Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the last 2023 presidential elections, Mr Peter Obi, to allow President Bola Tinubu to complete his second tenure, saying that the people of South-East region cannot make him president.
Ohanaeze said it is imperative to convey a candid and unembellished truth to the esteemed former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi.
The pan lgbo group stated that in light of the prevailing political landscape, we must assert that the path to victory for President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections is fraught with challenges, particularly when considering the formidable influence of incumbency and the disunity that currently plagues the opposition coalition.
According to Ohanaeze, acknowledging Obi’s constitutional right to contest for the presidency in 2027, it feels compelled to express our grave concerns regarding the viability of such a candidacy.
The organization noted that despite his notable popularity on social media platforms, the stark reality is that Obi may face betrayal in his quest for the presidency that could yield dire consequences for the Igbo people.
It recalled the painful lessons of 2019, when Obi served as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, and again in 2023, when he was the Labour Party’s LP presidential candidate, in both instances, the Southeast bore the brunt of electoral losses, resulting in significant political repercussions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Factional Deputy President- General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze reminded that the joint ticket of Atiku and Obi in 2019 cost the Southeast a potential sixth state, as promised by former President Muhammadu Buhari to Igbo leaders in exchange for their support.
The statement further revealed that in 2023, despite the Southeast being a stronghold for the Labour Party, LP President Tinubu’s administration has made notable strides in addressing the region’s infrastructural deficits.
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According to the statement,The appointment of Engr. David Umahi as the Minister of Works, tasked with the critical mandate of rehabilitating the Southeast’s dilapidated federal road projects, exemplifies this commitment.
Furthermore, under President Tinubu’s leadership, federal allocations to the Southeast have tripled, benefiting all five Southeast governors, irrespective of their diverse political affiliations.
It read “In light of these uncomfortable realities, Ohanaeze passionately urges Mr. Obi to reconsider his aspirations for the presidency in 2027. The current political dynamics, exacerbated by Atiku Abubakar’s relentless pursuit of an octogenarian presidency at the age of 81, coupled with his ambiguous support for Mr. Obi, suggest that their candidacies may ultimately divide the votes of the opposition, thereby facilitating a triumphant reelection for President Tinubu. Such a scenario would undoubtedly have adverse repercussions for the Southeast.
“This candid truth may be a bitter pill for Mr. Obi to swallow, yet it is essential for him to engage in a profound reassessment of his ambitions. We implore him to relinquish his presidential aspirations in favour of negotiating for the pressing needs of the Southeast. It is in the best interest of our region that Mr. Obi summoned his righteous resolve to support President Tinubu’s reelection campaign in 2027, particularly in light of the infrastructural developments spearheaded by Umahi and the collective bargaining efforts of the Southeast.
Urging Obi to prioritize the interests of the Southeast above personal ambitions, recognizing that unity and collaboration are paramount for our collective advancement.
