Breaking: Ohaneze set to support Siminalayi Fubara
Igbo leaders under the banner of Ohaneze in session. They are ready to back Sim FubaraThe mainstream socio-cultural organization of the Igbo nation, Ohaneze Nde Igbo has decided to throw its weight behind the gubernatorial ambition of Siminalayi Fubara.
This is authoritative.
The decision of Ohaneze is coming in the wake of an earlier decision by Ijaw Wari Worldwide to back the PDP flagbearer in Rivers State.
Ijaw Wari said that after careful consideration of the Ijaw candidates who are aspiring, it has come to the conclusion that Siminalayi Fubara popularly known as Sim is the most qualified to lead the State.
The Porr Harcourt Telegraph has learnt that the decision of Ohaneze was taken at a meeting of the organisation which also resolved to back Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
An inside source told this publication in a telephone chat that “the decision of Ndiigbo to support Fubara was borne out of the sterling performance in office of Governor Nyesom Wike.
“It was not done out of sentiment”, a former Igbo member of the House of Representatives who served in the Sixth Legislative Assembly remarked.
“There were representations from persons who revealed to us that the mother of Tonye Cole is Igbo. They said as a result, that we should persuade Ibos in Rivers State to kean towards Cole.
“But we noted that the complete transformation of the Rivers Governor which has put Rivers State in the limelight cannot be ignored by Ohaneze.
Sir Siminalayi Fubara (centre) flanked on the right by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chairman Rivers Elders Council and Prof Ngozi Odu, Deputy Governorship candidate on the left.“Ohaneze therefore resolved that in addition to its support for Peter Obi, Sir Siminalayi Fubara will receive the full support of Igbos who are resident in Rivers State.”
We have also learnt that Ohaneze is not oblivious of the fact that two Igbo governors, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, are working intimately with Governor Wike.
Their fight for a Southern president has somehow rubbed off on the aspiration of Peter Obi who is running strongly for president, an Ibo trader said in Port Harcourt.
“Whatever Ohaneze Ndigbo says we should do, we will do. We are a people and we have a direction and we are everywhere in Nigeria, growing our business and growing the economy of states.
“What Wike has done here (Rivers State) is good for business. Our businesses are benefitting from the massive provision of infrastructure.”
An Igbo leader in Rivers State who spoke under anonymous conditions when asked if he has heard about the move by Ohaneze to endorse Fubara stated, “I have heard it. I have also heard that Ohaneze is trying to reach Wike with the Igbo decision to support Fubara.”