I was craftily denied Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo presidency – Niger-based aspirant

One of the contestants in the January 10, 2021 President-General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo worldwide election which took place in Owerri, Imo State capital, Valentine Oparaocha, has called for a review of the election results to reflect justice and fairness.

Arewa PUNCH reports that Oparaocha’s call followed the passing of both Dr. George Obiazor and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who were the last two occupiers of the exalted seat of the apex igbo socio-cultural group.

The two, who at various times were Presidents General of the body, had passed on respectively and at different times, thus making the seat again vacant.

Oparaocha who is a security expert told Arewa PUNCH that he doesn’t want to be seen as mocking or being disrespectful to the dead by raising the red flag when the remains of the late Iwuanyanwu, the last occupant of the seat was yet to be interred, nonetheless, he argued that there should not be a vacuum, hence his decision to reclaim what he insisted was “craftily denied him by the electoral committee.”

Oparaocha, who claimed to have come second in that contest, recalled that the former president, the late Obiazor Obiozor, was disqualified on account of his age while Iwuanyanwu was never a part of the contestant.

According to him, while Obiazor was cleared to stand for the election and even declared President of the apex Igbo-cultural  organisation Iwuanyanwu who was never part of the election or participated in the contest was after the death of Obiozor handed over the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo for reasons best known to these behind the scheme.

Oparaocha, a retired security personnel, insisted that he came second in the election despite the discouragements, manipulations, and irregularities condoned by those who presided over the electoral process.

As a result, he expressed readiness to pursue and reclaim his ‘stolen mandate.’

In a protest letter to the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Electoral Committee with headquarters in Enugu, Enugu State titled, “Petition for Review of 2021 President-General Election and Reclamation of Mandate,” made available to Arewa PUNCH in Minna, Oparaocha said he believes that he should be the rightful occupant of the office.

The security expert who said he doesn’t want to be seen as mocking or being disrespectful to the dead by raising the red flag when the remains of the late Iwuanyanwu, the last occupant of the seat was yet to be interred, argued that there should not be a vacuum hence his decision to write to reclaim what he said he was “craftily denied of by the electoral committee.”

Oparaocha argued that it was still the tenure of Imo State to occupy the office stressing that the state’s tenure had not expired, while noting further that it would be a great honour done to him and Imo State if he was allowed to pilot the affairs of the group to complete the tenure.

Opening up more on the issue, he maintained,  “I came second in that contest.  Recall that the former president, late Prof. George Obiozor was disqualified on account of his age, but despite that, he (Obiozor) was cleared to stand for the election and even declared President of the apex Igbo organisation.

“Again, the immediate past President, late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was never a part of the election or participated in the contest. He was handed over the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo for reasons best known to those behind the scheme after the death of Obiozor.”

“I came second despite discouragements and notwithstanding manipulations and irregularities condoned by those who presided over the electoral process, and I am prepared to pursue and reclaim my stolen mandate,” Oparaocha affirmed.

Oparaocha clarified that while himself, the late Obiozor, and one other contestant went through the electoral process after procuring a form for N500,000, said he was not happy, though he decided to allow peace reign when the late Iwuanyanwu was pronounced as a replacement for the late Obiozor.

The petitioner said that now that the stool is vacant and there is still time for an Imo State indigene, he is still interested and ready to reclaim his lost mandate as one of the contestants who went through all the electoral process and also came second in the contest.

He added, “The late Iwuanyanwu never bought form or participated in the electoral process but was also made the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo President-General without buying the form at the mandatory N500, 000, without contesting election and without screening which is against the constitution of the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo world wide.

“It is still the tenure of Imo state for the stool has not expired, it will be a great honour done to me and Imo state if I am allowed to pilot the affairs of the group to complete the Imo tenure.

“Due to electoral irregularities and mandate theft, I seek to reclaim my lost mandate, especially now that the office has become vacant again and Imo State tenure has not elapsed. Though the last occupant of the seat is yet to be accorded final burial rites, there shouldn’t be a vaccum in the leadership of the apex Igbo organisation,” Oparaocha said.