Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has warned an unnamed governor to desist from using monetary promises to lure them into endorsing an unpopular presidential candidate.
Ohanaeze stated this while praising Afenifere and the Middle-Belt Forum for endorsing Peter Obi.
The development is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
In the statement, Isiguzoro alleged that there was a plot by an unnamed South-East Governor to procure a fake endorsement for an infamous presidential candidate.
The group warned the Igbo governor to desist from using monetary inducements and fake appointments “to lure some of Ohanaeze chieftains into endorsing an unpopular and Presidential candidate as opposed to the popular choice of Nigerians, the Labor Party’s Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi.”
The group noted that “the desperation of this South-East Governor will sink him politically.
Ohanaeze stated that, “His stock in trade is to always go contrary and adverse to the popular position of Ndigbo because he’s a poor student of history. His plan to use the brand name of Ohanaeze to play dirty politics for an unpopular candidate has been discovered and he should repent or be retired from active politics. No amount of persuasion and inducement will reverse the position of Ndigbo in 2023.”
Speaking further, the group argued that Obi’s quest is not an Igbo presidency movement but rather a Nigerian Project anchored on capacity, competence, and character.
“This clarification has become necessary for posterity’s sake. Ohanaeze join s other ethnic groups like Afenifere, Middle-Belt Forum and PANDEF to insist that the rotational presidency between North and South is a must for equity and a Southern President should succeed President Buhari’s in 2023.
“We applaud the respected leaderships of Afenifere and Middle-Belt Forum for the adoption of Mr. Peter Obi as the best among other Presidential candidates based on age, fairness, competence and track records of accomplishment in governance which have been assessed and verified by Nigerians.
“This is the height of nationalism and patriotism by the leadership of the Southern and middle belt forum,” Ohanaeze added.