Ndigbo must extend search to Delta, Rivers States — Ohanaeze

•Cautions Critics Of Igbo Presidency
•Exonerates Amaechi From Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chieftain, Chief Richard Ozobu, has canvassed alliance, as a strong tool to realisation of presidency of Igbo extraction in 2023.

He said Ndigbo should extend the search for presidential candidate to the seven Igbo-speaking states recognised by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitution.

Ozobu also said Ndigbo’s interest would be well guaranteed, should the likes of Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who according to him, “is a complete Igbo man from Ikwere in Rivers State” was given opportunity to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Speaking in Enugu, yesterday, Ozobu said it was wrong to limit the search for a presidential candidate of Igbo extraction to the five core Igbo states of Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo, when the Ohanaeze Constitution had recognised Delta and Rivers as part of Igbo states.

In a related development, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide also cautioned those casting aspersion on Amaechi and other aspirants of Igbo extraction for presidency.

The admonition was on the heels of a group, Kaduna Communities for Social Justice (KCSJ), which Amaechi over recent the terrorist attack on passenger train.

A statement by the Secretary General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, at the weekend, said the group frowned against vilification of Igbo political leaders, adding that “campaigns of calumny or casting aspersions on Igbo presidential hopefuls will not be condoned,

He said: “Chibuike Amaechi is a registered member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Rivers State Chapter and a bonafide member of Ime Obi (the apex decision making organ in Ohanaeze) based on his position as former governor and current minister.