Vincent Kalu and Brown Chimezie

The Igbo World Union, an umbrella body of Igbo town unions in Nigeria and the Diaspora, has frowned at the tussle among Ohanaeze Ndigbo, over endorsement of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, describing it as a show of shame.

In an interview granted Daily Sun, the President-General of Igbo World Union (IWU), Sir Meshak Nnanta, said the Igbo nation at home and the Diaspora are yet to endorse any presidential candidate and, as such, any so-called endorsement by any group is a one-man show.

“Such a one-man opinion can never represent the view of Igbo nation,” he said.

While condemning the fracas within Ohanaeze, which has resulted in bitter exchange of words between President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief  Nnia Nwodo, and his erstwhile secretary, Nnanta alleged that it all boils down to issue of money and greed.

“When you see these people rushing to endorse a particular candidate, then, you know money is involved.  This was the same mistake they made in 2015, when Ohanaeze endorsed former president Goodluck Jonathan, and when he lost the election, the Igbo nation went down with him. You and I are living witnesses to such avoidable mistake made by our so-called leaders,”  he said.

Speaking on the basis which Igbo nation would endorse any presidential candidate, Nnanta said: “Any candidate seeking Igbo blessing must tell us what they would do for us, if they eventually win. Today, the entire South East grapple with infrastructure decay. No good road network, healthcare facilities and modern industries to provide employment for our teeming youths.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, has said no to boycott of the forthcoming elections and called on the Igbo to troop out on February 16 to cast their votes for the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The call is a tacit support to the position of Ohanaeze that endorsed Atiku last week, and, also, contrary to the election boycott campaigns by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).