|
New Page 13
2007: I stand by Ohanaeze —Iwuanyanwu
EMMA OGU,
Owerri
FRONTLINE
politician, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has again aligned himself with the
position of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze, that
Ndigbo should produce the country’s President in 2007.
He also described as false reports that he
was now supporting former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida for the
2007 presidency.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, who is Chairman,
Planning and Strategy Committee of Ohanaeze stated yesterday in an
interview with newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, that as one of the
leaders of Ohanaeze, the position of the body on the 2007 presidency
remains his own position.
According to him, as Chairman of Planning
and Strategy Committee of the apex body, he has a duty to support Ohanaeze
in its decision on the Presidency question.
The member of Board of Trustees of the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described as false a report that he and
some other prominent politicians in the South East have thrown their weight
behind Gen. Babangida for the 2007 presidency.
Noting that he is in support of
Ohanaeze’s position on the Presidency, Chief Iwuanyanwu added that PDP has
directed its leaders not to come out to support any candidate until after 2005,
stressing that the earliest time he can support a candidate in line with the
party’s directive is 2006.
"I cannot disobey Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
I cannot disobey my party. Ohanaeze has said we are going to support the
Igbo now, so I have a duty to support Ohanaeze as the chairman of
planning and strategy committee of the body," he said.
According to the renowned entrepreneur,
though Gen. Babangida is his friend, the former military President has not told
him that he would run for the Presidency in 2007.
"The question of supporting IBB does not
arise because he has not told me he will run," Iwuanyanwu said.
He disagreed with those who believe that
Ndigbo cannot make it in 2007, saying that Ohanaeze has already
started talking with other groups in all parts of the country on the
desirability for Ndigbo to produce the number one citizen of the country.
Ohanaeze,
according to him, also has a duty to stop any Igbo jostling for the nation’s
number two position in 2007, because it believed that Ndigbo are ripe to
produce the president of the country.
Chief Iwuanyanwu also said Ohanaeze
is embarking on reconciliation of all Igbo in the country, including those in
Rivers, Cross River, Benue, Bayelsa, Delta and others, so that they will unite
under one umbrella.
|
