The Ohaneaze Youth Council, OYC, yesterday endorsed Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Dave Umahi of Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi States, respectively for a second term in office.
This was contained in a statement issued by the President of the OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
The endorsement came few days after the World Igbo Youth Council, WIYC, asked Governor Ikpeazu of Abia to forget the temptation of seeking for a second term in 2019.
The national spokesperson of the group, Mazi Alex Okemiri, had advised Ikpeazu to resign as Abia Governor to avoid being honoured as “the face of bad Governance and worst Governor in Nigeria.”
However, Isiguzoro described WIYC’s stand as the height of recklessness, warning that the apex-youth group would no longer condone “the desperate and ceaseless attempt by some persons to tarnish the reputation of the South-East Governors.”
He noted that “we have been following the trend of activities among all the governors serving the first tenure in the country. Our findings show that the three Governors in the South-East, who are currently in their first tenure, have performed beyond average.
“We, therefore, note with concern the media attack on the person of Governor Ikpeazu by the World Igbo Youth Council, to the effect that he does not deserve second term.
“We are at a loss on the yardstick used by the said group in arriving at their decision. We are wondering whether they are from the blues, or they deliberately refused to see the development realities on ground in Abia State.
“The Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide, therefore, warns that the era of political attack dogs hiding under some groups to discredit our serving leaders will no longer be condoned.
“Rather than distract these governors, any person interested in the position should wait for the right time to take a shot at the position, if indeed such a person gets the people’s mandate.
“May we restate for emphasis that the Ohanaeze Youth Council is pleased with Governor Ikpeazu of Abia, Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Umahi of Ebonyi State. They have all done well. This is not about party politics but about the realities on ground.”
