The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has threatened that refusal of the leading political parties in Nigeria to give its presidential ticket to the South-East would attract consequences, as it will fuel agitations.
The group was reacting to the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In a statement endorsed by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulated all the aspirants from the South-East zone for what the group described as their “heroic outing”.
They also commended the Igbo presidential aspirants in the two leading political parties, the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for standing firm to the end, even in the face of utter betrayal by both parties.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo explained that one of the Igbo presidential aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, whom they described as “the usually calm Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu”, appropriately captured the mood of Ndigbos, especially the South-East, when he asked a very pertinent question “where is the Justice”?, while speaking at the just-concluded APC primary.
The group further expressed its gratitude to the Southern and Middle Belt Alliance (SAMBA) for insisting that it is the turn of the South-East, come 2023. They also commended Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Niger Delta Leader, Pa Edwin Clark; former President, Olusegun Obasanjo; Middle Belt Leader, Dr. Bitrus Pogu; and other notable Nigerians, for rising above ethnic sentiments to be true heroes of Nigerian democracy.
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The group warned that the 2023 presidential election shall make or mar Nigeria, if the citizens fail to rise above ethno-religious sentiments to take back Nigeria from the current vicious grip of kleptomaniac politicians.
They urged Nigerian youths to continue the on-going massive campaign for Continuous Voters’ Registration, CVR, adding that it will be a proof that their super firepower on social media could be converted to real votes to salvage their beloved country, Nigeria.
