From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The three individuals from Rivers State contesting for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General election set for January 2025 have unanimously called on former Inspector General of Police, Chief Mike Okiro, to drop his ambition.
The three aspirants, Omenazu Jackson, Fyneface Amechi, and Dim Uchechukwu Okwukwu, gathered to address the press on issues concerning the integrity of Ohanaeze and Okiro’s candidature in Port Harcourt yesterday.
They insisted that Okiro is a native of Obiakpu Community in Imo State and, therefore, should step aside for the contest for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General seat, which is zoned to Rivers State.
They expressed their displeasure at what they described as an attempt to shortchange them by a non-Rivers man.
According to them, Okiro, who had earlier received an endorsement from the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Rivers State, Chief Lucky Ekeji, for his eligibility, is “on a mission to cause a crisis by attempting to take what belongs to the Rivers people back to Imo State, which just concluded her tenure.”
They explained that, “Chief Mike Okiro is from Ogwumankwu village, Obiakpu community, Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State. His age grade is Otu Egobueze, and their secretary is Christopher Nze Umezuruike. Other members of his age grade are Chief Clement Mmata, Mr. Owuamala Stephen, and Chief Toke Gilbert.”
“His late younger brother, Eze Ozoemela Okiro, was the traditional ruler of Obiakpu community, Egbema, Imo State, and was a member of the traditional council under Gov. Udenwa. Chief Okiro was also the Special Adviser to former Governor Rochas on Security Matters.”
The three aspirants questioned how Okiro’s biological parents and brothers could be from Imo State while he claimed to be a Rivers man.
They further stated that the former IGP needs to explain how the miracle of his nativity occurred.
However, they have called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo to preserve its integrity and prestige, to avoid any reputational damage as a well-respected image apex Igbo group.
Additionally, the three aspirants urged the group not to allow the former IGP to contest, insisting that the slot was zoned to Rivers and not Imo State.
They, therefore, vowed to resist any attempt to shortchange them for a non-Rivers man in disguise, as in his days in the Nigerian Police Force, saying, “We will not allow that to repeat itself.”
