8th April, 2023
The Youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has refuted claims on social media that it betrayed and sabotaged the parent Organisation.
The Financial Secretary of the Wing, Mr. Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, while speaking with newsmen in Owerri on Saturday, denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded and a “weightless element of distraction”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo people.
Sections of the social media have been awash with allegations of sabotage and sellout leveled against Arthur-Ugwa and Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, Secretary-General of the Youth Wing.
However, Arthur-Ugwa said that the Youth Wing, as well as other affiliate bodies of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, remained in loyal support of all programs and activities of the parent organization and its national leadership.
He added that at no time would the Wing say or do things suggestive of disagreement with the parent organization, hence the need for members of the public to be wary of detractors.
“It is rather unfortunate that any person or group would insinuate dispositions to sabotage on the part of Ohanaeze Youth Wing, whose activities and programmes have always been in tandem with those of our parent body.
“During the campaigns that preceded the 2023 General Elections, various candidates of political parties sought the support of Nigerians through private visits, consultations and open meetings.
“That we opened our doors to visits by politicians was only indicative of a level-playing ground for all actors in the political space and not a sign of sellout or sabotage of Igbo interests.
“To set the records straight, at no time did we, independent of the national leadership of our parent body, endorse any politician,” he said.
He called on those peddling the allegation to desist forthwith or get ready to face the legal consequences of character assassination.
He also urged the youth of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and indeed all Nigerians not to pay attention to such allegations but to focus their energies on issues of interest to the Organisation and Nigeria at large.