By Ezeocha Nzeh
Igbo apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has stated that the endorsement of presidential candidate of the described Labour Party, Peter Obi, by the three major socio political groups in Nigeria, including the Yoruba socio political group, Afenifere, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF), as well as the Middle Belt Forum (MBLF) has made him as a national movement ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Ohanaeze in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who alleged that there was an orchestrated plot by an unnamed South-East Governor to procure a fake endorsement for an infamous presidential candidate, in the name of the Igbo body, advised the Igbo Governor against using monetary inducements and fake appointments “to lure a section of Ohanaeze chieftains to endorse an unpopular and despised Presidential candidate ahead of the popular choice of Nigerians, the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi.”
According to the statement, “the desperation of this South-East Governor will sink him politically.
“His stock in trade is to always go contrary and adverse to the popular position of Ndigbo because he’s a poor student of history. His plan to use the brand name of Ohanaeze to play dirty politics for an unpopular candidate has been discovered and he should repent or be retired from active politics. No amount of persuasion and inducement will reverse the position of Ndigbo in 2023.
“On this note, Ohanaeze warns the said South-East Governor and a few chieftains of Ohanaeze Ndigbo not to use our name for monetary endorsement of any Presidential candidate.
“Ndigbo and Nigerians should know that any future endorsement by any section of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is imaginary and counterfeit, coined by the adversaries of the people.
“Surely, this time around, all the intending Igbo political saboteurs will be disgraced at the polls. Igbo’s position for 2023 is in line with Afenifere and Middle-Belt Forum that Mr. Peter Obi is Nigeria’s trend and movement for taking back Nigeria by Nigerians in 2023″.
Ohanaeze stressed that “the Labour Party Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi is not an Igbo Presidency movement but rather a Nigerian Project anchored on capacity, competence, and character.
“This clarification has become necessary for posterity’s sake. Ohanaeze join other ethnic groups like Afenifere, Middle-Belt Forum and PANDEF to insist that the rotational presidency between North and South is a must for equity and a Southern President should succeed President Buhari’s in 2023.
“We applaud the respected leaderships of Afenifere and Middle-Belt Forum for the adoption of Mr. Peter Obi as the best among other Presidential candidates based on age, fairness, competence and track records of accomplishment in governance which have been assessed and verified by Nigerians.
“This is the height of nationalism and patriotism by the leadership of the Southern and middle belt forum.
“We urge the Ondo Governor Akeredolu and his South-East counterpart to remember that Afenifere elders mean well for Nigeria and Obi’s Presidency will favour the Yoruba people and the Northern Nigeria”.
“Nigeria has departed from the era of the Yoruba Presidency, Fulani Presidency, Igbo presidency, or the Ijaw presidency, sectionalism or ethnicity has been defeated as it remains the cause of corrupt governments.”
“In 2023, Nigerians are committed to providing a credible leadership devoid of religious and ethnic sentiments, but a president who will end medical tourism by the political elites and rebuild strong institutions that will reposition the country as the Giant of Africa
