The Ohanaeze Ndigbo declared, on Thursday that there is no going back on its support for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general elections.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation stated that it is confident that Obi possesses the right attributes to lead the country, stressing that he remains the best among those angling for the number one office in the country.
Responding to a statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) over whether or not the group is in support of Obi’s candidacy, Ohanaeze noted that its endorsement of Obi had never been in doubt, even as it urged NEF to see reasons to support Obi.
A statement signed by Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, reads: “The Ohanaeze, led by Prof. George Obiozor, reassures NEF and, indeed, the entire country that the South East or, better put, the Igbo are solidly behind Obi.
“There is no doubt that the distraction by minority elite, who, by the aid of the social media, have over-exaggerated its self-worth, authority, power and political relevance.
“Instructively, it said that in every twelve, there must be a Judas. This is a statement of fact, history, experience and a socio-political imperative. In other words, it is rather inconceivable to expect everybody to support Obi. What is important is that the Obi-Datti movement has gained the support of over 90 per cent of Igbo and continues to swell with time.
“Ohanaeze will not join issues with those who are opposed to the collective Igbo aspiration with hope that, as in every ideology, more converts will key in when logs of wood in their eyes are cleared. The Ohanaeze support for Obi is not because he is an Igbo.
“What goes for Obi today is the awesome quality service he rendered to his people as governor; and, of course, the humility, character, charm and intellectual acumen that define his public conducts.
“As a governor, Obi was busy setting standards of good governance for posterity, while some myopic, timid and mundane governors were busy with unacceptable acquisition of wealth to the detriment or impoverishment of the masses that voted them into office.”
