The self-acclaimed Caretaker Committee of apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has faulted the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the March 28 presidential election.

The committee had alleged that the tenure of the President General Chief, Enwo Igariwey, and its executives had expired in January as allegedly contained in the constitution of the body which stipulates two years tenure in office for its executives.

Secretary to the Caretaker Committee, Mr. Zed Chukwujama, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Enugu weekend.

The statement read: “We have salt deposits in Ebonyi State, a broken down cement factory at Nkalagu, the Enugu Coal Mines closed down, the Oji-River Thermal Station  not functioning, the river dock at Onitsha a mirage, the Enugu Onitsha Road as well as the Enugu-Port Harcourt roads as death traps. “The Aba dry dock is a mirage. Why should the Igbo not discuss these problems with President Jonathan? He is our President.

“The Federal Government’s Mid-term Assessment of their development investment has these figures: total investment in North Central zone-N495 billion, North West zone-N297 billion, South-West zone-N215 billion, South-South zone-N114 billion while in the South-East zone-N74 billion.

“Several billions of Naira was paid to the people of Zaki Biam and Odi as reparation for Injustices meted out to their people. It is highly believed by Ndigbo that Dr. Nwaorgu and Chief Igariweh are Campaigning against the reparation for the Igbo at the presidency for atrocities and injustices against Ndigbo.

“This is because Chief Amaechi and Chief Ralph Obioha are the Chairman and Secretary respectively and Dr. Zed Chukwujama the Chairman of the outreach sub committees of the Reparation Committee. Both of you (Igariwey and Nworgu) will explain your roles before the Igbo

“What offence have we committed for seeking to negotiate with the Arewa Consultative Forum about the life of Igbo all over the North? Does Dr. Joe Nwaorgu have the statistics of Internally Displaced Igbo (IDPs) in Nigeria as of today as a consequence of the 2015 general elections? “The children of those who are back are not enrolled in schools in the South East, the Igbo businesses in the North are closed, all the Igbo property in Abuja could be lost if there is mayhem in Nigeria. A small push and the almajiris will pounce on the Igbo who are easy prey.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu, dismissed claims from the caretaker committee of the expiration of their tenure in office. He said: “The constitution was amended in 2010 to pave way for four year duration of the executives instead of two. The evidence of the meeting where the amendment took place is available for Ndigbo to know that the caretaker committee leadership and its members are on a self serving mission.”

Source: VANGUARD