2019 Polls: APC Kicks As Ohanaeze Officially Shuns Buhari For Atiku’s Presidency

BY OGBONNA ONYEKACHUKWU, ENUGU – After months and weeks of prevaricating on a possible choice, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has formally picked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku  Abubakar as its official candidate for the February 16 presidential election.

Two-term former Governor of Anambra State on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform, Mt Peter Obi is Atiku’s running mate in this year’s elections.

However, this development has not gone down well with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the zone. They slammed the Chief Nnia Nwodo-led body for taking a ‘selfish decision’, aimed at sabotaging President Buhari’s victory at the February 16 polls.

Among those that have faulted decision are chieftain of an Ohanaeze Chieftain and member of APC, Prince Richard Ozobu, who insisted that the entire Igbo nation cannot be hoodwinked into anyone’s personal calamity.

Similarly, APC National Vice President for South East, Chief Emma Enukwu said it is unfortunate that Ohanaeze is always known to assume different disposition to the detriment of Ndigbo when it comes to national politics.

According to him, “Ohanaeze is the only socio-cultural group that has taken a position on 2019 election with adoption of a candidate, but power belongs to God.”.

Rising from its meeting in Enugu on Thursday, Ohanaeze had said its decision was informed by the fact that Atiku’s choice “of our son, Peter Obi, as the Vice Presidential candidate has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity” in the Nigeria project.

The communique issued at the end of the Ime Obi meeting reads:

“In its collective search for a polity that is just, egalitarian and inclusive, the Ime Obi Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo met today (Thursday) 24 January, 2019 at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, to further deliberate on the future of Ndigbo in the chequered history of a beleaguered country.

“After a critical and dispassionate appraisal of the issues and the visible fault lines in our polity,   including the analysis of the election manifestos of  the various contesting parties, especially with regards to the restructuring of the federation and continued relevance of our people in the Nigerian geopolitical space, the meeting resolved as follows:

• That Ohaneze remains the apex socio-cultural organisation that works for the interest of the Igbo in and outside Nigeria. It attempts to aggregate the views of  all other  Igbo platforms;
• Ohaneze notes particularly that a major political party (PDP) by the nomination of our son Peter Obi as the Vice Presidential candidate has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity. Ndigbo must seize the moment;
• That the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has made an avowed commitment to restructuring of the federation and reconfirmed same during his recent visit to the United States in his meetings with high-level US officials;
• In consideration of the above and other relevant existential factors pertaining to the treatment of the Igbo in our polity,  the Ime Obi Ohaneze, therefore, hereby ratify the decision reached at the Ohaneze National Executive Committee (NEC)meeting held in Enugu on Tuesday, 22 January, 2019, to adopt the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket in the 2019 presidential election. Ime Obi therefore endorses and embraces fully this ticket, without equivocation, especially with regards to the position of Ndigbo at the AWKA Declaration which insisted on a complete restructuring of the Nigerian polity.
• Ohaneze urges Ndigbo to see  their PVCs as their most potent tool  to ensure a restructured polity and for a better  society;
• The meeting further called on the international community to help to ensure a free and credible 2019 elections in Nigeria;
• Finally, Ohaneze urges all Igbo to come out and vote and to protect their votes.

The communiqué was signed by John Nnia Nwodo, President-General Ohaneze Ndigbo World Wide.