By Tony Adibe
The highest Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has formally thrown its weight behind the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
NewsBits learnt that this endorsement came after what some political observers in the southeast zone of Nigeria regarded as”too much pussy-footing on the part of the Igbo association in terms of not coming out openly and early enough to stand strongly behind Obi even after the rest of Nigerian people have queued up and shown support for Obi”.
Ohanaeze said Obi represented “Nigerian conscience, moral probity, generational hope, redemption epiphany, and above all, the Igbo collective unconscious.”
The Igbo association stated this in a statement entitled, “2023: On SMBLF Position We Stand,” signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia. It stated that the Labour Party candidate had filled what could have been a sad gap if he had not been on the ballot.
According to Ohanaeze, “In the first place, going by the principles of zoning and rotation of power in Nigeria, which have been in existence since 1999, it is the turn of the Southeast of Nigeria to produce the president in 2023.
“Second, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has canvassed to various eminent persons in Nigeria, seeking their support for the presidency in the Southeast come 2023. We are delighted by the responses from various groups and highly placed patriotic Nigerians.
“Third, Ohanaeze works in collaboration with the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), comprising the Afenifere, PANDEF, Middle Belt Leaders, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by an elder statesman, Chief E. K. Clarke. The group, in its quest for Nigerian unity, peace, and sustainable national development, has endorsed Mr Peter Obi as its candidate for the 2023 general elections.”
The Igbo group further stated: “On the other hand, Ohanaeze brought a commodity to the market, and now the world is clamouring for it. We are rather excited, happy, and fulfilled that Nigeria is now in full possession of the commodity.”
Ohanaeze stated that it endorsed Obi not only based on equity and justice but also on “merit, competence, a track record of accomplishments, and the veritable ideas that Obi espouses for a better Nigeria.”
The Igbo socio-cultural body noted that despite concerns that Labour Party had no structure, the Obidient Movement was “a massive disruptive reaction against the deplorable Nigerian pathologies.”
“People use the Obi phenomenon to express dissatisfaction with the status quo. It is a revolt against injustice, poverty, unemployment, corruption, and all other forms of vicious circles that have become the trademark of Nigeria. In other words, every revolution is a structural change,” the group added.
