2019: Ohanaeze denies endorsing Atiku

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Friday, refuted reports that it had settled for a presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Alongside some prominent sons of the South-East, the group was alleged to have endorsed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, in Enugu on Wednesday.

Although it admitted President General, Chief John Nwodo attended the meeting, the group said it was yet to conclude on who to support in the forthcoming poll.

This was made known in a statement issued by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Chuks Ibegbu,

The statement reads,” Ohanaeze Ndigbo has not yet adopted any Presidential candidate as some media houses recently reported.

“The visit of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar to some Igbo leaders in Enugu was not facilitated by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, though the President General and some chieftains of Ohanaeze Ndigbo were present.

“It was a town hall meeting organised by some friends and associates of Al.h Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, his Vice Presidential candidate and Ohanaeze leadership were invited.

“Of course, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is non-partisan but we cannot shirk our responsibility to ensure that the right people are in power for the benefit of Ndigbo and all Nigerians.

“We are elated, however, by the promise of Atiku Abubakar to restructure Nigeria and address the visible marginalisation of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo will early in January 2019 organize stakeholders and Imeobi meeting to decided the political trajectory and direction of Ndigbo in 2019.”