SGF: Buhari, APC, PDP Leaders Gang-up Against Ogbonnaya Onu —IMC Raises Alarm

It is with deep sense of regret that the leadership of Igbo Mandate
Congress (IMC) received reports of massive gang-up against Chief Dr
Ogbonnaya Onu, President Buhari's preferred choice for the position of
the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by some
elements within APC and opposition PDP.

Igbo Mandate Congress have followed the relationship between President
Muhammadu Buhari and the leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC)
in the South East notable among whom is Chief Dr Ogbonnaya Onu,
Senator Chris Ngige and Chief Rochas Okorocha, and we have it on good
records that the incumbent President has respect for the trio.

The level of mudslinging, blackmail and campaign of calumny and
gang-up against Chief Ogbonnaya Onu of recent has attracted the
attention of IMC. Information reaching us has outlined those
campaigning against Ogbonnaya Onu's candidacy for the post of SGF as
including;

1. Chief Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State who prefers his
in-law, and former Imo State SSG, Prof Anthony Anwuka for the
position.

2. Chief Dave Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State who believes that an
Ogbonnaya Onu as SGF from Ebonyi State will dwindle the political
fortunes of the PDP in the next dispensation.

3. Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Nigeria's immediate past SGF who was not
able to make even his principal, Goodluck Jonathan execute any
tangible project in the South East for the four years he was in
office. The 2nd Niger Bridge and Enugu International Airport being
'419' on the Igbo Nation. This man believes that Onu's influence will
whittle down his own influence in the State.

4. Chief Ike Ekwweremadu, Deputy Senate President, who is being
pressurized to join the blackmail Ogbonnaya Onu campaign, so as to
maintain the supremacy of the PDP in the Enugu-Ebonyi Stateaxis

5. Chief Rotimi Amechi, who is cashing in on the division within the
South East, to position himself for the plum appointment.
Igbo Mandate Congress wishes to note that these men have contributed
in one way or the other to move Nigeria forward.

1. Chief Rochas Okorocha had the foresight to drag a faction of the
All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) into the Buhari-Tinubu alliance

2. Chief Dave Umahi, despite all odds, have proved from the Ebonyi
State example, that a victimized Deputy Governor can defeat the
candidate of a sitting governor, and emerge as a State Chief
Executive-a feat not lost on lovers of democracy

3. Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, who through the act of God, benefited from
our protests after the 2011 elections, that Igbo be made Senate
President which ex-President Jonathan compensated with an SGF slot.

4. Chief Ike Ekweremmadu, who through another act of God, secured a
slot for the Igbo race in the 5th National Assembly, despite being in
the opposition PDP

5. Chief Rotimi Amechi, who refused Presidential impunity in Rivers
State and set stage for a Southern platform of 'Change'.

Igbo Mandate Congress believes that Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, a former
National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a
consistent member of the opposition since 1999 is ably qualified for
the position. This Ebonyi State born former governor was part of those
who helped form a coalition that led to the formation of the APC. He
also helped some Igbos in the north to remain and cast votes for the
opposition.

Igbo Mandate Congress believes that anybody can pursue his political
ambition of being the SGF, and believes that Senator Chris Ngige and
Prof Anthony Anwuka and indeed others are not inferior choices but
ganging up against a particular person and putting undue pressures on
the person of President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his preferred
choice, using instruments of blackmail, is not in the best interest of
the Igbo race.

Igbo Mandate Congress is known worldwide as a stakeholder in the
'Change' being celebrated in Nigeria today, and participated in
ensuring that Igbos in the North rejected some directives form
Ohanaeze and compromised Igbo Leaders to vote for the expired
"Transformational Agenda" in concert with Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the 19
Northern States and as such has the moral right to call erring leaders
t order.

Igbos in the APC should pursue their ambitions without puling down
others. They should promote their preferred candidate without
rubbishing the efforts of others. Let this mudslinging politics stop
for once.
—247NigeriaNews