The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organization has made an appeal to the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party, Peter Obi, for the 2023 elections.
Ohanaeze is urging both Atiku and Obi to halt their pursuit of their cases at the tribunal and instead lend their support to President Bola Tinubu. The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, emphasized that Atiku and Obi should contribute their ideas to support Tinubu in the interest of nationalism and patriotism.
Isiguzoro expressed that the funds being used by Atiku and Peter Obi for their legal battles should be redirected towards supporting Tinubu’s vision. He appealed to them to bring forward ideas that can alleviate the potential hardships faced by Nigerians.
While recognizing that Atiku and Obi have the constitutional right to challenge Tinubu’s candidacy in court, Isiguzoro urged them, in the spirit of nationalism and one Nigeria, to withdraw their cases from the tribunal. He acknowledged that such a decision may be difficult, considering the influence of their lawyers and supporters, but emphasized the importance of supporting a progressive president like Tinubu with constructive ideas that can drive the country towards productivity rather than mere consumption.
Isiguzoro also called on Tinubu to ensure that his appointments reflect the principle of federal character, taking into consideration the interests of the Igbo people when assigning key positions. He stressed the need for inclusive governance that avoids promoting ethnic, religious, or nepotistic tendencies. The aim is for Tinubu to allocate strong ministries to the Southeast region, which can contribute to its economic and structural development.
Furthermore, Isiguzoro appealed to Tinubu to listen to the request made by the governor of Enugu State and consider releasing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Ending the Monday sit-at-home protests, which have had an adverse impact on the region, was also emphasized as a desire of the organization.
