2023 Presidency: Ohanaeze Breaks Silence, Declares Candidate To Support
The issue of rotation and zoning of the presidential seat of Nigeria has from the birth of democracy in the political system of the country become a hard nut to crack. As a result, the various geopolitical zones including the Southeast as well as South-south are often found raising alarm over alleged marginalization and nepotism.
Thus, ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, threw its support behind the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, saying, it is the turn of the southeast to produce the next Nigerian President.
Ohanaeze said that going by the principles of rotation and zoning of power in Nigeria which has been in existence since 1999, it is the turn of the South East of Nigeria to produce the president in 2023.
The group said its resolve for the 2023 general election has been constant, consistent, and very clear; without any form of equivocation whatsoever.
Meanwhile according to a statement by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has canvassed to various eminent persons in Nigeria, seeking their support for the president from the South East come 2023. We are delighted by the responses from various groups and highly placed patriotic Nigerians.
“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 their candidate for the 2023 general elections. “Therefore, on the SMBLF endorsement, we stand, most irrevocably.
“On the other hand, Ohanaeze took a commodity to the market and the worldclamoringring for it. We are rather very excited, happy, and fulfilled that Nigeria is now in full possession of the commodity.
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor explained that Obi has filled what could have been a very sad gap. Therefore, Obi represents the Nigerian conscience, moral probity, generational hope, redemption epiphany, and above all, the Igbo collective unconscious ous. The philosophy of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide finds a cogent expression in the symbol of Nigerian unity and a beacon of hope as epitomized by Mr. Peter Obi.“
The statement added that Ohanaeze’s support for Obi is 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.
“ A lot has been said that the Labour Party, especially as it concerns Obi has no structure. It needs to be pointed out that the Obis Obi movement is 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 forms of vicious circles that have become the trademark of Nigeria.
“In other words, every revolution is a structural change. What the Obi movement stands for is to dismantle or change whatever structure has brought us to this intractable tragedy and reprehensible denouncement; the structure that has been a knee on the neck of Nigerians. Importantly, ideas rule the world. Ideas, as you know, possess the potency to develop into an ideology, a movement, and finally to a structure. Lastly, the impotent debate on the structure has long been overwhelmed and rested by the recent events in Nigeria.”
Ohanaeze further stated that the double endorsement by the Afenifere; one faction to Obi and the other to Tinubu is a repeat of history.
“Even in the kingdom of God, there was a faction. One represents light, truth, equity, justice, reasonableness, and a bright future while the other represents the very opposites. But, surely, history will always vindicate the just.”