2023: Atiku’s Igbo presidency statement mischievous, diversionary – Ohanaeze backs Peter Obi

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has flayed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over his claim that he would facilitate Igbo presidency.

Atiku had while addressing South-East stakeholders of the PDP, said he would be a stepping stone to the quest for Igbo presidency.

In a statement on Thursday by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, he described Atiku’s claim as mischievous and diversionary.

He said it was mischievous that at a time all polls conducted so far showed that Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, was cruising to victory, not as an Igbo presidential candidate but as the “real unifier” and the face of the Obidient movement, Atiku was still chasing shadows.

He said “a new Nigeria movement that transcends ethnic, religious and political party divides, like none before it has beckoned.”

The Ohanaeze scribe added that, “foremost Nigerian leader and aviation entrepreneur, as well the erstwhile Chairman/CEO, 7STAR Hangar/Airlines, Engr Isaac David Balami, captioned the mood of the nation two days ago when he said he was endorsing Mr Peter Obi based on 3Cs: Competence, Credibility and Capacity.

“In terms of competence, credibility and capacity, Mr Peter Obi is in a world of his own. Neither Atiku of the PDP nor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, comes close to him.

“Sincerely, Nigerians are really yearning for a Third Force Presidency due to their terrible experience under the APC and the PDP governments since 1999. Engr Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Democratic Party, NNDP, even has a stronger presidential profile based on the 3Cs than those of the old brigade like Atiku and Tinubu.

“Atiku should realize that the Obidient train has left him behind. This is no longer time to talk about Igbo Presidency, Yoruba Presidency, Hausa Presidency, Ijaw Presidency, Tiv Presidency or Fulani Presidency.

“He should Obidiently listen to Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere Leader who said, ‘To keep Nigeria one, everyone must be Obi-Datti compliant’. As such, he should emulate elder statesmen like President Obasanjo, Pa E. K. Clark, Pa Olu Falae, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, Rtd, etc to ensure that Nigeria does not miss this unique opportunity for restoration through Peter Obi.

“Secondly, Atiku’s current promise is worth nothing to Ndigbo. In fact, the promise is mischievous and diversionary, coming at this time when Nigerians want to interrogate his presidential profile vis-a-vis the 3Cs.

“Based on the weighty allegations leveled against him by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on serially reneging on his promises, how much is his promise worth?

“In 2019, Ndigbo supported him and gave him over 80 percent of his votes, even when his people rejected him and he could not even win in his State – Adamawa. Yet, he, the Waziri Adamawa carefully dodged signing any written agreement with Ndigbo that he would serve only one tenure.”

Ohanaeze urged all patriotic Nigerians to Obediently keep faith with Peter Obi based on his 3Cs, not based on ethnicity.”