Even as the controversy generated by the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the Imeobi Ohaneze Ndigbo is yet to settle, the State Presidents of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on all Igbo registered voters both at home and outside the Igboland to come out enmasse and vote for the Atiku/Obi ticket.
In a communiqué issued at the end of a crucial meeting held at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu recently, the group stated that their decision to further okay the endorsement of the Atiku/Obi ticket was informed by the fact that Ndigbo were better off in a restructured Nigeria, where power was devolved to the federating units adding that this was the kernel of the Ekwueme Square Declaration of May 21st 2018 at Awka by the Igbo nation.
It noted that the further endorsement by Association of South-East Town Union (ASETU) of the Atiku/Obi ticket on Sunday, January 27th 2019 was commendable and indicated a holistic acceptance of the Atiku/Obi ticket by Ndigbo.
The group warned out that any call for Ndigbo to boycott the forthcoming presidential election would not be in the best interest of the Igbo nation
It condemned in the strongest terms any attempt by any self-aggrandizing group of Igbo persons that may be recruited by anti-Igbo forces in Nigeria, particularly from the Buhari presidency to retract from the Igbo position.
The group added that it stood by the suspension of Barrister Uche Okwukwu, the erstwhile Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and warned that any further black leg shall have the same treatment meted out to Okwukwu.
It further condemned in its entirety any call by any group, especially the IPOB, for Igbo people to boycott the forthcoming general elections even as it recalled that the tragedy of the MASSOB boycott call of the 2006 census exercise in Nigeria was still haunting the Igbos as a people.
“We, therefore, call on all Igbo registered voters both at home and outside the Igbo homeland to come out enmasse and vote for the Atiku/Obi ticket.
“That we call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent election and save Nigeria from any post-election crisis”, it stated.
The communiqué was signed by the Presidents of the seven Igbo speaking States namely; Elder Justice R.C Ajuzieogu, Abia; Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, Anambra; Hon. Uche Wokobia, Delta; Comrade Boniface Offor, Ebonyi; Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, Enugu; Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, Imo; and Prince Igo Okpalanma, Rivers State.
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