2023 presidency: Ohanaeze’s chieftain, Southern, Middlebelt leaders reject Atiku’s emergence
…Call for rejection of Northern Presidential candidates
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo political organization, Chuks Ibegbu, on Sunday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of betraying the Igbos.
This came just as the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) charged the people of Southern and Middle Belt regions to reject Atiku Abubakar and other presidential aspirants of northern extraction.
Reacting to the emergence of Atiku in the just concluded Presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibegbu said PDP went contrary to the nation’s mood by picking Atiku as its presidential flag bearer.
He, however, said the Igbos should not rely on political parties but on individuals if the Southeast must achieve its goal of producing Nigeria’s president.
He said, “The mood of the nation is for power to shift to the Southeast, and contrary to the nation’s mood, the PDP has betrayed the Igbos, which we paid the price to sustain. The PDP betrayed the Southeast and the Igbos.
“Ab initio, we have always advocated that for the sake of peace, equity, stability, the progress of the nation, and power should shift to the Southeast political zone and Igbos in general.
“So, PDP went against the mood and current of the nation. However, the door is not yet closed; other political parties are there. And I think we should not be relying on political parties but on individuals if we want to move Nigeria forward.
“PDP has done its own, and other parties are expected to do their own, then Nigerians should decide if we want to continue to be the world’s poverty capital, Nigerians must decide if they want to continue with the insecurity in the Northern part of the country.
“The insecurity is more in the Northeast, where Atiku hails from. There is insecurity in Daura, where Buhari hails from. We also have insecurity in the Southeast and all over Nigeria.
“The delegates that went to the PDP convention and decided to be swayed by financial inducement, they and their children would face the challenges of tomorrow if we don’t get things right.
“I challenge APC presidential delegates to shun money. Is it not better that Nigeria is progressive and developmentally controlled for the benefit of their children? Or they want billions as a bribe to bring about the wrong leadership.
“We have been gnashing our teeth for the past seven years due to this collective betrayal, and we are suffering the consequences. Atiku has emerged, and other parties would do their primaries. At the end of the day, Nigerians should shine their eyes and decide if they want to continue in religious and tribal sentiments.”
Meanwhile, the leaders in the Southern and Middle regions have said that with the emergence of Atiku as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, “The unity and peace of Nigeria means little or nothing to a segment of the nation’s political elite.”
These submissions are contained in a statement signed by Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, PANDEF/South-South; Amb. Okey Emuchay, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide/South East; Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere/South West; Dr Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and Hon. Ken Robinson, Acting Coordinator SMBLF and made available to journalists late Sunday.
The statement partly read, “A Brazing Affront on the People of Southern Nigeria by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),” the forum expressed dismay that in spite of its numerous warnings, the time-honoured rotation and zoning of high political offices between the North and the south by political parties to strengthen national cohesion was jettisoned.
“The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has described the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party as a brazen affront on the people of Southern Nigeria by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“SMBLF recalls that following the release of the guidelines for the 2023 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Elders and Leaders of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, made unequivocal proclamations on the need for the presidency to be devolved to Southern Nigeria in 2023, in respect of the time-honoured practice of the rotation and zoning of high political offices between the North and the South by political parties as a way of strengthening national unity, peace and harmony.
“SMBLF further recalls that several engagements were held with various stakeholders across the length and breadth of the country on the subject to foster understanding, mutual respect and oneness.
“The 17 Southern Governors also in a declaration after their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, in May 2021, backed the rotation of the presidency to the South in 2023.
“Sadly, it appears the unity and peace of Nigeria mean little or nothing to a segment of the nation’s political elite.
“This was evidenced in the PDP special convention, which was held on Saturday, 28th May 2022, where certain candidates from the North were pressured, coerced, and even intimidated to step down for former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who eventually emerged as the flag bearer of PDP, in utter derision of the established principle of zoning and rotation of power between the north and south.
“Undoubtedly, the singular motive is to perpetuate the hegemony of the North given that President Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the North and of Fulani origin will be completing his full tenure of eight years by this time next year.
“SMBLF, therefore, totally REJECTS the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and calls on our people of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt as well as all true lovers of peace and unity NOT TO VOTE for him or any other Northerner in the 2023 Presidential election, in the interest of posterity,” the forum admonished.
SMBLF further urged all aspirants for the office of president from Southern Nigeria to “shun the conceited attitude of individualism and self-confidence, and work collectively to achieve the shared objectives.”
It called on “all politicians of Southern extraction to refuse the position of a running mate to any Northern Presidential candidate, which will equally be viewed as subjugating their people to political slavery.”
