Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Separate groups galvanizing support for the presidential candidates of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi led by Dr Ahmad Musa and Dr Francis Anagh respectively have consulted with the apex pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
A statement signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide disclosed the outcome of the meetings from a separate support group of the PDP and LP.
According to him, Nigerians should learn from what happened in 1983 and 1993, when Obafemi Awolowo lost to Shehu Shagari and when MKO Abiola believed he could win an election without the votes of Ndigbo.
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, however, disclosed that the body also met with the World Igbo Youth Congress in another separate meeting, during which he urged the youth to obtain their PVC before the deadline of June. He however expressed disappointment over the disenfranchisement of Nigerians, especially Ndigbo.
The statement reads: "Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide received the delegations from two separate support groups that are galvanizing support for both the PDP and LP presidential candidates for 2023 elections on Thursday 9th June 2022 in Abakiliki Ebonyi State.
"We had fruitful deliberations with PDP National Support Forum led by Dr Ahmad Musa and World Igbo Youth Congress led by Dr Francis Anagha-Ufuoma. The consultative meetings were in the aftermath of the parties' presidential primaries and 2023 elections, with the emergence of the trio, Atiku Abubakar for PDP, Peter Obi for Labour Party and Bola Ahmed Tinubu for APC.
"In response to the leadership of the PDP National Support Forum led by Dr Ahmad Musa, Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterated that the lessons from the 1983 elections where Obafemi Awolowo lost to Shehu Shagari and the events of 1993 elections, might repeat themselves in 2023.
"The scenario of 1983 should be a bitter lesson to corrupt politicians that are desperately looking for power and the events of the 1993 elections should teach APC presidential candidate the importance of carrying along with all ethnic groups in his agenda.
"We have not forgotten that Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe stood up against the proclamation of MKO Abiola and his attempts to win 1993 without Ndigbo, and the bitter taste of defeat of Awo in 1983 to Shagari might repeat itself in 2023.
"Dr Ahmad Musa urged Ndigbo not to dump the opposition party, which they formed in 1998 through Dr Alex Ekwueme's G34 and insisted that PDP remains the only party for Igbos to achieve Igbo presidency in 2027. They advocate for the southeast VP slot and the southeast should be assuaged by the position of being the running mate of Atiku Abubakar in 2023. PDPnsf National coordinator said that APC will elongate the Southeast Presidency to 2039.
"The world Igbo Youth Congress in a separate meeting with Ohanaeze Ndigbo insisted that Mr Peter Obi the presidential candidate of the Labour Party remains the only hope for Nigeria. Dr Francis Anagha Ufuoma said that Ndigbo and Nigerians are currently mobilizing the electorates towards the Labour Party.
"Nigerians are tired of corrupt politicians and Obi is the newest political tsunami sweeping across the country the younger generation of Nigerians has designed strategies for Obi's victory in 2023 and urged Igbo leadership to openly endorse the Obi's Labour Party in 2023.
"Ohanaeze responded to the request of an Igbo youth group that the major task before Nigerians especially the youths is to aggressively obtain their PVCs before the closure of the ongoing voter's registration exercise by end of June 2022.
"We are using this medium to express our disappointment against INEC officials and leadership in attempts to disenfranchise Nigerians especially Igbos in the ongoing voter registration exercise. We have evidence that INEC officials in some parts of the southeast are not keen on the enrollment of southeast eligible voters and urged Ndigbo to storm all centres of the ongoing voter registration exercise and ensure that they obtain their voter's cards before the closure of the exercise.
"INEC should extend the exercise till September 30th 2022 to accommodate millions of eligible voters to participate in 2023 elections. Ohanaeze assured the Igbo youth group that decision will be taken in respect of 2023 elections in the future", he stated.
