Youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has dismissed a statement by one Igboayaka Igboayaka, who claimed to have declared former South-East governors persona non-grata.
Igboayaka, who claimed to be President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, had attacked the leaders for endorsing President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
He mentioned the likes of Senator David Umahi, Ambassador Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ambassador Okezie Ikpeazu Sullivan Chime, Chris Ngige, among others, accusing them of political betrayal.
But in a statement issued on Monday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, urged the general public to ignore what he called “antics of an impostor.”
Okwu, while accusing Igboayaka of impersonation, said it was unjustifiable to declare anyone persona non grata for holding a political opinion.
According to him, “It is within the rights of the former governors and indeed anyone else to decide who they want to support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Time has gone for people to come on the media to insult leaders simply for not aligning with their political beliefs, more so when such is coming from an impostor. Leaders in other zones of the country have also at one point or the other declared support for one political party or another, but nobody has come to insult them.
“As we inch closer to the 2027 general elections, we urge our people to be mindful of the fact that support is never gotten by cohesion but persuasion.
“Political rascalism will not be tolerated in the South-East this time; what the so-called Igboayaka did was the height of rascality and stands condemned.
“Those behind this mask should desist from disparaging our leaders. These are people who have served their states meritoriously at one point or the other, and we are not going to sit by and allow unknown quantities to use them to chase clout.
“It is highly despicable to deride our most distinguished leaders, including the likes of Ambassadors Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, who have continued to make the youths proud, as well as the workaholic works minister, Engr David Umahi. These are eminent leaders and we totally respect their decision.
“We are very much aware of people sponsoring the so-called Igboayaka and it is only a matter of time and we will expose them if they don’t desist from this infamous path.”
