The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, chided President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, over his claim that Buhari could be compared with the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
It described the comment as sycophantic fallacy.
In a statement in Abakaliki, the Secretary General of the Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that Azikiwe, Awolowo and others that had paid their dues for the country without resorting to nepotism, foreign loans, abuse of power and ineptitude leadership as witnessed by Nigerians since 2015, should be accorded with some respect.”
He further said that the President might be unique and extraordinary in his career and lifestyle, but comparing him with Azikiwe and Awolowo is like comparing Idi Amin of Uganda with Britain’s Wilson Churchill, noting that Azikiwe and Awolowo were the progenitors of the nation.
He stated: “Femi Adesina was right because under his boss, Nigeria entered into recession twice. Under Buhari, Nigeria became the world’s headquarters of poverty unlike Azikiwe and Awolowo that was fascinated with issues of good quality policies that boosted the standards of living of Nigerians in the early ‘60s.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide idolises the immeasurable past contributions and legacies left behind by Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and others who worked with uncommon patriotism and selflessness that built a viable nation that functions with the international community conceding that Nigeria remained Africa’s pride in all ramifications”.
Isiguzoro said the presidential spokesman might be afraid of the entrance of Femi Fani-Kayode into the mainstream party.
