From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America (USA) and leading contender for the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General in the January 2021 election, Prof. George Obiozor, has said that the letter purportedly written by the Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hotore, backing his nomination to lead the apex Igbo group, was ‘super fake”.
Obiozor, who was Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), said the letter was carefully churned out by his detractors to cast doubts over the leadership selection process of Ohanaeze, by suggesting that it was manipulated by the Fulani group.
He said no such letter was written by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hotore or any other group of the Fulani ethnic group.
He also described those behind the fake letter as “Pharaohs that don’t know Joseph”.
Obiozor, who was Nigeria’s ambassador to Israel, from 1999 to 2003, also served as High Commissioner to Cyprus and holds a pedigree many believe is not matched by other contestants for the Ohanaeze leadership.
Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo rotates among all Igbo states and now berths in Imo State where different interest groups are up in arms against the choice of Obiozor by the Imo people who see him as most suited for the assignment given his national and international exposure and network.
Obiozor further said that, “anyone who has known me in the past 30-40 years, read any of my books, newspaper articles or television interviews will conclude as many have acknowledged that this concocted letter is a super fake in both expression; subject matter and contents.”
He also expressed gratitude to Imo State Ohaneze Ndigbo, elders, traditional rulers, youths and all Imo stakeholders for choosing him as their consensus candidate.
A one time federal government appointee doesn’t look suitable for the post of president of OHANEZE NDIGBO.
From the point of view of an Igbo man and an apolitical apologist and back ground. I have read so much about Prof. Ogbozor with a far reaching pedigree of the ordinary man and an intimidating academic profile. But I must comment that from onset of the eras of Ohaneze-Ndigbo, president-general position I have only endorsed the outgoing president, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who I have watched his activities in the Nigerian space and seen him as an Igbo nationalist and a man of his words and wish he had more time in this era to actualize the Igbo dreams. But any knowledgeable Igbo man of Ibo extraction should understand fully the aspirations of the true Igbo man in practical terms not in the pages of newspaper tabloids. Today, the Igbos are the endangered species of the Nigerian nation and any little mistake will lead to the extinction of the race. So , Prof. George Obiozor if you are a true son of the soil you should dance the right orchestra recognizing the footsteps of our nationalist leaders as: M. I. Okpara, Sam Mbakwe and other grassroot leaders of Igbo extraction who understands the desire of a true Igbo man. Amidst rumours making rounds in the Nigerian news media that you are being foisted on the Igbo socio cultural organization by another parallel cultural group ,Myeti- Allah, whose own culture, religion/ tradition are quite different from the Ibos in all ramifications and had remained a source of concern in the present time. So, I feel your intellectual background will guide you to checkmate any hidden agenda as rumoured in different quarters. In plain languages what I want to say is that the Ibos want an igbo of integrity in that position and not an igbo remoted by other tribes in the country as we have seen in many Igbo politicians. And posterity will always leave them at crossroad.