N200m Debt Saga: Ohaneze youth tasks Okowa to make peace with Ndigbo

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

The apex socio-cultural youth body, Ohanaeze Youth Council, (OYC) has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidat, Gov.Ifeanyi Okowa, to resolve his extant differences with the Igbo race before seeking for their support. The national president, Comrd. Igboayaka O Igboayaka in a statement called on Okowa to pay his debt of 200 million. It could be recalled that Gov. Okowa, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), while in Kaduna assured Ndigbo that the PDP government under Atiku Abubakar would ensure they are properly placed in government.

Okowa stressed that with Atiku as President in 2023, "it is the surest way for the Igbos to become the next President in Nigeria, hence, solicited for their support for the actualization of the Atiku/Okowa presidency come 2023" However, reacting to the said comments, Igboayaka lamented and accused the incumbent Governor of Delta State of blunt negligence towards the payment of his dues to the parent body of the Igbo race,the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. "Gov Ifeanyi Okowa who couldn't pay his dues to Ohanaeze Ndigbo that amount two hundred million naira (200m) or give an aid to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, a Socio-cultural organization of Ndigbo is promising Ndigbo heaven in Atiku's administration. "It's truism that 'Charity Begins at home'. So, if Gov Ifeanyi Okowa could not play any supportive role in Ohanaeze Ndigbo project as a Governor of Delta state since his seven years in office, how can his presidential administration with Atiku Abubakar pay attention to the plights of Ndigbo?" Igboayaka queried Comrade Igboayaka who faulted Okowa's choice location to address his own people, called on him to quit mocking the people, by living a heavy huge debt to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yet turns back to seek their support. Adding, "Governor Okowa's negligence to the plights of Ndigbo in Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an evidence that he will abandon the people the same way he abandoned Ohanaeze Ndigbo for another seven years, if his party wins the 2023 presidential election." "It's shameful and unacceptable that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa is talking to Ndigbo at Kaduna, a true Igbo leader should call Ndigbo and discuss his presidential bid in Igbo land and not in strange land". "If Gov Ifeanyi Okowa is financially updated and currently paying his dues in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he could have boldly demanded to address the people at the secretariat, Enugu other than this his display of crafty rigmarole in Kaduna", Igboayaka concluded.