Ohanaeze to Buhari: Don’t lose sleep over endorsement of Atiku

• Says President’s Victory In S’East Assured
A factional group of Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural group yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja where they tendered apologies to him for its earlier endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in next week’s election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Secretary General of the organisation, Uche Okwukwu also told President Buhari not to lose any sleep regarding the South East over the election, assuring that under a free, fair and credible election He (Buhari) will win majority of the votes in the zone.

Recall that the Chief John Nnia Nwodo-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the day President Buhari visited Anambra and Enugu states for his campaign rally, had endorsed Atiku Abubakar for the presidential election.

On the same day, the Secretary General opposed the decision and announced the endorsement of President Buhari as their preferred candidate. The development resulted in the expulsion of the Secretary General by the Nnia Nwodo leadership, but in a bid to fight back, Okwukwu also announced that the President General, Nwodo had been expelled and that a probe panel was set up to investigate him (Nwodo).

At the meeting with President Buhari yesterday, Okwukwu apologized to President Buhari over what the said adoption of Atiku would have caused him and assured the President that the Ohaneze and the South East were behind him.

Also speaking, leader of Ndigbo in the 19 Northern states, Chi Nwogu said that Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and Abuja were with him and will support his bid during the election. Former Chairman of the World Igbo Congress, Kalu Kalu Diogu said he was attracted by the performance and focus of the president especially on economy, security and fight against corruption and assured the president that he would win more votes in 2019 than he did in 2015.

Other members of the delegation were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who facilitated the visit, Vice Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Lawrence Onuchukwu and members of World Igbo Union.