Ohanaeze Ndigbo: Sharing of Jonathan’s N5 billion Endorsement Gift Creates More Crisis

By Obinna Akukwe on 17th February, 2015

 

· Northern Chapter Presidents Rejects Endorsement
· Igbo Leaders Accused of embezzling fund from the top
· Rtd IGP Mike Okiro saves Igbo leaders from Embarrassment
The crisis generated by Jonathan's N5 billion naira endorsement gift is increasing by the day as more groups within the body accuses Igariwey led faction of scamming them. Ohanaeze Ndigbo had earlier endorsed Jonathan for a second term in Enugu two weeks ago after which pandemonium, fracas, tearing of dresses and biting off of fingers broke out at the secretariat over the sharing of the excess money. Among the groups that have rejected the earlier endorsement of Jonathan as a result of the sharing formula of the N5 billion naira gift is Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA) in the 19 Northern States. This group was given N20 million naira to share among the 19 states of the north and FCT and each State got N1 million naira. IDA is alleging that the N20 million naira was the money Senator Hope Uzodimma promised them a year ago which Ohanaeze seized all these while.

30 Facts about Owners of Nigeria’s Richest Oil Blocks in the Midst of National Poverty

By Obinna Akukwe on 17th February, 2015

The richest oil blocks in Nigeria is owned by a few hundreds of persons while half of 160 million Nigerians live below S1 dollar daily. This injustice and wickedness must be corrected by whosoever wins the elections - whether Buhari, Jonathan, Interim Government, Boko Haram or civilian revolution. When I wrote the report titled 'How Babangida, Abacha, Abdulsalami, Obasanjo Shared Nigeria's Oil Blocks' in April 2012, which was later rephrased as '20 Owners of Richest Oil Blocks in Nigeria ' I had thought that the uproar and public condemnation that followed the report both nationally and internationally will precipitate an administrative investigation into the manner of the awards to sift the transparent deals which passed due diligence from those awarded after some bedroom performances.

 It is unfortunate that President Jonathan failed to revoke these illegal licenses to few criminals during his first tenure. Instead some more blocks and contracts were given another set of criminals under his watch. Had he taken such actions, the fear of defeat in the pols would have been non-existent because Nigerians from all tribes and faith enslaved by this bondage would have risen in his defense.

Jonathan’s N5 Billion Naira Endorsement Gift Tears Ohanaeze to Pieces

By Obinna Akukwe on 7th February, 2015

 

*Igariwey denies receiving such money
*19 Northern states chapters Presidents Stranded in Enugu
*Igbo leaders kick while Igbo Youths Rejoice
* Ohaneze Elders Council Condemns Endorsement of Jonathan

Pandemonium broke out at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat of Tuesday during the sharing of the huge sums of money given to the Igariwey led leadership of the body for endorsing Jonathan's second term. Many persons who were at the endorsement venue smiled home with some tens and hundreds of thousands of naira and a few got some millions of naira. Some obviously greedy beneficiaries of the Ohanaeze national cake who felt shortchanged in the sharing formula had revealed to members of Ohanaeze Elders Council and other Igbo leaders in Nigeria and diaspora that Jonathan released N5billion naira and their leaders hid more than eighty percent of the money for themselves while releasing pittances to them.

Presidency 2015: Jonathan Dumps Oritsejafor For Bishop Oyedepo, Uma-Ukpai

By Obinna Akukwe on 4th February, 2015

 

Ahead of the 2015 presidential polls, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan had dumped his erstwhile close friend and business associate ,Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in favor of the President of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, as the arrow head of support for his re-election battle among Nigerian Christians.

Bishop Oyedepo was among the prominent pastors who attended a meeting last month in Abuja with resident Jonathan where the clerics vowed to give the president the votes of the Nigerian Christian Community.. In the said meeting efforts of some pastors from the war ravaged zones of the north to draw the attention of the president to the state of insecurity in the north was overshadowed by the fatherly voice of Bishop Oyedepo, who asked those present to concentrate on the forthcoming polls.
Bishop Oyedepo has also successfully mobilized church members and pastors to pray for the corporate existence of Nigeria and the protection of President Jonathan and his immediate family from arrows of darkness.

Ohanaeze in Secret Talks at Aso Villa: Endorses Jonathan's Presidency 2015

By Obinna Akukwe on 16th January, 2015

Ohanaeze Ndigbo met with Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Villa on Wednesday and endorsed his plan for re-election in 2015. The meeting between President Jonathan and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was to assure the President that the people of the South East were behind his re-election plans. The meeting was also intended to assure the President that there is only one Ohanaeze leadership under Chief Gari Igariwey and that anybody purporting to be representing Ndigbo is an impostor.

Confirming the meeting Wednesday with President Jonathan, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gari Igariwey, told the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) and Director of Media of General Association of all Igbo Christian Ministers and Organization (GAAICOM), Rev Obinna Akukwe in a chat that there is actually a meeting with the President but that Ohanaeze cannot take any decision on where Ndigbo is headed for in 2015 till after the town hall meeting scheduled in Abakaliki between President Jonathan and Igbo leaders on Friday.

Shift 2015 Elections And Fight The Boko Haram War-Group Tells Jonathan

By Obinna Akukwe on 25th December, 2014

 

A group, New Foundation of National Understanding (NFNM),which has retired military officer and activists amongst their fold, has called upon Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan to postpone the 2015 Presidential elections and prepare for war against agents that wants to invade Southern Nigeria using Boko Haram. 

The group alleged that there is a plot by some few disgruntled politician and religious extremists of northern extraction to extend the reign of terror of Boko Haram to the South East, South West and South West, causing disaffection among Igbos and Yorubas while Boko Haram takes over the entire South on a religious agenda. The Group claimed that their petition is already before the President and Commander-in Chief as well as Heads of Security Agencies.

Auctioning of 419 2nd Niger Bridge and Jubilation of Igbo Fools

By Obinna Akukwe on 23rd December, 2014

 

Lots of Igbo fools, including many top politicians, traditional rulers and other misguided elements jubilated when President Goodluck Jonathan was dragged by Ex Gov Peter Obi to belatedly commission an auctioned 419 2nd Niger Bridge that will be tolled for 25 years. This president while seeking for Igbo votes in 2010 promised to deliver the bridge before the end of his tenure. Five years later and a year to the expiration of the same tenure, they concocted a PPP arrangement to make the Igbs pay for the bridge through the back door.

I have written an earlier write-up titled 'Fraudulent Construction of 2nd Niger Bridge: Another 419 on the Igbo Nation', where I gave a hint that the thieves that concocted the financial criminality on the Igbo nation will recoup their investment within 4 years therewith exorbitant toll fees being planned, and the rest 21 years will be profits-and excess profits at the expense of the all wise Igbos. Since the piece was released, I have received far more facts which show that the N50 billion naira estimated as the inflated cost of the bridge is by far more costly. Under Obasanjo, the bridge was estimated to cost N54 billion naira (without the usual due process) and experts believe that with due process, the estimate would have reduced to N30 billion naira. It cost Yoruba man Fashola N29 billion naira to construct a l.3 km Lekki-Ikoyi suspension Bridge with adjoining roads while the 1.5 km 2nd Niger Bridge and 11 km adjoining roads will cost N117
billion naira. The difference is to be probably shared between some APGA chieftains, their PDP benefactors, and Julius Berger Consortium is just a smokescreen used to diver illicit gains.

The Fraudulent Construction Of 2nd Niger Bridge: Another 419 On The Igbo Nation

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By Obinna Akukwe on 18th December, 2014

The construction of 2nd Niger Bridge through a Public Private Partnership involving Julius Berger -NSIA Consortium and tolling the Igbo people for 25 years thereafter is another 419 on the Biafran Igbo citizens of South East Nigeria. According to the terms of this fraudulent business, the project is a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) model to cost N117 Billion naira with the Federal Government contributing a paltry N30 billion naira while the consortium will raise the rest of the funds and thereafter hold the Igbo people to ransom by collecting a 25 year toll tax for raising the rest of the funds offshore.

President Jonathan speaking at the ground breaking ceremony at Onitsha in March 2014 said that “as part of our administration's Transformation Agenda in the road sector, we have set out to construct two very important new bridges, across our Nation's two great rivers – the River Niger and River Benue.These are the Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue States,which is progressing satisfactorily, and this 2nd Niger Bridge, connecting Anambra and Delta States." It is worthy to note that the other bridges are being constructed by Jonathan regime without any PPP and without any toll tax on the people of Benue and Nasarrawa States.

Igbo Presidency: Ohanaeze Must Negotiate With Jonathan Now

By Obinna Akukwe on 13th Dec, 2014

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President Jonathan had come again for Igbo votes ahead of the emergence of successful All Progressive Congress (APC) Primaries which picked General Muhammadu Buhari as flagbearer. With the emergence of Buhari as APC candidate,it is obvious that it is no more tea party for the PDP, and one of the places they are farming seriously is Ohanaeze Ndigbo as avenue for much cherished Igbo votes.

I want to use this opportunity to reproduce a text of the lecture I delivered at the burial of the former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, on the occasion of a colloquium held in his honour at Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat, Enugu on the 8th of May, 2014. I do believe that Igbo leaders must negotiate with Jonathan on what he will do for the over 60 million Igbos in Nigeria and overseas or else they can as well look elsewhere in APC or UPC for alternative.

Theme; Contentious Issue of Igbo Presidency; What Ohanaeze Must Tell Jonathan
Being An Address Presented By Rev Obinna Akukwe on the Occasion of Colloquium in Honor of Ambassador Raph Uwechue, Late President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on the 8th of May, 2014, at Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat, Park Avenue Enugu

Why US Gov’t Refused To Assist Nigeria With Technology To Fight Boko Haram

By Obinna Akukwe on 12th Nov, 2014

 

Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye suggested recently that the United States willingly refused to assist Nigeria with technology to fight Boko Haram. Adefuye told members of the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday that "The Nigerian leadership... are not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States' support for us in our struggle against terrorists,".

He added further that "We find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly,"
Since the Boko Haram insurgency started, I am personally aware, through reliable military and diplomatic sources that the United States had always availed Nigeria of list of those they suspect to be sponsors of Boko Haram. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE United Nations House Bombings at Abuja in August 26th 2011, the US, alarmed by the sheer tactility of the operations, availed Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan of the list of the l sponsors of Boko Haram and was advised to act fast before they disintegrate Nigeria.