The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on the Nigerian youths of Igbo extraction to desist from tribalistic politicking as the country prepares for the 2023 general election.

Ohanaeze warned Igbo youths to participate in politics and support any political candidates of their choice without infringing on the rights of others who do not share their political ideas in the South-East or other regions.

The supreme Igbo group said this in a statement to mark the International Youth Day by the National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex. Ogbonnia,

It titled the statement ‘Ohanaeze charges Igbo youths to eschew ethnic chauvinism’ stating that it was in reaction to a statement by the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) which warned Igbo youths not to support or vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

The statement reads, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor urges the youths in the South East of Nigeria to eschew ethnic chauvinism as the 2023 general election draws nearer. The Ohanaeze admonition is in reaction to a statement issued by Igbo youths under the auspices of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL).

“The group as quoted by the Guardian Newspaper of August 10, 2022, “warned groups and individuals promoting the presidential ambition of Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to stay clear of the zone”. The group described as “unfortunate how certain persons from Igbo land would allow themselves to be used to promote the ambition of a man who is outdated in all ramifications in the scheme of things to be voted as a Nigerian president come 2023.’”

Ohanaeze said that since Nigerian youths from other regions are also supporting Igbo candidates, Igbo youths are free to support their own preferred non-Igbo candidates.

It called on the youths from the South-East region not to subvert the democratic process or invite hostility through their actions.It continues, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo acknowledges the inalienable rights of individuals and groups to express their views on national issues but advises that such rights should not infringe on the rights of other Nigerian citizens. Clarification is made that each of the presidential candidates has every right to campaign and canvass for votes in all parts of the country.

“In other words, since the presidential candidates of the South East or Igbo extraction enjoy untrammelled access and mass followership in other geopolitical zones of the country, it is a political self-immolation and indeed highly unreflective for COSEYL to embark on a misstep that may diminish the Igbo patina for inter-ethnic friendliness.

Vulturereloaded:
That message is for IPOB.

Igbo youths are campaigning for Tinubu and Atiku in the SE. This is a cashout season, but they are fully Obidient.


Though i am supporting Tinubu, but i won't vote for him. A vote for Tinubu is a vote for Shettima. A vote for Shettima is a vote Bokoharam.

Ill vote Peter Obi, but i will keep supporting tinubu till he is finally disgraced at the polls.

LadyExcellency:
Another misconceptions. Obidients are just aggressive and disgruntled Nigerians from all works of life.

Youthful exuberance is part of their existence.

They are angry at everyone that they assume contributed to the suffering and poverty in Nigeria, and that is for a just course.

Ylink4sure:
I disagree with you! This is not youthful exuberance! Would you have believed in your lifetime that our Igbo brothers who are mainly Christians will display the level of violence that has been exhibited in the SE in the last few years? Look through nairaland you'll see numerous videos of brutal killings in the SE that compares to that of Boko Haram! And it's between themselves!

How can a youth organization announce publicly that Tinubu should not campaign in the SE! Do you notice they conveniently excluded Atiku,a Fulani Man! They hate Yorubas more than they hate the Fulanis!

That's why I shake my head at the misinformed Yoruba folks supporting the Ob's i cause,the good thing is before the election due to the undisguised hatred for the Yorubas,they will see the light,as more politically damaging words and actions will be taken by these people.They will see that these folks are driven only by tribal and primordial sentiments and not the love for the country.

I believe these people will even get violent! Note this,when they do I'll quote this conversation. They've threatened APC already and Obi is not in charge and control,that's why Ohaneze is alarmed.

Bro,these folks are serious!

LadyExcellency:
Another misconceptions. Obidients are just aggressive and disgruntled Nigerians from all works of life.

Youthful exuberance is part of their existence.

They are angry at everyone that they assume contributed to the suffering and poverty in Nigeria, and that is for a just course.

Vulturereloaded:
That message is for IPOB.

Igbo youths are campaigning for Tinubu and Atiku in the SE. This is a cashout season, but they are fully Obidient.


Though i am supporting Tinubu, but i won't vote for him. A vote for Tinubu is a vote for Shettima. A vote for Shettima is a vote Bokoharam.

Ill vote Peter Obi, but i will keep supporting tinubu till he is finally disgraced at the polls.

Penguin2:
Supported!

It’s democracy.

Let’s allow even those who want to vote a monkey to do so. It’s their choice.