Crisis engulfs Ohanaeze Ndigbo over Jonathan’s largesse

Feelers from Ohanaeze Ndigbo indicates that the group might split after the Christmas festivity.

A source told reporters that the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization had been engulfed in crisis since after a secret visit of its leaders to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The source, who is a prominent member of the group, alleged that the delegation received N30m from the Presidency and another N10m from the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah.

He claimed the N10m from Oduah was to appreciate the group’s solidarity for her during her ordeal over the N255m bulletproof jeep saga.

“The cash gift of N40m, which is calculated at supporting President Jonathan for the 2015 election, sparked off the crisis. The whole fight got to the peak when leaders of Ohanaeze excluded our youths from the sharing formula.

“With the development on the ground, some very strong members of ours are pushing for a split and that could happen by the first or second week of January,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the Concerned Igbo Patriots has also alleged that with the secret visit to Aso Rock, the current leadership of the Ohanaeze might have started trading with Ndigbo interest again like their predecessors did in the run-up to 2011 elections.

The CIP, in a text message to our correspondent, also argued that the delegation to Aso Rock was a faction of Ohanaeze under Gary Igariwe, just as it kicked against Eze Cletus Ilomuanya leading Igbo traditional rulers to such a meeting.

The CIP leader said, “They will sell Ndigbo as Ralph Uwechue did. Prof. Ben Nwabueze is the Igbo spokesman for the National Conference.”

However, Secretary General of the Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, dismissed the alleged cash gifts to the delegation as “a fabrication by faceless scary minds, which should not command my comment.”

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