Opinion divided across southeast over Ohaneze Ndigbo's decision to endorse Atiku

POLITICAL opinion is divided across the southeast geo-political zone after the pan-Igbo organisation Ohaneze Ndigbo endorsed the candidature of former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in next month's presidential elections.

On February 16, Nigerians go to the polls to elect a new president with Alhaji Abubakar standing as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate against the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In what is expected to be a cliff-hanger, the race is very tight and both candidates have stepped up their campaigns over the last week.

Earlier this week in Enugu, Ohaneze Ndigbo met and decided to endorse Alhaji Abubakar as its preferred candidate for the elections. However, in a swift reaction, the Anambra State government has distanced itself from the declaration as has the Njiko Igbo Forum (Nif), with both of them questioning the motive behind the endorsement.

Nif president Reverend Okechukwu Obioha, said: “We view and considered the statement credited to Ohanaeze Ndigbo after their meeting in Enugu as absurd. That said, the decision to adopt Atiku Abubakar as a presidential candidate for the 16th February, 2019 election is of no consequence.

“Ohaneze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural apex organization of Ndigbo, who draw their political quest and aspirations from various political party platforms for fulfilment. Therefore Ohanaeze lacks the capacity to so officially and publicly declare an interest for a particular candidate of a political party."

"It is unfortunate that we have not learnt from history, as this was the same professional political blunder Ohanaeze Ndigbo made in 2015, when they refused a request from now President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to have an audience with him at least but rather purportedly adopted President Goodluck Jonathan. No wonder we observed correctly, that the anger of President Buhari not to give attention to projects and appointments to the southeast, was not just because of the 5% mark after the elections but the slight meted to him."

He added that it was disheartening and disappointing for Ohanaeze Ndigbo to play this inglorious and unacceptable script when Ndigbo has in Professor Kingsley Moghalu, a potential and electable victorious candidate come 2019. Reverend Obioha called on the generality of Igbo electorates all over the country and particularly in the southeast geo-political zone to ignore this purported decision.

However, Oseloka Obaze, the chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the Atiku/Obi Presidential Campaign Council and former gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, has lauded the Ohaneze Ndigbo decision, saying it was the best thing to happen. Mr Obaze said that by making the decision, Ohaneze Ndigbo has shown that it truly loved Nigeria and wished her well.

He urged Ndigbo to adhere to the decision of the apex decision making body of the zone by voting massively for the PDP.

He said: “Ohaneze Ndigbo, in endorsing the candidacy of PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, took the most profound, constructive and courageous decision. This historical gesture will serve Nigeria well."

Ohaneze Ndigbo said their decision to adopt the duo arose after a critical and dispassionate appraisal of the issues. According to Ohaneze Ndigbo, it analysed the election manifestos of the various contesting parties, especially with regards to the restructuring of the federation and continued relevance of Ndigbo in the Nigerian geopolitical space.

Also, according to Ohaneze, the nomination of Peter Obi as the vice presidential candidate of the PDP has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity. It also said that Alhaji Abubakar has made an avowed commitment to the restructuring of the federation and confirmed this in his meetings with high-level US officials during his recent visit to Washington.

Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, the secretary to Anambra State government declared that the contents of the Ohaneze Ndigbo communiqué did not reflect the state government’s position. He expressed dismay that the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation had decided to be partisan in spite of the fact that members of the organisation belong to different political parties.

“The position of the Anambra State government is that Ohanaeze should remain a united umbrella for all Ndigbo and should not take sides with any party. There are major leaders in all political parties, including the three major ones in Nigeria, namely the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the APC  and PDP, so it is deeply regrettable that the Ohanaeze leadership has chosen to go down a divisive trajectory capable of setting back Igbo unity for several years,” Professor Chukwulobelu said.