Ohanaeze endorses Atiku for president — after Buhari’s visit to south-east

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has endorsed Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as its choice candidate in the coming election.

ImeObi Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the organisation’s highest organ, announced the decision after its meeting in Enugu on Thursday.

In a communique signed by Nnia Nwodo, president general of Ohanaeze, the group cited the choice of Peter Obi as running mate and the commitment to restructuring as reasons for endorsing Atiku.

The group said the decision was reached after an appraisal of the issues and analysis of the election manifestos of the various contesting parties, “especially with regards to the restructuring of the federation and continued relevance of our people in the Nigerian geopolitical space”.

The communique said the meeting resolved as follows: “That Ohaneze notes particularly that a major political party (PDP) by the nomination of our son Peter Obi as the vice presidential candidate has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity. Ndigbo must seize the moment.

“That the presidential candidate of PDP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has made an avowed commitment to restructuring of the federation and reconfirmed same during his recent visit to the United States in his meetings high-level US officials.

“In consideration of the above and other relevant existential factors pertaining to the treatment of the Igbo in our polity, the Ime Obi Ohaneze, therefore, hereby ratify the decision reached at the Ohaneze National Executive Committee meeting held in Enugu on Tuesday 22 January, 2019, to adopt the Atiku Abubakar/ Peter Obi ticket in the 2019 presidential election. Ime Obi therefore endorses and embraces fully, this ticket without equivocation.”

The endorsement was issued the same day President Muhammadu Buhari visited Enugu for his presidential campaign rally.

Buhari had also visited Anambra where he met Igbo leaders including politicians and traditional rulers.