Igbo will support Tinubu, says Ohanaeze

By Jude Okoro

The Igbo nation will support the President Elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Ohanaeze socio-cultural organization, the Igbo apex organisation has said.

has said Igbos have moved on with the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Ohanaeze wants the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi to stealth his sword and accept the February 25 poll.

The Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Chief Okechukwu Isiguzoro said statements credited to Igbo Patriotic Forum and Elders Forum calling for disregard of the swearing in slated for May 29.

Isiguzoro said the Ohanaeze does nor wish to pitch tents against Tinubu. He urged Obi to start building bridges of unity and understanding.

Igbo Patriotic Forum is opposed to the swearing in of Tinubu come May 29.

Isiguzoro said Ohanaeze has made extensive consultations with prominent stakeholders in Igboland and that the decision is to support Tinubu pending the outcome of the

He said Ime-Obi has resolved that that Igbos should support Tinubu’s presidency while the Court process goes on.

DAILY POST quoted Isiguzoro as saying that Obi is the candidate for the future.

Isiguzoro said “At this point in time, we will not associate with Igbos saying Asiwaju should not be sworn in on May 29 until the tribunal and the Supreme Court decide who becomes the president.

“They were seeing instances where, in a football match, it’s wrong to hand over a trophy to a winner when the match is still ongoing, that the election process is still on until the Supreme Court gives its mandate.

“Ohanaeze, after due consultations with Southeast governors, Igbo elders, Ime-Obi, and the general assembly in Enugu decided to caution all stakeholders in the Igbo project to be careful of their utterances and not to portray Ndigbos as being against Tinubu because the consequences of such actions would fall back on our shoulders and Igbo populace who are mainly traders, living outside Igbo speaking states. The majority of them are in the Southwest, particularly in Lagos State.

“We are cautioning all those using the Igbo platform to allow the court to do justice, because Ohanaeze has nothing to lose. Those saying Tinubu should not be sworn in are calling for an interim government, and this call is very satanic and evil and does not represent the interest of Ndigbos.”

He added: “That is their own opinion, but Ohanaeze will attend his inauguration and not pick a fight with the President-elect.

“The position of Ohanaeze is very clear; we will continue to support whoever INEC declares as the president, and with the full backing of the Igbo governors with Rivers State, Ohanaeze is calling on those agitating for an interim government to drop it, it’s satanic.

“We are saying everybody should support Tinubu’s inauguration, but that does not stop them from doing their work. We are calling on all our 52 affiliated bodies that Ime-Obi has mandated that every agitation for the 2023 election should end because Ndigbo has moved on.

“Peter Obi is the candidate of the future, nobody should use this election to create enmity because Igbos and Yorubas, nobody should pick up a fight they can’t finish against Tinubu. Igbo traders across the country would feel the heat of the proclamation of some so-called elders.”