All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Chris Ngige, has debunked a statement credited to Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Afred Achebe, saying the monarch was misinterpreted.
Ngige, through a statement by his campaign organisation on Wednesday, signed by Okelo Madukaife, insisted that the message of the monarch was lost in translation from Igbo to English “as we are sure that Ofala prayers are not offered in any other language, but Igbo.
“However, since Ngige is in touch with the highly knowledgeable traditional ruler, he would take steps to communicate with him to clarify the ostensibly misinterpreted message, particularly as it relates to communications with the palace in the recent past by Ngige.
“Unlike those in the saddle of Anambra State Government, who have again rushed in to play politics with everything sacred, we will not dignify the message of hate from the citadel of power in Anambra State personified by those who point left when they mean to turn right.
“However it is pertinent to note that the Ofala of Obi Alfred Achebe, Agbogidi, our respected traditional ruler, the one who the Onitsha people dating back to the Great Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik), for who Ngige worked hard as a Zikist, runs weeklong from October 7, 2013 to October 13, 2013,” the statement read in part.
Ngige explained that he has always held Achebe in very high esteem. “That esteem increased recently, when he sought to, and indeed distanced himself successfully from the grand deceit called zoning in Anambra State governorship elections by resigning his position as Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers, when certain unwarranted dictations issued from Government House, Awka and beyond.
“It will, therefore, be out of tune for our candidate, who is grounded in traditional norms in Anigbo, our party who with the instrument of discipline has emerged the only frontline party with one candidate in the Anambra gubernatorial race to do anything that would hurt the Onitsha Traditional institution.
“We reserve further comments on this matter, particularly in the mass media, till we have had all the proposed discussions with his Royal Majesty”.
“Ahead of the manifestation of our role in the Ofala, we wish his Royal Majesty and the entire cradle of knowledge of Onitsha very hilarious celebrations, and deep reflections for the future of an Anambra State safely entrusted for the next four years in the hands of knowledgeable, exposed and humane persons, with the will to apply Anambra State’s resources to the development of the state
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