigerian editor while the man at the back smashed the windscreen of the vehicle and cocked their gun in a shooting position.

Chief Okereke had earlier reported the unfortunate incidence to the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC and its members were alerted to prepare for a legal redress in the United States and Nigeria if the authorities fail to correct the anomaly.

Flashback: How Obasanjo, Peter Obi. Achike Udenwa Murdered 5000 MASSOB Members| as Igbo Mandate Congress Calls for Enquiry on Genocide

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Special Reports Nov 25, 2015

Igbo Mandate Congress IMC wants to bring to the attention of all Biafran protesters and agitators that the greatest genocide ever under the guise of stopping separatist MASSOB agitators was under the tenure of Peter Obi, as Governor of Anambra State, Achike Udenwa as Governor of Imo State and Olusegun Obasanjo as President of Nigeria.

Biafran agitators should hold these three men responsible  for killing thousands of innocent civilians in the guise of seeking for members of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Nigerian soldiers numbering over 200 were invited into Anambra State in June 2006 by Governor Peter Obi and in the process murdered estimated 5000 innocent Igbos in the guise of rooting out MASSOB agitators. This was done with the ever gleeful support of ex-president Obasanjo in the infamous operation ‘Shoot-at Sight Order’

During these periods that spanned till early 2009, Nigerian soldiers were on rampage at Onitsha, Nnewi, Oba, Ihiala and environs shooting, killing, and maiming anything that has a suspicion of being MASSOB. As the shootings were going on, real MASSOB members escaped into various dens while stranded travelers, unsuspecting trader and residents were branded MASSOB and shot. By the time the exercise was over, estimated 5000 people were killed and the affected families took the remains of their relatives and buried quietly to avoid being killed too by the rampaging soldiers. All these wickedness was at the behest of an APGA Governor claiming to be a follower of ex Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Int’l Women Conf: South Africa, Italian Ambassadors tasks Nigerian Govt on Women Empowerment

The International African Women Economic and Leadership Conference ended in Enugu on Thursday 30th August with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria seeking greater economic and leadership role for women in Nigeria.

In his keynote address the South African High Commissioner Mr Lulu Louis Mnguni said that “We need developmental tools to train women in business. We want to see Nigeria come out with tourism as a way of coming out of recession, and unemployment. Tourism is a value chain, I’ve been to Calabar and other places and I know the tourism potentials of Nigeria. When you train a woman, you train a nation.” He asked that Nigerian women can be trained, equipped and assisted to boost the nation’s tourism potentials and said that South Africa invested a lot in the training of women.

Breaking of Kolanut L-R Mr Uche Paul Ekpere,Mr Steve Toluwase, Mrs Patricia Narri,Mrs Lollita Ezeife, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Rev Obinna Akukwe, Mr LuluLouis Mgnuni (SA High Commissioner) at the Cnference)

Panel of Discussion at the Conference -L-R Engr Alphonsus Anyanwu, Ambassador Anthonio lovecchio,Mrs Patricia Narai, Chief Mrs Sarah Jubril, Mr Uche Ekpere Paul, Rev Obinna Akukwe)dd caption

Cross Section of Participants

Dr Antonio Lovecchio, Ambassador at Large and Minister of Foreign Affairs O.S.J. Malta described Nigerian women as rich in untapped economic potentials. Dr Lovecchio , a multimillion dollar Italian business man lamented at the way Nigerians lose investment potentials worldwide due to ignorance and business naivety. According to Dr Lovecchio “Europeans come to Nigeria and buy cocoa for $10 dollars, process it and sell back to Africa at $500 dollars. In Italy we invest our experience. We are not colonialist, we are more into partnership and collaboration” Dr Lo Vecchio promised to assist Nigerian women who are into genuine export commodity businesses by partnering them with Italian companies. He advises the women to adopt modern techniques in business management.

Int’l Women Conference : Mrs Osibanjo, Fani Kayode, Dino Melaye, Linda Ikeji, Sarah Jubril to Storm Enugu as Igbo Mandate Congress mobilizes women professionals and activists

…Italian, Israeli, US delegates send in advance reports

Enugu , South East Nigeria, is set to receive a cross section of politicians, entrepreneurs , investors and women leaders for the International African Women and Empowerment Conference holding on the 28th to 30thb of August 2017. This was revealed to the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC, Rev Obinna Akukwe in Abuja last week when a delegation of leaders of Diamond Youth Transformation Initiative (DYTI) paid him a courtesy call.

The leader of Diamond Youth Transformation Initiative, Ambassador Uchechukwu Ekpere Paul stated that the International Women’s Conference is geared towards opening up wide range of business and political opportunities for the Nigerian and African Women. Ambassador Paul stated that the conference is geared towards helping women entrepreneurs to find their feet and solicited the support of Igbo Mandate Congress for another successful event akin to last years South East Youth Economic Summit (SEYES) popularly tagged ‘Igbo-Israeli Economic Summit’ of which the group played key role.

Quit Notice: In Support of Arewa Youth; Calls for Arrest Hypocritical

Arewa Youth came out last June with a quit notice to all Igbos residing in the north to leave the zone within three months and all hell was let loose on them. I am in support of the principles behind the quit notice on Igbos in the north but differs on the timing. Probably if they had said three years, I would have been more comfortable; to allow for a less fractitious home coming.

Being an activist, clergy and member of influential Igbo groups in Nigeria, both the mass movements, professional, intellectual. Including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and a frontline defender of Igbo interests for over a decade now, I have a good idea of what the Igbo want. Also as a gospel missionary who traverses many parts of northern Nigeria in the past, made friends among both religions, interacted with the locals, I have an advanced idea of the mindset of the elite northerner, the common man in the north and the almajiris and I know that many information being spewed to the public, from the days of Boko Haram till date  about northerners are half truth and more lies, and I blame the northern elites hawkish disposition for such festering lies.

In the early days of Boko Hraram criminality, I was among those who liaised with many northern and military elements to expose the high level of politics and financial corruption that turned Boko Haram into a monstrous organization with politicians and military chiefs smiling to the banks.   I remember advocating for a Boko Haram Republic in part of northern Nigeria if the Borno Elders will not rise up to the occasion and do something to curb the menace. Happily, vigilante and village hunters rose up to save the north from collapse. They sacrificially assisted the newly motivated military (whose allowances are no more stolen from the top) to stamp out the Jihadists.  I have discovered that every tribe has both the good and the bad, including Igbos, Yorubas and Hausas. Therefore the idea of race superiority is not acceptable.

Israeli Investors Gives Technical Support to Igbo Youth: as Igbo Mandate Congress Inspects Projects

Israeli Investors and technologists who were part of the South East Youth Economic Summit 2016(SEYES) also known as Igbo-Israeli Youth Economic Summit have fulfilled their promises of giving continuous technical support to participants and entrepreneurs  especially in the fields of agriculture, entrepreneurship and ICT.

Igbo Mandate Congress delegates visited sites in Awka, Abakaliki, Enugu and also spoke with team leaders of Diamond Youths who expressed their elation and hopes at the outcome of the Igbo Israeli South East Youth Economic Summit.

Mr Ikechukwu Kanu, an agricultural economist and investment banker is the Head, Investment Unit of Diamond Youth. He reported that the agricultural section was subdivided into seven units with different persons heading the sub-units. The units include piggery, poultry, fisheries, and vegetable, maize, cassava and rice sub units. According to Mr Kanu” the poultry project at Emene, near Enugu has over five hundred (500)pig units which are confined and its fat value reduced considerably. The transfer of technology from the Israelis have been helpful and locals have also been employed”

Ohanaeze Elections: GAAICOM, Igbo Clerics Condemns Interferences by Governors, Calls for Shift of Polls Dates

Igbo Clerics under the aegis of General Assembly of all Igbo Christian Organizations and Ministers (GAAICOM), ‘The Prophet Standing on the Gap for the Igbo Nation’, have written the Governors of South East and all Ohanaeze Stakeholders , including the Prof Anya O Anya led Electoral Committee, on the need for the postponement of the January 9^th scheduled posts.

GAAICOM gave reasons for the calls for postponement of the election dates among others to include

 “Not giving enough publicity, the closeness of the date between the inaugural meeting of the electoral committee on the 29^th of December and the commencement of the election staring from 4^th January, a S-day period, which is grossly inadequate for any meaningful preparations”.

 “The per-election selection and endorsement of candidates by the Governors which is an imposition of candidates on the people which is also against the Ohanaeze constitution, thereby creating tension in the polity”

“As at the 3^rd of January, 1017, no electoral officer has been posted to any state, giving room for uncertainties, manipulation of congresses and electoral processes”.

GAAICOM proposed a two week extension to enable the electoral committee get its acts together. The clerics also advised Ohanaeze leadership and all concerned I order to contain the drift of the group  into political ignominy and national irrelevance,

The statement were signed by Apostle Dr PCJ Macjossy (General Coordinator), Apostle Dr Charles Louis Egbuchiem (Deputy General Coordinator), Elder Emma Nnaba (National Secretary) and Rev Obinna Akukwe (Director of Media and Communications)

GAAICOM is the foremost Igbo Clergy Group and a major stakeholder in Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Its membership cuts across all denominations and its input in the Nigerian political space, in a noiseless manner, on he behalf of the Igbo race has been phenomenal.

Meanwhile Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC, have earlier described the election processes as fraudulent, and has threatened legal action, if transparency is not restored. This was contained in its press release of 3nd January, 2017. In another vein, Chief Enechi Onyia, (SAN), a prominent Ohanaeze stakeholder and Presidential aspirant, have taken the body to court over the electoral processes, He has described the entire process as criminal.

Chief Dr Nnia Nwodo (Former Minister for Culture and Information), Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd) and Prof Chiweyite Ejike are the major contenders for Ohanaeze leadership while Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN) have rejected the processes and headed for the courts.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Accused of Fraudulent Election; Igbo Mandate Congress Condemns Process

 

 Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been accused by many of the aspirants involved in the election processes of trying to hoist a leadership in continuation of the culture of corruption, impunity and lack of focus which characterized the two previous regimes of the group. Some have taken their complaints and observation to the leadership of IMC. IMC have been at the forefront of fighting corruption within Ohanaeze leadership and have received valuable information which suggests electoral fraud.

The plot to scheme some suspicious ‘scratch my back, I scratch yours  leadership’ was hatched immediately after the Igbo Day Celebrations of September 9th when the Gary Igariwey and Joe Nwaorgu led leadership deliberately failed to constitute the electoral panel till a time in December, when it will be devoid of fairness. The Prof Anya O Anya led electoral commission held its first meeting on the 29th of December where they fixed the local gout congress for Jan 4th, State Congress Jan 6th,  and National Elections for January 9th.2017.  Imeobi Meeting was hurriedly convened on the 31st December, 2016, to give the election date a semblance of legality.