The Apex socio-cultural and socio-political organization in South East Nigeria, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has warned governors of the region against making sinister moves to witch-hunt the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Newsonline reports that Ohanaeze said the warning became necessary following information at their disposal that some South East governors are trying to bribe some section of Ohanaeze to work against the former governor of Anambra State.
Ohanaeze said, “to lure a section of Ohanaeze chieftains to endorse an unpopular and despised Presidential candidate ahead of the popular choice of Nigerians, the Labor Party’s Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi.”
Ohanaeze said a particular governor has been spearheading the move to turn some elders of the socio-cultural organization against Peter Obi who has been accepted by Nigerians across religions and tribes.
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It warned that the governor- which it failed to mention- will sink politically if he works against the Labour Party presidential candidate.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
The South East body added, “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.”
Isiguzoro said, “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″.
He maintained 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.
He added that the “clarification has become necessary for posterity’s sake. Ohanaeze joins 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 in 2023.”
Ohanaeze applauded the Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere and the Middle Belt Forum for the endorsement of Peter Obi.
The statement continued, “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.”
It added, “This is the height of nationalism and patriotism by the leadership of the Southern and middle belt forum.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo further“urged the Ondo Governor Akeredolu and his South-East counterparts to remember that Afenifere elders mean well for Nigeria and Obi’s Presidency will favor 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.”
