PRESS STATEMENT
Our attention has been drawn to a ridiculous publication written and circulated by one Kelechi Uzomah, in which he presented himself as the National President of the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate. We consider it necessary to set the record straight and categorically state that Kelechi Uzomah is not a member of the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate, not to talk of being its National President. He has never held such an office and has no mandate whatsoever to speak for or represent the association.
To show that he is an outsider who does not have any knowledge of the leadership structure of our esteemed group, he arrogated him the non-existent position of National President. What we have in Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate is the Office of the President which is the highest office. One would have thought that an impostor would have been smart enough to expose himself the knowledge of the organogram of the group he intended to impersonate.
For record sake, the publication was neither authorised, commissioned nor issued by the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate. Its contents are entirely the personal views of Kelechi Uzomah, and the association completely disassociates itself from them. It is therefore misleading for him to attach the name of an organisation he does not belong to to a publication expressing his personal political views.
We hereby warn Kelechi Uzomah to desist from further presenting himself as an officer or representative of the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate. The name and identity of the association cannot be appropriated by anyone for personal political purposes. Any further attempt to impersonate the association, issue statements in its name or otherwise misrepresent his relationship with the organisation will attract an appropriate response from the association, including recourse to the relevant legal authorities where necessary.
The Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate is a youth-oriented organisation committed to encouraging meaningful participation of young people in politics and public leadership. It is against this background that we acknowledge the candidacy of Hon. Uchenna Agasu as one that resonates with the aspirations of a growing number of young people across Okigwe North. His emergence has demonstrated that young people can aspire to positions of serious political responsibility and earn the confidence of their political constituencies.
We also note the maturity with which Hon. Uchenna Agasu and his media team have conducted their campaign. Rather than engaging in needless confrontations, they have continued to communicate their message and pursue their political programme. We believe that political disagreements should be addressed through issues, ideas and competing visions, not through personal attacks or attempts to create needless controversy.
It is therefore unfortunate that an individual who has no standing within our association would attempt to create the impression that the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate shares his views on the candidacy of Hon. Uchenna Agasu. It does not. Whatever personal disagreement Kelechi Uzomah may have with Agasu is entirely his own and should remain so. He cannot manufacture an organisational platform for himself where none exists.
His continued attempt to provoke a response from Hon. Uchenna Agasu does not confer on him the authority he does not possess. The fact that a political candidate chooses not to engage every provocation should not be interpreted as weakness, nor should it give anyone the licence to speak in the name of an organisation without authorisation.
Going forward, we urge the public, particularly political stakeholders across Okigwe Zone, to disregard any statement credited to Kelechi Uzomah in his purported capacity as National President of the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate. He does not represent the association, and he has never been authorised to speak on its behalf.
As an organisation focused on youth participation, we remain committed to encouraging young people to take their rightful place in politics and governance. Young people are leaders of today, not merely leaders of tomorrow, and we will continue to support the participation of credible young people like Hon Uchenna Agasu, who emerge through legitimate political processes. We will not allow attention seekers, personal attacks or unauthorised publications to distract the youth constituency from that vision.
Signed:
Dr Arinze Emwerem
President
Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate
Engr Ikedi Uzowuru
Secretary
Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate
