A faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, to permit President Bola Tinubu to finish his second term. They stated that it would not be possible for him to become president with support solely from the South-East region.
In a statement released on Wednesday, factional Deputy President-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro reminded Nigerians that the Atiku–Obi ticket in 2019 led to the South-East missing out on a potential sixth state. This was reportedly promised by former President Muhammadu Buhari to Igbo leaders as an incentive for their support.
The statement also highlighted that although the South-East was a Labour Party stronghold in 2023, President Tinubu's administration has made significant progress in addressing the region’s infrastructural shortfalls.
"The statement highlighted the appointment of Engineer David Umahi as the Minister of Works, emphasizing his crucial role in rehabilitating the deteriorating federal road projects in the South-East. Additionally, under President Tinubu's leadership, federal allocations to this region have tripled, benefiting all five governors across various political parties."
The statement went on to say, "Given these challenging circumstances, Ohanaeze strongly encourages Mr. Obi to rethink his presidential ambitions for 2027. The current political climate is being complicated by Atiku Abubakar’s persistent campaign for the presidency at age 81 and his uncertain support of Mr. Obi. This situation risks splitting opposition votes, potentially paving the way for President Tinubu's re-election success—a development that could negatively impact the South-East."
This frank reality might be difficult for Mr. Obi to accept, but it's crucial for him to deeply reconsider his goals. We urge him to set aside his presidential ambitions and instead focus on addressing the urgent needs of the South-East region. To best serve our area, it would be wise for Mr. Obi to channel his efforts into backing President Tinubu's re-election campaign in 2027, especially given the infrastructure advancements led by Umahi and the united negotiating strength of the South-East community.
In the statement, Isiguzoro encouraged Obi to place the interests of the South-East above personal ambitions, emphasizing that unity and collaboration are crucial for the region's collective progress.
He emphasized the importance of presenting a straightforward and unvarnished truth to the former Governor of Anambra State.
"We must acknowledge that President Bola Tinubu's path to victory in the 2027 elections is filled with challenges, especially given the significant influence of incumbency and the present disunity within the opposition coalition," he pointed out.
The factional Ohanaeze recognized Obi's constitutional right to run for the presidency in 2027 but felt obligated to voice serious concerns about the feasibility of his candidacy.
"The harsh truth is that Obi might encounter betrayal in his pursuit of the presidency, potentially resulting in severe repercussions for the Igbo people," it observed.
It brought back the difficult experiences of 2019, when Obi was Atiku Abubakar's running mate, and again in 2023 as he ran for president with the Labour Party. On both occasions, the South-East faced significant electoral defeats leading to major political consequences.
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