Ohanaeze Ndigbo Accused EFCC Over Okorocha and Others (2023 Presidency)
Apex
Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has accused the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of making itself a willing tool towards
harassing the people of the South-East out of the 2023 presidential race.
This
was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President-General of the
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike.
Okwu,
who lauded former Imo Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha for joining the
presidential race, said it has become a norn for the EFCC to go after the
people of the South-East once they showed interest in the presidential race.
The
anti-graft agency had on Monday filed a 17-count charge against Okorocha over
alleged looting of about N2.9 billion as governor.
Reacting,
the OYC advised the EFCC not to return to the ugly days of the former President
Olusegun Obasanjo during which the agency was used to intimidate all opposition
politicians.
Okwu
said “the decision of Senator Rochas Okorocha is welcomed heartily by the
entire Igbo youths. We have said it time without number that all the
presidential materials from the South-East should make their declarations
without further delay. So, we commend Okorocha for taking the bold step and
urge him not to relent but to pursue the project vigorously.
“We
have no doubt in our mind that he is one of the best materials fit for the
office of the President and deserves to be so considered by his party, the All
Progressives Congress, APC, who must zone the ticket to the South-East if they
mean well for this country.”
He
warned the EFCC to “stop this needless harassment and intimidation of Igbo
politicians simply because of the 2023 general elections. We know the EFCC is
acting on a script of a certain politician but we assure them that their evil
plot has already crashed like a pack of cards.
“No
level of antics will intimidate Ndigbo out of the presidential race which is
our turn by every indices. They should leave Okorocha, VON DG, Osita Okechukwu
and other Igbo men and women alone.
“Having
said this, we assure Owelle Rochas Okorocha that Ndigbo are proud of him and we
stand by him; he should not be cowed but stand firm as we all go into this
battle to give Ndigbo their deserved place in the Nigerian polity.”