By Alex Odeh
The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition, stating that with the prevailing political landscape, it would be impossible for Obi to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday in Abakaliki and signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General and Chief Thompson Ohia, the National Spokesman Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
They recalled the negative implication of Peter Obi contesting and losing the election, making allusion to what the Southeast had suffered for losing previous presidential elections .
The statement reads: “History has demonstrated that the consequences of an unsuccessful presidential bid can be severe, and the Igbo people have borne the brunt of such losses in the past.
“We recall the 2019 elections, where Mr. Obi served as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, resulting in a detrimental outcome that cost the Southeast an additional sixth state—a promise made by former President Buhari contingent upon our support.
They called on Obi to reconsider his ambition since that President Bola Tinubu was able to overlook the position of the Southeast during the last general election, when the Igbo people voted massively for Labour Party (LP ) and appointed David Nweze Umahi as Minister of Works to fix the roads in the Southeast.
The Igbo body further recalled that because of Peter Obi’s ambition in 2019, the Southeast lost the creation of sixth state promised former President Buhari.
“We recall the 2019 elections, where Mr. Obi served as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, resulting in a detrimental outcome that cost the Southeast an additional sixth state—a promise made by former President Buhari contingent upon our support.
“While this truth may be a bitter pill for Mr. Obi to swallow, we urge him to engage in deep reflection and relinquish his presidential ambitions in favor of advocating for the pressing needs of the Southeast.
“We believe that a strategic alliance with President Tinubu, particularly in light of the infrastructural developments spearheaded by Umahi, may yield far greater benefits for our region”, they said.
