Anti-Igbo, Yoruba comment: Ohanaeze blasts Atiku for asking Northerners to vote their own as President

 

By Clement Nnachi (abakaliki)

Apex-Igbo Socio-Cultural Organization Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo has berated former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ((PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for calling on the north to vote for a Northern presidential candidate come 2023 general election.

The Secretary General of the Organization Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro made the assertion on behalf of the body in a Statement issued to newsmen in Abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital.

Apparently, referring to the Statement credited to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar while speaking at an event in Kaduna declared inter-alia “what the average Northerner needs is somebody who’s from the north and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country

“This is what the Northerner needs, it doesn’t need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate, I stand before you as a Pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo restated that  Atiku Abubakar’s utterances had finished whatever was left of the PDP.

“We find it very weird and disappointing that an Elder Statesman and a Presidential Candidate of PDP,  could mount the podium at a public function and play such an ethnic card”

“We are worried that at such a time Nigeria is seeking for a unifier, Atiku is further pushing the country into disintegration, this shows  that he lacks the capacity to lead and unite this country”

“His ambition has already destroyed the PDP and pushed it from number one to third if not fourth force”

” Now Atiku Abubakar wants to bring the same division into the affairs of the country, we ask Nigerians to say no by rejecting him stoutly at the polls,” Ohanaeze said.

The Statement added that the G-5 Governors led by Mr. Nyesom Wike have been proven to be true lovers of the country.

The Statement opined,  “we can see that the party has even suspended the presidential campaign after the flag-off in Uyo recently, all  is not well with the  PDP”

“Nobody can trust a man who said he is a stepping stone for the actualization of the southeast presidency in the future, within 48 -hours, he offered the same Presidency to Gov. Wike”

 

“For the sake of Equity and one Nigeria, Governor Wike’s group should sustain the “Ayu Must Go” campaign”

 

” We are solidly behind the G-5 Governors, drafting Senator David Mark, Mr James Ibori to pacify Governor Wike is medicine after death”

 

However, 2023: Atiku Sues For Prayers, Spiritual Intervention On Nation’s Woes

 

… As Campaign Team Meet Ulama, Clergy In Kaduna

 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has urged religious leaders in the country to intensify prayers and seek divine solution to the myriads of challenges and problems it is facing.

 

Atiku, who was the nation’s Vice President for eight years, made the call on Saturday and Sunday when he met the Ulama and clergy at different rendezvous in Kaduna.

 

During an Interactive session organized by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) in conjunction with the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), the Northern Islamic Youth Scholars and Imams as well as Leaders of Women In Daawah on Sunday at Kaduna, the PDP presidential candidate noted that wherever the freedom of religion, peace and stability are under threat, development and good governance will remain far-fetched.

 

According to him, the prevailing situation of insecurity, poverty and economic doldrums in Nigeria “affects all facets of life and engender general underdevelopment.”

 

“Even if there is good governance whereas people are not free to profess and practice their religion, enjoy peaceful coexistence in a rancor free and progressive atmosphere, then the country will continue to retrogress.

 

“This is the reason why the Ulama, the clergy and all Nigerians should pray for divine intervention so that there will be good leadership that would engender overall national development beneficial to all,” Atiku said.

 

In his remarks, the Director General of the PPCO, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state while burnishing the political credentials of Atiku, who he also described as a statesman with sterling leadership qualities, said the gatherings were to seek the blessings of the Ulama and clergy as the party and its presidential candidates prosecute an issue-based campaign.

 

While urging the religious stakeholders in the country to continue praying for peace, Governor Tambuwal rationalized the decision of the party to appoint a Christian southerner, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as Atiku’s running mate.

 

“We all know that the need for inclusiveness, justice and fairness cannot be overemphasized, thus the reason the PDP selected Governor  Okowa to be the running mate of our presidential candidate, Tambuwal explained.

 

He expressed hope that the messages of prayers and inclusivity that the party is championing will resonate across the country so that the worrisome condition the nation is facing will perish under a PDP presidency “which will  rescue it under Atiku as President in 2023.”

 

In his speech, the leader of the SCSN, Sheikh Sambo Rigachikun raised issues about agricultural development, insecurity, unemployment and volatile FOREX as areas where future leadership of the country should focus its attention.

 

He also harped on the need for any government that will be elected to prioritize speedy appointment of qualified persons as ministers of the Federal Republic.

 

In the same vein, Sheikh Umar as-Sudani who appealed to the Ulama to be honest and God fearing in supporting candidates, noted that as “apolitical stakeholders, the Ulama has veritable roles to play in the emergence of leaders, freedom of religion and the establishment  of proscriptive norms and laws that will deter commitment of vices in line with Islamic teachings.”

 

He also pointed out that the Ulama, whose opinions and support are often sought during electioneering campaigns, are after electoral victories neglected in the scheme of things. He, therefore, sought for inclusion in future administrations.

 

In a vote of thanks, former Governor of Kano state, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who alluded to the remarks of Atiku, reiterated that it is in line with Islamic injunction which prescribes that man should strive and pray for their ambitions to be realized.

 

“The message of the candidate is in tandem with this injunction. We will go out and campaign vigorously as we also ask of you to pray, advise and offer constructive criticisms to us until we achieve what we seek,God willing.

 

“We’re asking God to make it possible for Atiku to be President. If he doesn’t become, may Allah replace the setback with what is better for him and the county at large. May Allah continue to bless our country and make it safe for all of us,” the ex-minister and member of the PPCO stressed.

 

Also moving a vote of thanks, the Kaduna state gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan: expressed gratitude to Atiku and the party for organizing the event. Similarly, he thanked the stakeholders for attending, pledging that the party and its presidential candidate will not set aside the Germaine issues raised by the Ulama and clergy.

 

The event was attended by former Vice President Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo, PDP national Chairman, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, his deputy in charge of the North, Umar Ilyasu Damagum, the Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Okowa of Delta state and the national youth leader of the party, Mohammed Suleiman Kadade.

 

Also at the event were the ex-Governors of Cross River, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger states: Sen. Liyel Imoke,, Alhaji Sule Lamido,, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema,, Sen. Adamu Aliero and: Alhaji Muazu Babangida Aliyu respectively.

 

Two former Governors of Kaduna state, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi and Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero also turned up.

 

The gubernatorial candidates of Kano and Kebbi: Alhaji Sale Wali and Gen. Aminu Bande were equally not left out alongside the former Deputy Governors of Sokoto and Zamfara states: Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari and Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau respectively.

 

Former minister of police affairs, Sen. Adamu Maina Waziri, Senators Ahmad Muhammad Maccido, Shehu Sani and Abdul Ahmad Ningi were also at the meeting.

 

Media maven, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, spokespersons of the PPCO: Sen. Dino

Melaye and Hon. Charles Aniagwu participated at the event.

 

However, The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the statement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, that northerners need a president who hails from the North was “ a decisive attack on our national unity”.

 

The former Vice President, while speaking at the interactive session of the Arewa townhall policy dialogue in Kaduna on Saturday, had said the northerners don’t need an Igbo or Yoruba as president in 2023 but “someone from the north”.

 

Reacting via a statement issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, the ruling party said Atiku, with his statement, instigated strife and disunity in the country “in pursuit of his befuddled political self-interest”.

 

The APC added that Nigerians need a leader to promote the national unity of the country over ethnicity.

 

It said: “If, as Atiku believes, the average Northerner needs a Northern President now, after a Northern President, when will they ever not need a Northern President? What does Atiku think the average Southerner needs? Why is it about what the average Northerner needs, or even what the average Southerner may need? Why is it not about what Nigeria and Nigerians need? Nigerians need bold and visionary leadership anchored on a firm commitment to transcendental national unity, over and above ethnic or sectional obsessions.

 

“Atiku’s words ring loud of extreme and mindless desperation, and such an extremely desperate man cannot and must not be entrusted with the most important job of President – a job which core duty is that of leading, uniting and working in the best interest of all in an ethno-religious pluralistic society as Nigeria. Our country does not need this kind of highly inflammable rhetoric now or ever.

 

“What is even more confounding is that this presidential candidate of the PDP has touted himself to be on a mission to unify Nigeria. The cat has finally been let out of the bag of him that pays lip service to unity while working hard to undermine our national unity. Our Northern citizens and patriots know far better than what Atiku thinks, and will not walk down that slippery slope with him.

 

“Evidently, Atiku seeks to inflict on Nigeria discord and strife of a worse kind than he has inflicted on his PDP. Against the dictates of his party’s constitution on the principle of power rotation between and North and South of Nigeria, Atiku wrested presidential candidacy and left his party in fractious disability.

 

“In direct contrast to Atiku’s schismatic tendency, our Northern Progressive APC Governors stood valiantly in support of the emergence of a Southern presidential candidate of our party in demonstration of patriotic commitment to national unity, equity and fairness. That is what Nigeria needs, now and ever.

 

“And that is the commitment that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our presidential candidate brings in his aspiration to serve as President. As Governor of Lagos State, his executive cabinet was a rare and admirable reflection of ethnic and religious diversity.

 

“We are confident he will enthrone equity, fairness, inclusion, and unity as operating national policy when elected as President in next year’s general election, as we urge Nigerians to do,” the APC stated.