Jonathan, Buhari split Ohaneze

A simmering bat­tle is raging in Ohanaeze, the apex Igbo so­cio- cultural organiza­tion. Behind the crisis which is taking different turns with each pass­ing day is the February 14 presidential elec­tions, and who between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party, PDP, and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC General Muham­madu Buhari, the orga­nization will back.

Although most affiliates and elders of the organization are disposed towards a sec­ond term for Jonathan, there are pockets of resistance within, which at the moment is trying the very soul of the 35 year-old body. To diffuse the tension generated, a new force has emerged seeking to pave a neutral path. The new group, Sunday Sun learnt is neither for Jonathan nor for Buhari. It only wants Ohanaeze to just remain a mere “socio-cultural organi­zation without the capacity and hunger for political en­dorsements.” Interestingly, most of the ‘warriors’ in the current face-off are playing a cat and mouse game, refus­ing to openly identify with their desires. So much is the tension and suspicion within the Igbo umbrella body that moves have been on to sack the Igariwey-led executive and replace it with a care­taker committee led by Chief Ralph Obioha. The elders committee led by the first re­public Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi cited constitutional breaches on tenure limits to justify their action. The move to sack the executive has, how­ever, met stiff resistance with a high level official of the presidency and two serving governors intervening.

On the heels of the dis­agreement, a bomb explo­sion rocked the secretariat on Thursday, last week, fuelling suspicion of desperation and degeneration of the crisis. It came a few days when some leaders of the organization met with President Jonathan on January 14. The meet­ing was to pave the way for a formal adoption of the president in the election. The president at the meeting had reassured Ohanaeze of more infrastructural presence in the south east and more high profile appointments. He said among other things that; ”since I came to Abuja , I have always seen the Secre­tary to the Government of the Federation, SGF as the prime minister….”

After the meeting, brush­ing aside some puny op­position to the adoption of Jonathan as its candidate, the enlarged body went ahead with clear indications on who they will back.

The president of Njiko Igbo, an affiliate of Ohanaeze, Rev Okechukwu Obioha told Sunday Sun that supporters of Buhari within the organization are causing trouble, and creating divisions. Obioha, whose or­ganization is rooting for Jon­athan said ‘when they speak at our meetings, it is easy to know where their sympa­thies lie. In fact, a leading member of Ohanaeze has told me not to call him again because of this. The day Bu­hari was coming to campaign at Okpara Square, there were vehicles every where waiting for Buhari’.Former Anambra State governor, Chukwue­meka Ezeife corroborated him saying that Jonathan and Buhari have been sending people to Ohanaeze meet­ings.

The struggle for the con­trol of Ohanaze has equally pitted the Imo State gover­nor, Owelle Rochas Okoro­cha, who is of the All Pro­gressives Congress ,against his colleagues. Indeed it was alleged that his involve­ment has transcended mere passing interests to financial mobilization. ‘Some people are after the money that the Imo State governor and the authorities in Saudi Arabia are bringing through Buhari.’ Ezeife stated. Also alluding to the fact that the crisis in Ohanaeze revolves around money, the Igbo Youths Movement, an affiliate of Ohanaeze recently warned that they will swing sup­port to any of the gladiators that recognizes and engages them. The caretaker com­mittee that was set up in the wake of the purported dis­solution of the executive similarly gave indications that they will work with any of the candidates that is ready to demonstrate in con­crete terms that they will ‘ do something for the Igbo if they get elected’

Obioha, who is not happy with developments in the much respected organization has canvassed the stoppage of hostilities. He said, “I do not know why the problems are coming now, just a few weeks to the election. I sup­port the move that everything should be put on hold until March, after the elections. That way there will be peace in Ohanaeze, and we can go into the elections in peace and understanding, avoiding the current impasse. What is happening is a shame to the Igbo race. They are creat­ing the wrong impressions to the outside world. I hope, it won’t be too late to beat a retreat. The people who are trying to tear apart Ohanaeze and its affiliates are selfish, and are not bothered about the implications of their ac­tions. Those of us who sup­port Jonathan are having a tough time at meetings. The image of the organization is dimming, and something must be done before it is too late.’ He informed that he was in the process of writing leading and respected Igbo leaders for their intervention. Elaborating further, he said, “Everybody is struggling to see who will negotiate with the president. There is no more trust at all. We need to return Ohanaeze to what it was before. And we need to decentralize it and take it to the grassroots. For now, it is up there.”

BY CHIDI OBINECHE