TBEMagazine1:
ASITU THANKS NIGERIANS FOR FOR CHOOSING PETER OBI



Ahead of February 25, 2023 general election, the Association of Igbo Town Unions (ASITU) has handed over Mr Peter Obi, the candidate of Labour Party to be voted as the next President of Nigeria and urged the federal government to release Maazi Nnamdi Kanu.


The group which also appreciated former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and other eminent Nigerians for supporting Peter Obi made it's position known in a Press conference held in Enugu.


FULL TEXT;


We are now at the most critical moment in the history of our nation. We face existential threats. These threats
are real, and nobody should make mistakes about them. From a battered economy, to shattered social
institutions, and to a wolf of insecurity, there is now a nagging fear that our country is fated to doom. Our
actions or inactions this time will determine our collective survival or otherwise. We must act now or else we
perish.



OUR IDENTITY

Those who are conversant with the configuration of Igbo society already understand that the Town Union is not
just any other group within Igboland. The Town Union is the institution which expresses the truest spirit of Igbo
democracy and republicanism. It began with the origin of Ndigbo and has survived even colonial onslaughts,
and till date it remains the grassroot administrative structure that cuts across all social, religious, geographical
and demographic cleavages of Igboland.

Though we pursue good governance for Igbo and Nigerians, yet the Association of Igbo Town Unions is non
partisan while it maintains productive collaboration with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, that provides the
critical canopy and melting pot.

There are about 2152 autonomous communities' town unions across Igboland with Presidents General and
Executive Members as the structural leadership. This is replicated in all places in Nigeria and in Diaspora. Any
Igbo who is not a member of a town union is either suffering from a severe defective personality, a questionable
character or expelled from the union for gross misconduct.
Moved by our love, patriotism and loyalty to our dear nation, Nigeria, we speak to Nigerians all over the world
to, once again, proffer some advice and share some of our concerns about the forthcoming general elections and
other matters.


APPRECIATION TO NIGERIAN YOUTHS

We wish to place on record that the efforts, concerns, preparations and political participation of Nigerian youths
in the forthcoming elections have been phenomenal.

The youths are obviously the strength of the nation, and if we must reclaim our country from systemic collapse,
they must lead the way. We have also argued at different times and in various occasions that the youths are the
greatest stakeholders in the Nigeria project. To our delight, they have now risen to take their pride of place.


INDEPENDENTNATIONALELECTORALCOMMISSION (INEC)

We wish to also appreciate the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for at
least appreciating the great need for conducting credible elections in 2023.

Despite some noticeable challenges
and shortcomings, we commend them on the measures they have so far put in place to ensure that Nigerians
collect their PVCs across the country.
It is, therefore, a step in the positive direction that Nigerians turned out in fairly good numbers to collect their
PVCs within the period of the last extension of voter cards collection.
This speaks eloquently about the genuine desire of Nigerians to vote and change the circumstances of the
country with their votes in the next general elections.
Therefore, we join other well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate ourselves for such great feat.

We do hope that
it will translate into action that will usher in the Nigeria of our collective dream.


POLITICALPARTIES

We also think that the political parties deserve commendations. We are witnessing a slight deviation from the
usual campaign of calumny, destruction, and violence that characterized the style of our political campaign in
the recent past. There is a seeming change in status quo. Most of them now talk about what they have to offer to Nigerians.

Apart from pockets of disgruntled politicians and infractions and thuggery by misguided party supporters, the
candidates, especially the presidential candidates, freely transverse tribes and states other than theirs as they
sell their manifestos to Nigerians. This is most commendable because, "though tongue and tribe may differ, in
brotherhood we stand."
We stand with Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim on his plea for "politics without bitterness."


OUR PAST COMMUNICATIONS

At this juncture, we will like to recall our widely circulated press statement of 5th December, 2022, where we
said that "ASITU considers 2023 general elections as a critical moment of decision for Nigerians, a period they
have to take their destinies in their own hands".

We mentioned that it was an opportunity for our people, to
reclaim Nigeria by voting competence, character, capacity and credibility; vote for fairness, equity, justice,
inclusiveness and deliverable ability. Fellow countrymen and women, as we get closer to the elections,
particularly the presidential contest, the unfolding situation has continued to confirm the veracity of that
statement.

The candidates have all offloaded their manifestos and we already know their pedigree and past records. We are
convinced that Nigerians have weighed the options, evaluated the three major presidential candidates and have
spoken to ourselves. We have also allowed our consciences to speak to us.


NIGERIANS NOW KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIALCANDIDATES

We, therefore, know the truth about who among the candidates can fix Nigeria including tackling insecurity
across the country. Truth is that the hardship and economic downturn in the country does not discriminate
among parties, tribes nor religions. We are all victims of the collapsed healthcare and also feeling the pangs of
the infrastructural decay and social chaos in the country.
As Nigerians, we must shun political party affiliations, ethnic sentiments and religious biases, and cast our
votes for the best candidate. We must jettison all fault lines, including religion, tribe and all unhelpful
primordial sentiments, and think about the survival of Nigeria, which is also our collective survival.

Let us elect
a president that can heal our land, restore our dignity, reinvent our institutions, rebuild the family, restructure
the nation and remake the man and make Nigeria great again. Like we said, Nigerians already know the right
candidate.


WHY ASITU DELIBERATELY DELAYED ENDORSING ANY CANDIDATE

It is, however, important to note, that all through this time, the Association never at any time, made categorical
statement of endorsement of any of the major candidates in the forthcoming presidential election namely: His
Excellency, former Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party, His Excellency, former Governor, Ahmed Tinubu
of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) and His Excellency, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Our reluctance for rush endorsement of any candidate, despite the fact that our son, Mr Peter Obi is in the
contest, was a deliberate and conscious decision taken by ASITU.

The Igbo as you know are "citizens" of every
tribe and clime. They live comfortably and invest their all in every Nigerian hamlet and are found in every
polling booth. It has therefore not been possible to endorse anyone without regard to critical success factors of
good governance, sustainability and intergenerational equity.
Such well thought out strategy was borne out of our determination not to taint the presidential race with tribal or
religion sentiments, but to create atmosphere of unbiased choice by Nigerians.


OUR AFFIRMATION OF THE ENDORSEMENT OF MR PETER OBI AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT
OF NIGERIA

We can therefore acknowledge without reservation, the endorsement of eminent Nigerian statesmen and
elders, including other Nigerians across ethnic, religious and party lines of Mr. Peter Obi; whom they confirm
embodies what the country needs right now to return to the path of sustainable growth and development.

Notable among them are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Edwin Clark, many
Northern elders and their likes across the country.
Some other groups backing Obi/Datti for President are: Council of Islamic Sheikhs for Good Governance
(CISGG) and its affiliate groups, the Southern Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Yoruba Pan socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Also in the league are Fulani youths under the aegis of Endan Fulaku, the 19 Northern youth leaders, so many
other youth groups, market women and students' organisations too numerous to mention. They have all seen in
Mr. Peter Obi, the panacea to Nigeria's numerous ills.


OUR VOW AND COMMITMENT TO NIGERIANS ON PETER OBI

The Town Unions in Igboland, having consulted widely in and outside Igboland and leveraging on this total
acceptance across board in the whole of Nigeria, Africa and the world, we hereby CONFIRM and hand over
Peter Obi to Nigerians for Presidency 2023.
Our dear countrymen, he is our beloved son with whom we are well pleased, we guarantee you that he shall
never fail you or disappoint your expectations for a greater Nigeria that beams with endless opportunities. We
confirm and affirm his endorsement by all Nigerians. Please, support him, elect him for he is undiluted
representative of Ndigbo. We, the Igbo, take full responsibility for his actions and inactions, as we know he shall
surpass all your expectations. We tried him as Governor of Anambra State, he did not disappoint. We appeal to
you to give him a chance to pull Nigeria out from the doldrums.


OUR APPEAL TO NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA

To achieve this, Nigerians in Diaspora must get deeply involved. This is why we call on Nigerians in the diaspora
to make a rational political investment in the forthcoming election. Whatever resources they can send home to
their relatives to help mobilize them to vote aright and also immune them from the adverse influences of cruel
politicians who wish to buy votes and perpetuate the bad governance in Nigeria should be considered worthy.
They should realize that if our nation was better governed, there would have been no need for them to flee the
country. In view of festering penury in Nigeria, which is the direct consequence of bad leadership, millions of
Nigerians at home now depend on those in the Diaspora for daily bread.


OUR POSITION ON MAZI NNAMDI KANU

Finally, in our earlier communications, we had stated that the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would aid the
restoration of law and order in the troubled Igboland and lead to fruitful engagement which will bring about
peace and genuine reconciliation. This remains the position of all the Town Unions in Igboland, and we are
convinced that it is the best course of action for the Federal Government since Mr. President has earlier promised
to abide by court ruling on the matter.
May God bless Nigeria.

Signed
1. Chief Emeka Diwe
National President /PG Imo State

2. Hon. Chief Gideon Adikwuru
National Secretary

3. Ihudike Monday Ikokwu
National Public Relations Officer

4. Chief SirGeorge U. Mgborukwe
PG Abia State Town Unions

5. Chief Barr. Titus Akpudo (Ichaka)
National President, ASATU

6. Chief Barr. Paully Eze
Coordinating PG, Enugu State Town Unions

7. Chief Ugochukwu Akpa
PG Ebonyi State Town Unions

Brendaniel:


Nigerians have chosen President Peter Obi(GCFR)

yarimo:
Point of correction Igbos not Nigerians