Ohanaeze Indigbo to meet on Jonathan’s second term

A socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, says it has yet to take a decision on whether or not to support President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Dr. Gary Enwo-Igariwey, told Saturday PUNCH that the group would soon meet to discuss the issue.

He also said he was not in a position to make an independent assessment of the President’s performance.

Enwo-Igariwey said, “We have not taken a position on the matter. The Igbo people will meet and discuss it before taking a position. I cannot also express my personal position on it too because my opinion cannot be separated from that of Ohanaeze Indigbo.”

However, the President of Ndigbo Unity Forum, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum, said Jonathan failed on his election promises to the people and therefore does not deserve Nigerians’ mandate for a second term.

Chukwudum said, “In 2011, Jonathan promised to build three oil refineries and where are the refineries now? The prices of petrol and kerosene have risen beyond the reach of the ordinary citizens.

“Electricity bills have gone up without commensurate improvement in power supply. In fact, the cost of living has gone up under Jonathan’s watch.

“The incessant strikes in the health and education sectors as well as the Boko Haram insurgency are critical issues Jonathan needs to tackle before he can talk of seeking re-election.”

But Ohanaeze Indigbo Secretary General, Dr. Joe Nwogu, said Jonathan deserved re-election because his administration is transparent.

He said all the challenges confronting the country did not worth being used as yardsticks to determine whether the President deserves Nigerians’ mandate for a second term or not because he inherited the problems.

When asked to appraise Jonathan’s administration in terms of containing the violent activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Nwogu said, “The President inherited broken infrastructure and dilapidated economy. His efforts to tackle the Boko Haram menace are being sabotaged; some people don’t want him to succeed, that is why they are frustrating efforts by the President to tackle the insurgency.”