The umbrella Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Wednesday distanced itself from the alleged endorsement of Hope Uzodinma as governor of Imo State.
The denial came on the heels of a statement credited to Barrister Uche Okwukwu, the suspended secretary general of the organisation, which claimed that the group had endorsed Uzodinma’s governorship.
Debunking the claim on Wednesday, Uche Achi- Okpaga, the national publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze said Okwukwu was “gasping for media attention and finds Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a veritable “okada” to quicken his velocity.”
The statement which was made available to TheNiche read: “I have been inundated with calls and text messages on a media report credited to Barrister Uche Okwukwu, the estranged Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the effect that Ohanaeze supports Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC who was recently declared as the Governor of Imo State by the Supreme Court.
“It is just very apt to say that Bar Uche Okwukwu is gasping for media attention and finds Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a veritable “okada” to quicken his velocity.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not and has not made any such statement. If at all such a story should be credited to Ohanaeze it should also include Okwukwu’s status in Ohanaeze. Recall that prior to the last presidential election Bar Okwukwu breached his duties and prostituted his office and powers including usurping the powers and duties of the President General as a result of which he was suspended indefinitely as Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The fact that he was used and thrown away, like the toilet tissue, by his pay masters is a story for another day.
“I therefore implore Bar Okwukwu to steer clear of Ohanaeze, enjoy his indefinite suspension and as well continue to lick his self inflicted political wounds.
“Ohanaeze is not disposed to be dragged into this raging controversy at this time. All we expect is that the Supreme Court should be relied upon as a Court that respects the rule of law and not only dispenses justice but make justice seem to have been done.
“Any judgement of the Apex Court that evokes the kind of controversy this particular one has evoked should make the Supreme Court to have a rethink in order not to smear her credibility in the mud.
“One would expect that such controversies when they come from lower courts receive assuaging judgements based on the proper interpretation of law.”