The President General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Cross River State, High Chief Chukwuemeka Egwuonwu, says only performing candidates will have the blessings of Ohanaeze come 2027.

High Chief Egwuonwu disclosed this shortly after the Inauguration of the new executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Cross River State Chapter/Thanksgiving Mass at the St. Bernard Catholic Church in Calabar, Sunday.

He said the socio-political organisation will make a statement on candidates who they discover are out to manipulate the masses and subject them to hardship.

“Every human being is a political animal, and Ohanaeze will not be different.

“Any person who has performed will have the blessings of Ohanaeze.

“But if we discover that somebody has just gone there to manipulate the masses and subject them to hunger and unnecessary hardship, we will make a statement”, he said.

He, however, commended the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, saying the governor has kept his agreement with the masses, including non-indigenes.

He also lauded the governor for the appointment of one of them as a Special Adviser to the governor on Non-Indigene Affairs, saying it shows the governor values them.