A faction of the pan Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has pleaded with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last general election, Peter Obi, for the sake of equity, national integration, and peace, to drop his 2027 presidential ambition and support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki yesterday, the Deputy National President of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, told Obi that winning the presidency from the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will prove exceedingly challenging, reminding him that only the South-East will not make him president.
He maintained that facts on the ground show that it will be very difficult for Obi to win, saying that the current political climate, marked by a lack of unity among opposition leaders and the inordinate ambition of Atiku Abubakar – who, at the age of 81, seeks the presidency – poses a significant risk.
He added that the appointment of some south-East people by Mr. President into key positions, like Senator Dave Umahi as the Minister of Works, entrusting him with the critical task of rehabilitating the dilapidated federal road infrastructure in the South-East, will be another factor, adding that President Tinubu has significantly increased federal allocations to the zone.
Isiguzoro further noted that both Obi and Atiku will likely fracture the opposition vote, which will ultimately pave the way for President Tinubu’s reelection. He said that if this scenario were to unfold, the repercussions would undoubtedly fall heavily upon the South-East. This was as he urged Obi to consider supporting Tinubu’s second bid.
While this truth may be a bitter pill for Obi to swallow, he urged him to engage in deep reflection and relinquish his presidential ambitions in favour of advocating for the pressing needs of the South-East, believing that a strategic alliance with President Tinubu will put Igbos in the forefront.
He further said: “In light of these realities, Ohanaeze Ndigbo earnestly urges Obi to summon his righteous resolve and reconsider his aspirations for the presidency in 2027. The current political climate, marked by a lack of unity among opposition leaders and the inordinate ambition of Atiku Abubakar – who, at the age of 81, seeks the presidency – poses a significant risk.
“The likelihood that both Obi and Atiku will fracture the opposition vote is high, ultimately paving the way for President Tinubu’s reelection. Should this scenario unfold, the repercussions will undoubtedly fall heavily upon the South-East”
“While this truth may be a bitter pill for Mr. Obi to swallow, we urge him to engage in deep reflection and relinquish his presidential ambitions in favour of advocating for the pressing needs of the Southeast.
“We believe that a strategic alliance with President Tinubu, particularly in light of the infrastructural developments spearheaded by Umahi, may yield far greater benefits for our region.
“In conclusion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls upon Mr. Peter Obi to prioritise the collective interests of the Southeast over individual aspirations, for the greater good of our people”.
