2023: Ohanaeze Speaks On Endorsing Peter Obi, Tinubu, Atiku, Others

The apex Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has opened up on the reason they have not endorsed any presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 elections.

The spokesperson of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia said the reason the group was yet to endorse any presidential candidate was because they had to consult with other Igbo interest groups as the decision would affect the Igbos as a democratic ethnic group.

He said: “Ohanaeze’s modus operandi is different from that of Afenifere. You know the Igbo are a very democratic set of people, so, we usually call a meeting of a wider Igbo assemblage and we look at the issue so that when we make a decision and an endorsement, it will be seen to be carrying everyone along.

“That is why we have not endorsed any (candidate) even when we know where we are going. We must call a meeting of all Igbo interest groups and we look at everything so that if we say something, it will carry the weight of the whole Igbo assemblage.”

He stated further that the Igbos knew who they wanted but did not disclose the preferred presidential candidate.

He said, “The North has no right to come back again after eight years, just as I am opposed to (Bola) Tinubu. It is not the right of the South-West to come and claim the presidency. If we want peace in Nigeria. We want equity, and justice, if we want to be united, we are talking of rotation, we are talking of federal character.

“It has gone to the North, now to the South. Should it come to the South to the region that has had it with (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo for eight years, with (Prof) Yemi Osinbajo in eight years as vice-president? The South-South has had it with (former president) Jonathan. Is the South-East not part of Nigeria to have that equity?”