2023: Ohanaeze Speaks On Endorsing Peter Obi

The pan Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said that it is not compulsory for it to endorse the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

The Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Alex Ogbonnia, made this known in an interview with The Nation on Sunday.

Ogbonnia stated that it is not its duty to endorse the former Governor of Anambra State, stressing that Igbo President is the philosophy of the organisation.

He added that the organisation’s duty is to commend people who have seen the vision of demanding justice and equity by endorsing an Igbo Presidency.

He said: “The president was major agenda of Ohanaeze led by Prof.George Obiozor and everybody keyed into that philosophy and it has now become an ideology (movement). So, when people are embracing an ideology all you have to do is commend them. It will be childish if we begin to endorse ourselves.

“Igbo President is Ohanaeze’s philosophy, it is our working plan and we are happy that philosophy has become an ideology and a movement that is embraced by all parts of Nigeria.

“We have been thanking people like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adebayo, Edwin Clark, Sultan of Sokoto and other people and organisations such as Afenifere, Arewa, for embracing our philosophy and endorsing Peter Obi not for Ohanaeze to endorse Peter Obi. It will be self-glorification to begin to endorse yourself.”

Ogbonnia stated that Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu was entitled to his opinion regarding the Igbo Presidency and his choice of a presidential candidate.

The Ohanaeze spokesman added that Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma; his Ebonyi counterpart Dave Umahi and Kalu are entitled to support the candidate of their party, Bola Tinubu.

He said: “Orji Kalu is free to say what he said as a strong party member and an office holder of the ruling party.

“I don’t support anybody running him down. That he said that is what he should say as a party member and office holder in the party, every strong party men are free to work for their party but they should not go to the extreme to antagonise the Igbo interest.

“There is no way we will put our eggs in one basket. It is impracticable because we have our people in various political parties.

“There is no way you can expect somebody like Hope Uzodimma to begin to campaign for Peter Obi, either do you expect Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi to campaign for Peter Obi. It is not possible because they are entitled to their opinions as Igbo leaders. They are doing what they are supposed to do. They are APC leaders, what they are doing is what they are supposed to do

“No matter what you do, it is not possible to have everybody to be with you.”