The leadership of the pan-Igbo socio-political organisation, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, has told a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, that he should perish the thought of seeking the presidency in 2015.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Gary Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey, passed down the order on Monday when he visited Kalu in his Abuja residence.
Enwo-Igariwey, who however did not unveil the plans of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the 2015 presidential election, said the decision to bar Kalu and other prominent Igbo sons and daughters from seeking the presidency was taken after consultations.
He said this was in the interest of peace and unity, adding that a president of Igbo extraction would emerge at the appropriate time.
He said with the decision that all Igbo sons and daughters should drop their presidential ambition, the race would be able to speak with one voice.
There have been insinuations that the apex Igbo socio-political group had concluded plans to throw its weight behind the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The incumbent is from Bayelsa State, which is in the South South.
However, in the bid to woo the Igbo race, Jonathan had after his first term inauguration added Azikiwe, which is a name for the Igbo race, to his names.
Enwo-Igariwey told newsmen after the meeting with Kalu on Monday: “I was here about six months ago to actually discuss with him on issues concerning the Igbo nation.
“It was about rumours on presidential interest and I told him I will like to discuss that with him formally when he eventually decides on what to do.
“I have come in continuation of that discussion and to appeal to him to share my views with him.
“So, I have come here to rub minds with him and to tell him to join me in the discussions about Igbo unity so that we will speak with one voice.
“We no longer want a situation where we speak from different points and our agenda should be the same.
“I have talked to him about his views.
“I have appealed to him to shelve it in the interest of the Igbo nation.
“I have appealed to him to join hands with us and at the appropriate time when we make our statement, it will be with one voice as a people.
“That a great son like him should also join in that decision making and I have appealed to him to shelve that ambition in the interest of peace, until such decisions are made in Igboland.
“And he has given me his assurances that he will listen to Ohanaeze’s appeal so that we speak with one voice in the interest of the people.”
Kalu also told newsmen: “Mr. President (Enwo-Igariwey) was here and he advised that he would like the Igbo to speak with one voice.
“They say a tree cannot make a forest.
“If the apex organisation in Igboland wants to say well, we don’t want any of our sons to contest for election this time, well, we will hold on and work with them to see what they will do.
“I will never be a scapegoat that will sacrifice my tribe.
“Whatever my tribe says is superior to what I will think.
“I believe they have their reasons and their reasons may be more superior to what I think.
“He was here six months ago and I told him we will discuss it between December and January.
“And not only him, there are many of our Igbo elites who have been to me in Lagos, Abuja and in the Diaspora and I don’t know who I am to say no to them.”
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