Leaders from the five South East States have given their blessing to the joint presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for 2019 general elections insisting it will ensure Igbos’ survival.
The leaders who met under the aegis of Mkpako Igbo at a one-day summit in Enugu on Wednesday said their support for the duo was based on their restructuring agenda.
They decried the insecure situation the Igbos have found themselves in the country, given their exclusion from the centre in recent years, noting that “the survival of Ndigbo in Nigeria depends on the actualisation of the Atiku/Obi presidency.”
The theme of the summit which held at Nike Lake Resort was: “Ndigbo 2019 and beyond.” It was chaired by elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze.
Prominent leaders present at the meeting included: President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Chief Gary Ikokwu, former president general Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Chief Achike Udenwa, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Chief Emeka Ugwu-Oji, Amb. Frank Ogbuewu, Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu, , Amb. George Obiozor, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, among others.
A communiqué read by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, said that their support for Atiku/Obi presidency was based on their restructuring agenda which the four geopolitical zones of the country have already accepted.
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“The summit deliberated on the state of Ndigbo in Nigeria today, especially after years of exclusion from the centre. This country has never been so divided, as it is today. We, Igbo have always yearned for a level-playing field with justice, equity and fairness.
“It was acknowledged that this nomination puts Ndigbo back in the centre of governance. It is, therefore, important that Ndigbo should rally behind the Atiku/Obi ticket.”
In his address, Prof Ben Nwabueze pleaded with Ndigbo to ensure victory for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in next year’s presidential election saying: “This is my last wish before I join my ancestors.
“We want Nigeria to be united, but we have to survive first. Our campaigns and agitations are for our survival. The Atiku/Obi ticket is for the survival of Ndigbo. It is our determination to ensure its success by mobilising the entire Igbo to vote for them; and with their success, you would have done me the greatest honour.
“At my age, there is nothing any longer that I should pursue except the good of my people in Nigeria, and this is the path to it. Please do me the honour of that ticket before I answer my final call, and I will be happy. When you leave here, go back to your villages and communities and say to them that Ndigbo must survive in Nigeria and the only way to ensure their survival is to deliver the Atiku/Obi ticket in 2019. I assure you I will rest in peace in my grave when this is done because it would have liberated Ndigbo.”
He insisted that he would not rest until a sense of belonging was achieved for Ndigbo and urged the leaders to continue to work in unity.
