2023: Why South-East Will Not Vote For Atiku – Ohanaeze Chieftain

The National Vice President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Damian Okeke-Ogene on Tuesday revealed why the Southeast will not support the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

According to Okeke-Ogene, Atiku has lost the support of the region following his role in jettisoning zoning in his party.

The decision of the PDP to throw open its presidential ticket led to the emergence of Atiku as the party’s flagbearer.

Okeke-Ogene said the former Vice President would have been seen as a hero if he supported the rotation to the Southeast.

He said Atiku should have seen the 2023 election as a payback time for the sacrifices Ndigbo made to him in the 2019 elections.

Okeke-Ogene said, “If conscience is anything to go by, the two major political parties, couldn’t have field candidates from any other zone other than Southeast. Igbos are being persecuted by Buhari today because they gave Atiku during his last election 95% votes.

“What Obasanjo and others are doing today is what we had expected from Atiku who happens to be our in-law. That’s why it’s not good to vote according to sentiments.

“Atiku would have known that the entire Southeast sacrificed their votes and interest for him and see this election as a payback time. He wouldn’t have engineered and funded the no-zoning campaign because we voted for him based on zoning.

“Atiku would have been the greatest hero of our times if he had been at the forefront of championing its turn of the Southeast. But if Atiku fails this election, he’ll go to the grave as an unrepentant person, sorry to use that word, but it’s very unfortunate.”

Speaking on the possibility of Obi gaining the votes of the Southeast voters, he said, “Southeast Governors are five persons with five votes. I have a family of five, so I have five votes. I can’t even guarantee that all of them will join me to vote for my candidate.

“The same way the votes of the governors belong to them. They may decide to cast it to Labour Party or elsewhere. Days are gone when one man will say, leave the entire Southeast for me to deliver; it’s a joke.

“We’ve grown to the level that you can’t drag people like cows. Even today’s cow is resisting. For the past 27 years, I’ve served Ohaneze, I perceive the people’s odour and innuendo. They’re not voting for Obi because he’s an Igbo but as a Nigerian project.

“Obi’s national acceptance is the first of its kind in Nigerian history, even Zik and Ojukwu didn’t enjoy such a handshake across the Niger. But he’s having more than a handshake. We’re even expecting a handshake across Africa. It’s a divine intervention.

“The Igbos have voted for every tribe and zone in this country. That’s why people, including Obasanjo, are speaking for us. They appreciate our pains and know they’re genuine. They are ready to carry our load.”