The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide says its support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, was based on its desire for equity, justice, and fairplay in the country.
The President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Amb. George Obiozor, said this at the inauguration of the new officers of the Abia State chapter of the body in Umuahia, the state capital on Tuesday.
Obiozor, who was represented by the Secretary General of the organisation, Amb. Okey Emuchay, said it was for the same reason and unity of the country that the group’s political action committee toured the five other geopolitical zones of the country seeking support for the emergence of the next Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.
“Ohaneze Ndigbo is not talking about Igbo president but a Nigerian President from South-East,” Obiozor.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo President said the organisation’s nationwide tour was to further demonstrate to the rest of the country that the 30-month civil war was over.
He added: “The war has since ended and for equity, justice, and fairness, Nigeria should support a candidate from the South-East to become president.
“After the war, we have continued to thrive and engage other sections of the country in the most friendly manner.
“Our people can be found doing well in different parts of the country and beyond.
“In fact, if you travel to any village or city within and outside the country and did not see any Igboman in the place, do not unpack your luggage, simply leave the place.”
The Ohaneze Ndigbo chieftain decried the renewed banditry and killings in some parts of the zone alleging that the recent killings at Eha-Amufu in Enugu State and the return of insecurity in Imo and Anambra states were intended to demarket the zone politically ahead of the 2023 general election.
He stated that in spite of the organisation’s robust engagements with the political parties, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, “the two big political parties overlooked the zone in the choice of their presidential candidates.”
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Obiozor alleged that the South-West was pacified in 1999, following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, presumed to have been won by late Chief M.K.O Abiola, who died in detention.
“Nigeria took a decision in 1999 to present Chief Olu Falae and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as presidential candidates and Obasanjo was chosen.
“Such a deliberate political arrangement could have been applied to the South-East in the run up to the 2023 poll to give the zone a sense of inclusiveness,” Obiozor said.
Speaking at the event, the new Abia President of the organisation, Okey Nwankwo, said the “Igbo have all it takes to lead the nation”.
Nwankwo, who recalled that their inauguration was delayed for about one year, promised that his executive would take the organisation to greater height in the state.
He called on all Igbo sons and daughters to contribute their quota toward the overall development of the Igbo nation in terms of human and physical infrastructure.
On his part, the chairman of the event and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Retd), Chief Azubuko Udah, urged the leadership of the organisation to properly organise the body and remain non-partisan to attract all the Igbo sons and daughters.
Udah also appealed to the group to support the efforts by the Old Boys Association of the National High School, Aba, to take back the school built by the defunct Igbo union.
He stated that the school, which has produced eminent Nigerians in different spheres of life, has become a shadow of itself.
He said the association was determined to restore the lost glory of the school and stop the alleged balkanisation of its land by land grabbers.
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