Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Friday, said it won’t support the presidential ambition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and All Progressives Congress National Leader, Bola Tinubu.

Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who stated this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, emphasised that it was the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s next President and not the South-West.
He added that separatist agitations would increase in the South-East if the zone does not produce the next President.

Ogbonnia urged both Osinbajo and Tinubu to drop their 2023 ambition and back a competent aspirant from the South-East to emerge the next President of the country after the eight-year regime of the incumbent, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on May 29, 2023.

With less than a year to the next general elections, the politics of zoning has dominated public discourse with prominent Southern elements and political parties demanding power shift to the Southern region after Buhari who is from Katsina in Nigeria’s bandit-ridden North-West.

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, had in January 2022, declared his intention to fulfill his “lifelong ambition” of becoming a President in 2023 while Osinbajo had last week said he would want to succeed his principal (Buhari) to complete what they both started together.

Both politicians belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress and were former political associates as Osinbajo had served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice under Tinubu for eight years from 1999 to 2007. Tinubu had also reportedly nominated Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate in the runup to the 2015 election to avoid a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Friday, however, Ohanaeze said it was not the turn of the South-West to produce the next President but the South-East, adding that both the South-West and the South-South had produced Presidents and Vice-Presidents since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Ogbonnia, said, “I had written an open letter to Tinubu before which I’m sure he must have read reminding him that at a point he had been the conscience of the nation with his truthful disposition. But in recent times, because of his ambition, he has chosen not to talk even when things are so bad.

“In the past, Tinubu would talk about equity, justice and fairness but in recent times, Tinubu has chosen to become an entirely different person. I advised him that he should not contest.

He should rather stand as an elder statesman in Nigeria. Above all, there is a zoning and rotation principle in Nigeria and it is the turn of the South-East.

“Then on the side of Osinbajo, he has a very tall credential, having occupied the position of the Vice-President, he is supposed to be an elder statesman. His profile is at variance with the decision he has taken to contest for the presidential slot because he knows that it is not the turn of the South-West. He has shown he has the interest of himself more than the interest of the nation.”

When asked whether Ohanaeze would support Tinubu, Osinbajo or any aspirant from the South-West, Ogbonnia said, “No way.”

He noted that elder statesmen like ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, amongst others have been clear that the South-East should produce the next President in the spirit of fairness and equity.

“People like Obasanjo, Bode George and Adebanjo have been clear about it. These are exemplary men and we are asking for more men to support a South-East Presidency,” he added.

Continuing, the spokesman for the South-East group said separatist agitations might increase in the zone if it does not produce the next President.

“What Ohanaeze is saying is that if this Presidency does not come to the South-East, definitely, there would be more restiveness and separatist agitations in the South-East; it would increase insecurity and it is not in the interest of anybody who loves the interest of this country.
“It is the stand of Ohanaeze that Osinbajo and Tinubu should add voice to the Presidency coming to the South-East and not begin to pursue personal interest,” he added.

So far, Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirants from the South-East include ex-Anambra governor, Peter Obi; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; former President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa; and Chairman, Igbo World Assembly, Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

South-East politicians who have expressed interest in the top job on APC platform also include Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; ex-Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; as well as former Governor of Abia State and Majority Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu.

https://punchng.com/why-osinbajo-tinubu-should-drop-presidential-ambition-ohanaeze/

Foolish elders called Ohaneze.

They should drop their ambition for what?

ganisucks:


https://punchng.com/why-osinbajo-tinubu-should-drop-presidential-ambition-ohanaeze/

Truth is bitter.

These Ohaneze guys should get serious in mobilising people both in and outside their region for their candidates instead of this emotional blackmail.



Nobody will drop their presidential ambition for you, nobody will micro-zone the presidency to your region, come out and work for the power you seek.

T for tenks.

Another disgraceful message from Ohaneze. Ipob is busy killing innocent people in the South east but Ohaneze’s only headache is how to stop Osinbajo and Tinubu from becoming president.

Tambuwal is Fulani from the north west, the same region that produced Yaradua and Buhari. He is a leading candidate for president on the PDP platform and Ohaneze has never attacked him or ask him to step out of the race for an Igbo candidate.

Atiku is a Fulani man from the north east. He shares the same ethnicity with the incumbent president. He had previously served as Vice President and supported Buhari heavily for president in 2015. Despite all these, Ohaneze supported him massively for president in 2019 without caring about Igbo presidency. He has declared for president again instead of supporting an Igbo candidate but Ohaneze has not seen anything bad in his declaration. They only have a problem with the Yorubas in the race for president.

Even in the south, Amaechi has declared for president. He’s from the south south just like Goodluck Jonathan, the last southerner that occupied the presidential office of Nigeria. Ohaneze has no problem with Amaechi’s ambition. It doesn’t matter if South south recently occupied the position. The only people that must not contest for president are the Yorubas.

Good enough, they are not God. Majority of sensible Nigerians from all zones will decide who becomes president and not some bigoted and inconsequential 5% noisemakers. Tinubu and Osinbajo will not step down for any Yoruba hater and we shall support any of them that wins the APC ticket.

Any region that wants to burn can burn for all I care. The rest of Nigeria will not be blackmailed into handing over presidential power to some hate filled folks simply because they are killing and burning properties in their region.

Aren't they supporting IPOB again, what about Biafra ?

Ohanaeze the Meth led organization of degenerates.

Their hate for Asiwaju and Yoruba leaders have clouded their senses.

Foolish elders! If you like kill yourselves finish in the SE with the aid of IpOB terrorists, Wetin concern Asiwaju?

lol if person call this Elders fools now e go be somehow.....

Unknown Gun men dey go beat kill people wey wan go colet PVC or register you people no say anything u mute for dere....

You want other region to work for you people while your people don't want vote to happen in the zoo...

You wan eat food wey u no cook...

This news has made my day. I said these and am still saying it again, Tinubu or Osunbade can NEVER ever govern the great Igbos. It will never happen. Unless they are ready to rule Oduduwa republic. Bunch of saboteurs

I told somebody yesterday that if a president of south east region does not emerge in 2023, thats when Nigeria will see the real agitation.

Then trust me, Politicians will sponsor IPOB

Biafra or death

When will these people stop with these threats? Nobody has said Igbos should not contest so they should go and sit down. Anyway, as long as they restrict their 'conflict' to their SE region (like ipob and ESN have been doing since they started their madness), they're free to carry on with it.

make Ena kill Ena self finish,who e concerned!

Shebi na for South East, not the whole Nigeria?

How dat one come take concern us?

this sounds more like a threat

..but we all know that a toothless dog can only bark; it will never bite

Clowns! Is Tinubu a member of PDP? Let Ohaneze stick to the party they endorsed for 20 years and leave the party they always campaign against. Tinubu did not even bother to visit their region cos he knows how bitter they are. Tinubu and Osinbajo owe the East nothing!

I wonder too. They have not see anything they shouldn't support Tinubu or Osinbajo the duo's dont need 5%.

Abdul05:
They must blame some one for their calamities.............. awon omoyeebo




Is tinubu responsible for the calamities that befell ibos?

We dont know this group

This is not the Ohaneze ndi igbo

Sonoyom:
Cry cry babies.

You will cry last.

Afonjas always thinking of us 24/7
We live rent free on their ewedu head

So pathetic! Time will tell

We know SE won't support Tinubu or Osinbajo candidacy just like they opppsed M.K.O Abiola and Olu Falae.. tell us something new.

Nobody has monopoly of hatred. . SW won't support any SE candidate now or in future. Two can play the game. Awon eleya.

Shame on piggiddiootts

Why not threaten Atiku from the north whose Fulani brother is about completing his 8 years for trying to contest

Why did they support GEJ in 2011 and 2015 when it was the turn of the north

Piggiddioott amaka

OritoJasi:
When will these people stop with these threats? Nobody has said Igbos should not contest so they should go and sit down. Anyway, as long as they restrict their 'conflict' to their SE region (like ipob and ESN have been doing since they started their madness), they're free to carry on with it.

A sensible person thinks through before making careless statements.

It is only a fool who will assume that a full-scale insurgency will be restricted to the South East.

This was how empty-heads we're trifling with the extra-juducual killing of Mohammed Yusuf.

When his followers began to complain, senseless Nigerians like you were busy hailing the Nigeria security agents.

Today what could have been handled amicably spiralled out of control and birthed Boko Haram.

Boko Haram has succeeded in making mockery of Nigeria security architecture.

Now there is the agitation in the South East against flagrant marginalisation, bloodletting, violence and a not-so covert genocidal tendencies...

A responsible system would study the problem with a view to proffer a lasting solution but air heads would dismiss an existential issue with noise-making...

Black people are to be pitied ...

Red cap lizards

Group of Meth elders.

If elders can be this reckless, how much more their youths

Macphenson:
I told somebody yesterday that if a president of south east region does not emerge in 2023, thats when Nigeria will see the real agitation.

Then trust me, Politicians will sponsor IPOB

No one said anyone should not support terrorist but let them keep their activities to the south east any attack towards other region then a 1st degree mass murder and mass destruction is allowed on terrorist

Opolopoopolonio:
Shame on piggiddiootts

Why not threaten Atiku from the north whose Fulani brother is about completing his 8 years for trying to contest

Why did they support GEJ in 2011 and 2015 when it was the turn of the north

Piggiddioott amaka

Dem fit face Atiku?.. recently Atiku launched campaign in the East and the Ohaneze blackmailers went MIA.

First it was Tinubu, now they have added Osinbajo to their politics of hate. It's our people that allowed them sha.. not really their fault.